DRAMA

ALANNA

"The CEO of LUCA EMPIRE ALANNA CLARKSON"

Fuck! That introduction felt so good.

I waited five fucking years to see the look on their face. 

Coming back after five years of being away from the monsters I called family and the man I used to love, the father of my kids. 

Nolan!

He had not changed one bit. He still had the darkest blue eyes I had ever seen. 

"Alanna," someone called out, it was a voice I recognized all too well, the man who gave birth to me but also the man who called me a "Disgrace"

"Mr. Clarkson," I replied,  no way I was going to give him the liberty of hearing me call him father again. 

His eyes darkened, and their eyes all did, Nolan stood close to Chloe but his hands were no longer on her waist, they were inside his pocket as he stood in total awe. 

Chloe looked petrified, mortified like she had just seen a ghost. In a way she just did. 

We all stood, I still had a subtle smile on, I was enjoying every bit of the moment. 

I had waited five excruciating long years to see the look on their faces. Now that I have, it was all worth it.

"May we all proceed inside the banquet hall," Brad spoke in a calm tone. There was Brad, also known as Bradon, the least anxious person among them.  He is Nolan's stepbrother and the COO of the company.  

Yes, I googled him. 

I googled them all, and I did my due diligence,  no way, I was coming back, without knowing what I was coming back to.  

No one said another word, and we all moved to the banquet hall in silence, my Personal Assistant, Angela stood beside me and whispered. 

"Is it just me, or are they all acting weird?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She doesn't know why they are acting the way they all are. 

"Well, let us just give them the benefit of the doubt,"

"I do not like the aura and atmosphere of this place," 

I smiled and walked right in without giving her a response. The hall wasn't crowded,  I assume, it would only be a party for stakeholders and shareholders. 

 We moved to the center of the hall, and the waitress with blonde hair all handed us a glass of wine. Nolan and Chloe stood by my left, my dad and Brad by the right, while Nolan's mom walked away to greet other investors, I presume she couldn't stand the awkwardness of the situation any longer. 

But I am here for all of it. 

"Mrs Alanna…." Brad started, but I interrupted him almost immediately.  

"Ms. Alanna," I corrected, there was a sharp glance that came from Nolan and Chloe. 

"Sorry, my bad, I wasn't sure what it was, to be honest, I wasn't even expecting you to be…." he trailed off, realizing what he was about to imply. 

"To be what?" I asked, But I didn't wait for an answer, "A woman?"

"Not exactly, I…. I…" he stuttered and I smiled. 

"Don't worry Brad, I know it is uncommon for an industry consumed by men," I replied with a smile. 

They all fell silent. 

"So, did you get married to a rich old dying man who left you his wealth," Chloe finally broke the silence. The first time she was able to say actual words and she spat out words that sounded as pathetic as she was. 

"Chloe," Nolan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, he was cautioning her, more like telling her to shut up. 

"What, we are all thinking it, might as well just say it," Chloe replied defensively. 

I exhaled, I had expected this question, "Well, Mrs. Westbrook, " I made sure I addressed her formally because I wanted them to know I came here for business.  

"I would appreciate it if we keep our interaction strictly professional, my personal life should not be questioned,  I am here for business," I replied and the look on their face could send the devil back to hell. 

"Yes sure, Ms. Alanna, I apologize for Chloe's question," Nolan spoke, this time more confidently, he was still gazing at me, he had not stopped gazing at me since we started this interaction,  his piercing dark blue eyes locked intermittently with mine

He called her by her name, which he never used before. 

"Don't apologize on my behalf Nolan," Chloe snapped and all the gaze fell on her. 

I am sure she is losing her mind. Her mind is raging, her little sister comes back as a fucking CEO. Who wouldn't lose their mind? 

"Can you just Shut up Chloe," Nolan whispered, but it was enough for us to hear, Chloe cast a glare at him and veered to face me. She was evidently furious. I could see the veins in her slender body contracting and her eyes twitching, her plump lips about to burst out in flames. 

"Don't tell me to shut up Nolan, are we all going to pretend this is casual and not some sick attempt of Alanna to come back to Nolan's life, she slept with him before now, and she wants….." she was about to say more but Nolan interrupted her. 

"Chloe stop it, you are causing a scene and you are embarrassing us all," he whispered, as more eyes were already on us, after Chloe's outburst. 

"I am…" she tried to say before I interrupted her this time. 

"Mrs. Westbrook, I understand your concern and can see why you are agitated, but this is far from reality and just a figment of your active imagination,"

"Active imagination? oh please spare me the diplomacy, Alanna,"

"As I mentioned earlier, I am here for business, and I do not want to mix up my personal and professional life, so I know this might be hard for you to do, but can you try to be diplomatic?" I spoke in a calm tone. 

Chloe stared at everyone who was in turn glancing back at her, waiting for her response. 

"Oh please, I am going to get a fucking drink, since we all want to act like this is normal," she declares and storms away. Nolan turned, but my father held his hands and stopped him from going after her. 

"Let me talk to her," he muttered, of course, he would want to talk to her. She was always his favorite. He disappeared into the crowd to find Chloe. It was just Nolan, Brad, Angela, and I now. 

"Can I get some of the legal paperwork for you?" Brad asked, trying to shift back the tone to a professional one. 

"Please give it to my assistant Angela," I replied. 

"Follow me please, Angela," he requested and she nodded and trailed after him. 

It was just me and Nolan now!

Fuck!

"Alanna" he called out my name and all my knees went weak.