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13.Our Professional Relationship
Last Updated:
2024-04-19 19:37:28
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Better In Every Way 14.Can You Believe It
I made my way back to the office alone, feeling more optimistic than I have in over a month. I tried to ignore it, but the last few weeks had me in a sort of state of emotional limbo. The experience of having a part of my life plan ripped away and significant aspects of my world view altered had truly emotionally and mentally exhausted me. The only time I wasn’t at an emotional flat line, I was riding the very deep dips. But not right now. Right now I find myself on an upward trend. I allow myself to revel in the hope that my life didn’t go to complete shit a month ago. Maybe everything didn’t go as planned; I may not get the full package where I’d return to the ranch style home, family, and doting husband after a long days work in a fulfilling career. But I can still have the fulfilling career.And goddammit, does it feel fulfilling right now.I make a beeline for Rachel’s office. As I walk past her assistant, Micheal, he gives me a nod to indicate that she is available. I do not wa
Last Updated : 2024-04-21Better In Every Way 15. A Quick Detour
The past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me; caught between feeling excited for the new business opportunity and sad about some of the things that came with it.Not talking to Rachel for the past few days has been a relatively easy task to accomplish. It was hard, emotionally, having our last conversation play in my head over and over like broken record; not allowing me to escape all feelings of that day. But both of us were genuinely busy during this past week, so there was no ducking or diving around the office to avoid each other. Neither of us just made the effort to reach out to the other, and that seems to have worked out best. We both needed the space.However, that comes to an end today.Today we were supposed to be meeting with the team from HephaesTech to discuss the specifics of the contract and for them to give us an actual project brief.I was in the main boardroom, going through a final round of checks to make sure everything was in order before every
Last Updated : 2024-04-25Better In Every Way 16.How did you even get in?
I am woken up close to noon on Saturday morning by the sound of someone knocking at my door. I try my best to ignore it, choosing to cower under my sheets where its warm rather than going out there and facing the world that is becoming increasingly colder and colder. It may be mid-autumn; but the weather, especially in the mornings, was a biting prelude to winter.Besides, I am exhausted. This last, very busy, week had taken a lot out of me. Outside of the physical toll, everything that had happened had also emotionally exhausted me. Old feelings and very confusing new ones had my head in a spin by the time Friday rolled around. So much so that I couldn’t even make it to Melody Line.I wasn’t in the right headspace to be interacting with everyone, especially Rachel.I still very much needed that space that I asked her for, and I didn’t think it would be fair to subject Emma and Rory to the awkwardness that undoubtedly still exists between us.I just wasn’t in the mood for celebratio
Last Updated : 2024-04-30Better In Every Way 17. Neutral Lip
The last few weeks had me embarking on a slow and tedious up and up. Before that day when Emma essentially broke into my apartment, I hadn’t realised just how much energy I spent trying to emotionally mute myself so I could put up a strong front for everyone else. Including my friends.Emma has known me my entire life. I don’t know why I felt the need for the performance with her. But she let me know that it is something I’ve done for most of the time that she has known me. Emotionally shut down and refuse to acknowledge that I even had them. It is probably a side-effect from growing up in a family like mine. Having everyone around you looking at you, studying you for weaknesses they could exploit or secrets they could sell to the highest bidder if they couldn’t extort you themselves. Naturally that didn’t breed an envrionment that could produce a person that was capable of asking for help.Emotions were a weakness. Just another thing that unsavory characters could use against you. M
Last Updated : 2024-05-03Better In Every Way 18. Wonderful
It seems I may have underestimated what is going on between Rachel and Dominic as just a crush on her part. It appears as though the feeling is reciprocated.I have been staring at them for the last ten minutes as they were engrossed in their own conversation that Alec and I were not a part of. Seemingly too concerned with each other to remember that we were even there.“I thought this was supposed to be a meeting.” I say to Alec next to me.“It is.” He says, much too absorbed in the endless options on the dessert menu— even though we hadn’t even gotten our entrées yet— to even notice the two lovebirds at our table.“Then why do I feel like we are third wheeling their date?” I ask just as Rachel giggled at something Dominic said. Full on dainty schoolgirl giggle. A sound I haven’t heard her make since she was actually a schoolgirl.Alec finally looks up from his food quest to look at them and then me. “We don’t have to be third wheels, this could be like a double date.” He smiles.“Yo
Last Updated : 2024-05-05Better In Every Way 19. Caldwells Conquer
Sunday came way too soon. I found myself sitting in the pews of the very same church I got cheated on in. Sitting in the row behind my parents. Close enough that people would assume the image of a perfect family that my mother wanted to portray, without having to sit next to her and subject myself to her direct scrutiny. Sunday mass has been a requirement that I did not miss fulfilling. Mass once a month and on major holidays; a requirement borne out of my duty to my brother, and no one else. If it were up to me I wouldn’t be here; not in this specific church, at least. I would have loved to completely sever my ties to my family’s public image. But when I tried, my mother absolutely hounded George, demanding he make attempt to drag me to this and that social event by my hair, kicking and screaming, if he had to. He’d always defended me against her, rebuffing her demands, but I could tell it really wore him out; and that made me feel bad. He shouldn’t have to suffer for my social
Last Updated : 2024-05-06Better In Every Way 20. Good Old Days
I did get a text from my mother soon after I left the church, but I didn’t open it. What good would that do anyway? I already know what it says. She probably just sent a long winded text about how I embarrassed her and our family. And she, more than likely, is ranting about how my non-wedding put our family in this position in the first place and a whole other manner of unhelpful things that I just don’t want to see. Opening up her text would just make an already emotionally exhausting day even shittier. And this week was going so well. At the risk of jinxing it, I will admit that I had been feeling different lately. I wasn’t just distracting myself. Emma had been basically forcing me to “deal with my shit”, as she’d put it, for the last month. I can’t say that it was comfortable, it was hard as hell, but I need it. It feels like tearing down a building block sculpture you spent so much time on because some of the pieces came out or don’t fit right anymore. So now it’s time to
Last Updated : 2024-05-12Better In Every Way 21.Burning Bridge
Alec She likes to say that I am a bother, but I don’t think she minds my continued presence as much as she says she says she does. She thinks I don’t notice all of the shy smiles she tries so hard to stifle behind that polite porcelain demeanour she presents to everyone else. I suppose I should be honoured, she only seems to let her mask slip slightly when she is with her friends, perhaps a little more in private settings but I wouldn’t know. I would like to, though. But I can’t. I’m supposed to be honouring her request for professionalism, not barging into her office every few days for impromptu conversation. Truthfully I don’t know why I’m doing this. A part of me feels obligated to check on both sides of this burnt bridge. Cam for obvious reasons, but I feel compelled to check on Dariana as the only one in my family who hasn’t completely written her off— aside from Rory. But Rory and Cam aren’t on speaking terms, and she’s the only person other than me who knows about
Last Updated : 2024-05-16
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Better In Every Way 61. Letter
DarianaThe Monday drama that I have come to expect from the soap opera that is my life did not, unfortunately, end with the scene at the office. After Alec left my office, the rest of the work day was very quiet. Quiet enough to lull me into a false sense of security. As soon as I got home I was greeted by the familiar but still shocking sight of Barry sitting at my front door with his bags.“Run away again?” I say as I approach him. He looks up at me, seemingly offended by my choice to pathologise his repeated presence at my door. “I’m changing custody.” He says. “Dad’s busy, so I have to spend then next few days at mom’s.” He hands me an envelope. “That’s you by the way.” He says.“Yes, I think I got that.” I roll my eyes and yank the envelope from his hands. “You’re still refusing to just go home?” I ask, holding my door open for him to come in. “If I can avoid going back there for the rest of my life, I think I will.” He says. “Or at least until Cam grows a pair and moves ou
Better In Every Way 60. Long Day
Alec I spent the rest of the afternoon anxiously waiting for five o’clock to arrive. In my relatively longe career I have dealt with many kinds of people. When you spend a portion of your time and fortune investing in many different types of projects, you’re bound to encounter an array of characters.I’ve met my share of “hard” business people, or at least those who tried their best to present themselves as intimidating; and some who genuinely were. But never have I ever walked into a negotiation with someone who would quite literally have no problem shooting me the moment I step outside the line I probably wouldn’t even know is there. I am so deep in my internal freak out that I don’t even pay attention when someone had opened my door and walked straight into my office without announcing themselves. Thinking that it is likely just Henry dropping off some files, I choose to pay the person no mind.I realise soon enough, though, that it is not Henry when the person in question walk
Better In Every Way 59. Favour
Alec“I’m happy to see that at least one of you has their heads screwed on right.” Moreno says as he picks up the phone. “I’ll send my men to fetch you at five pm so we can discuss details.”“How sure are you that I’m not just calling to tell you to fuck off?” I ask.I hear him laugh on the other line. “Because you are a good man, Mr Blackburn. And unfortunately that makes you useful to unscrupulous characters such as myself… and your brothers, I suppose.”Useful? Or usable?“But never mind that. Five pm. Be ready.” He says. And with that he cuts the call. It was just then, as I was putting down the phone, that Dominic walked into my office. “What was that about?” He asks“Nothing.” I wave him off. “It can’t be nothing, you look like someone shat in your lunch.” He teases me while leisurely plopping himself into a chair and putting his feet up on my desk like he owns it. “Maybe I’m upset because my partner is never where he’s supposed to be. Why is it that I always find myself hav
Better In Every Way 58.Moral Propriety
Dariana I manage to make it to Monday morning without knocking myself out in one way or another. Though I almost didn’t as a result of Emma’s bad influence. If she had it her way, I would have started the work week hungover. Luckily I am grown enough to know better than to get wine-drunk on a Sunday. Emma stuck around to keep me company for the rest of the day. Though I had to kick her out around seven pm lest Tom starts accusing me of monopolising his wife’s time. I did, thankfully, manage to swear her to secrecy concerning the whole ‘Alec is married’ ordeal. Not only is this something I feel some shame for, but I don’t actually know what the situation is. And I do not want this getting to more people that could a) potentially judge me more than they already do and b) know something about Alec that he clearly doesn’t want them to know. I will only do him that much. I’d consider that a little parting gift, it would be my closure. It is for the best. I manage to get through
Better In Every Way 57. Spanish Soap Opera
Dariana** Sunday Morning **I try to force myself to stay asleep, despite my exhaustion having run out a long time ago. I am hoping that I can sleep today away to avoid thinking about anything; then tomorrow I can get to work as early as possible and thrust myself into as many projects as possible. Burry myself in so much work that there won’t be enough space in my brain for thoughts of a particular black-haired British lady.Great.Now I’ve gone and ruined my own morning by involuntarily conjuring up her image in my mind. That smug, condescending as she revealed her identity to me like she’s some kind of telenovela villain. She might actually be one, she fits the profile. Dark-haired and bitchy. But if she’s a novela villain, that would mean that my life has somehow devolved into a Spanish soap opera. I cannot lie, it does feel that way some days.My thoughts, however, are not the only things interrupting my sleep. It’s my stomach. There is a wonderfully delicious smell that is
Better In Every Way 56. Hushed And Secretive
Carter I didn’t manage to get to sleep after Brea left. It was the first restless night I have had since she came into my life. I’ve never really been good at sleeping on my own. My whole life I have been an insomniac; never being able to catch more than an hour of sleep at a time. I had already begun to get used to the idea of that being my reality for the rest of my life when I met Brea. Right from the beginning we were inseparable— in that I could not be away from her. Whenever I was around her the world seemed a little brighter and everything was a whole lot easier. After a while I noticed that I could do without the sleeping pills whenever she slept over (which very quickly became almost every night). I knew then that I had found my peace. The other half of my soul. I haven’t been away from her since then. Until now. And clearly my body could tell. That was the worst night of sleep I have had in over two decades. I have to drag my exhausted, wifeless ass to Lachlan’s fo
Better In Every Way 55. Just About Fucking Done
Carter Alec curls his lip in disgust at the sight of my hand on his shoulder. The sight of his open disdain toward me is jarring. And I must say it hurts. “Don’t you dare fucking touch me.” He hisses, swatting my hand away from him like it’s infected. “I’m only going to say this once, so you make sure your partner in crime Lachlan gets the message.” He says, his voice getting low. “I will do this, but not for you. I’ll do it because I don’t want that mad man potentially dragging my nephews and niece into this. If it were just about you two, I’d probably just let you suffer the consequences of your own stupidity.” Jesus. I never thought I’d see the day when my own brother openly hated me this much. Sure, he and I were never as close as Lachlan and I. I will admit that I’m a bit of a prick for not noticing until Brea pointed it out. But that was not really my fault. The age gap made it near impossible to relate to him the way Lachlan and I did. “After this? You two can continu
Better In Every Way 55. Just About Done
AlecI could barely manage to keep my composure for the rest of the night. The second Carlos left that conference room I wanted to rush to Carter or Lachlan and smack the shit out of them for ending up in this situation.More importantly, they deserve to have their shit rocked for hiding it until their fuck up was forced on me. I guess that habit is hereditary. Can’t blame Cam anymore for his bad genes. It’s a wonder I turned out the way I did. It’s a wonder Barry or Rory turned out so much better than their parents.It takes all of my will power to put a pause on my anger and continue with the evening. As the host, I can’t just leave while the party is going hot, so to speak. I have to paste a smile on my face and put on the performance of a lifetime despite my own feelings about the direction the night has taken.I’m just about done with these people. And to make matters even worse, when I came out of the conference room and returned to the banquet hall, Dariana and Rachel had lef
Better In Every Way 54. Undermine
Alec I don’t know what she’s doing here, but clearly her plans for the evening do not involve getting herself back in my good graces. If they do, she has a really fucked up way of showing. About fifteen minutes after Dom and I walked away from Hadley and we went on to shmooze some more; I see Hadley move across the room from where she was stewing and plotting all the way to the table where Dari and Rachel are sat. I internally cross my fingers, hoping that she’s not there to cause trouble. There are some heavy hitters in the finance industry sitting at that table. Aaron Pryce alone would be a decent sized fish that could introduce Carrington Holdings into the workings of the game this side of the pond. Im hoping she can be mature and put potential business interests over her personal ones. Besides, she knows fuck all about what could possibly be between Dari and I. Hadley approaching her sideways would be jumping the gun on an unsure situation, and she’s too strategic, too
