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19. Caldwells Conquer
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Better 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
Better 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
Better In Every Way 22. Buck The Fuck Up
Alec The rest of my week had been busy. I hadn’t gotten a moment to rest and collect my thoughts since I wrapped up lunch with Eliza. The end of the quarter is coming up soon for my company and a lot of the other companies I sit on boards for. So not only was I working through all the reports for my main enterprise, of which I am the CEO, but I was also reviving those compiled reports for other companies who’s board meetings I have scheduled throughout this upcoming month. I have been balls deep in paperwork and the seemingly endless meetings with my accounting department have me on a very short fuse. If I see another expense report I’m going to throw it at someone. Looking at it objectively, I am not in the right headspace to be around anyone. Least of all someone who is adding to my stress, but Cam has been screening my calls and only giving me brief one-word responses to my texts. I can’t imagine why. I try to take a few deep breaths as I pull up to Lachlan’s home to
Better In Every Way 23. Don’t Tell The Others
Dariana “I told you!” I yelled, getting all up in Tom’s face as he looks back in the rule book to make sure that he was reading it correctly. “Come on, banker you read it yourself now. Put that property up for auction.” “This can’t be right.” Tom mumbles to himself while reading and re-reading the same line over and over again. “Is this why you wanted to be the banker? To protect your wife’s interests?” George says, looking back and forth between Emma and Tom with a look of mock disapproval on his face. “Tsk tsk, Tom. I’m not sure what the game says about that but in the real world we call that a conspiracy, and it’s illegal.” “I never should have let you guys talk me into playing Monopoly with you, you were basically raised to be Monopoly experts. I think you’ve broken my husband.” She says as she shuffles toward Tom so she could rub his back. “You poor baby.” That just caused George and I to lose it, and we break into a fit of laughs. “This fake money changed you, Dar.”
Better In Every Way 24. Rewind
*That Past Wednesday. Dariana’s Office* “I will give you ten thousand dollars right now if we go over there and he’s not in her office.” Alec says, and I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of his certainty. “I’m being serious!” He looks at me like he can’t believe I’m not taking it seriously, whilst laughing himself. “And yesterday, he had the nerve to chastise me for how much time I spend in here. I barely get to see you twice in any given week and he basically works from Rachel’s office every time he can.” He throws his hands up at the hypocrisy, and it just makes me laugh harder. I shouldn’t be encouraging him. But every attempt I’ve made to keep things strictly professional has been completely ignored. I can’t say that I mind, though. It has been nice to have someone to keep me from pushing myself too far into my work and reminding me to be human every once in a while. I know it’s not ‘healthy’ to use work as a coping mechanism to avoid working toward a sense of
Better In Every Way 25. Only A Little
After my discussion in the kitchen with Emma, I manage pull myself together enough to rejoin everyone for dinner without arousing any suspicion. The rest of the dinner went by relatively smoothly. The conversation was lively and the intermittent debates over random silly things served well as a distraction for the thoughts that were induced by the revelation in the kitchen. Even if it was only temporary.And it was temporary. As soon as George and I drove off, the thoughts started trickling in, little by little in the deafening silence of the ride home. I hadn’t driven to the Bennet residence myself, so George had to drop me off. “So, why did you disappear just before dinner?” He asks without taking his eyes off the road.“I told you, I just needed to clean up a spill.” I said, repeating the lie I told earlier.“When did you start lying to me?” He turns to me for a moment to look me in the eye. “I get lying in front of Tom, but you have never had to lie to me. Why start now?” He as
Better In Every Way 26. Just Some Guy
I do not bother to knock before I burst into Rachel’s office just before lunch time on Monday with a bag of Chinese takeout. To no one’s surprise, Dominic is sitting across from her at her desk with his laptop open. They both look up from what they were doing with semi-confused looks on their faces. “Dariana, it’s nice to see you again.” Dominic says, fixing on a professional demeaour. “Mr Russo.” I smile. “Do you think I could borrow the lunch hour with my friend? Or are you two already bonded at the hip?” I joke. Rachel looks like she’s about to say something when her thought is seemingly cut off by Dominic’s chuckle in response. “Not at all.” He closes his laptop and stands up to leave. “Though I do expect her back after.” He says, going along with it. I see a blush creeping up on Rachel’s face from the corner of my eye. “I’ll try my best.” “Oh and Dominic?” I stop him as he walks out. “If you see him, tell Mr Blackburn that I will be waiting on that ten thousand. He’ll
Better In Every Way 27. The Presentation
The rest of the week went by in a blur of meetings and final preparations for the presentation. Everything seemed to be pulling me in every direction all at once. I had to oversee the final touches on the models my team rendered for the building. If all goes well and they like them, we can begin construction while we work on the design of the interior. That would mean that this will be handed over to our design team, thus my above average involvement in this project will start to simmer down. Fingers crossed, from today on Rachel will be taking over the regular operations for this project. And not a moment too soon, seeing as the design aspect would mean that this will be in the hands of Eliza’s team. I hadn’t spoken to or interacted with her at all since that conversation in my office my first week back. Which is how I preferred it. However, these past few days, whenever I have a spare moment to myself and my brain forces me to ponder on what Emma said to me on Sunday I find myse
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Better In Every Way 48. That Friend
Dariana The sound of the doors opening is immediately drowned out by the music and the sound of chatter coming from the event hall. The familiar mixture of sounds does very little to comfort me, but it does serve as a sort of switch. Sending me into a practiced, almost robotic, stance; moving me through the room with an ease and grace I wish I felt. At first I try to convince myself that no one cares, that there are much more important and much more interesting people here for people to look at. That everyone is staring at Dominic and Rachel, the co-host and his new girlfriend. That would, of course, make for better news. It’s new and interesting, where I hopefully have made enough rounds around dinner and tea tables that my scandal is old and tired. That hope dies in me when I separate from Rachel and her beau when they head for the bar and the eyes still follow me. People look at me out of the corner of their eyes, some don’t even pretend to look like they’re not tal
Better In Every Way Sorry For The Mistake
*DON’T PAY FOR THIS CHAPTER!!! SKIP IT!!!* This was supposed to be a chapter but there was a mistake that I didn’t notice pre-publish. It was an error with the title. Then I forgot I could just edit it so I re-published the chapter *insert facepalm here*. I am very very sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused, I’ll get better about these things, I promise. The rest of this is just going to be the first quarter of the next chapter because I cannot put less than five hundred words down and I really do not have much to say outside of my deepest apologies. Especially considering that I did warn you in the first line so you wouldn’t be subjected to this. But if you are comfortable enough to have your settings set up in a way where you auto subscribe to chapters… *shrugging my shoulders* I feel like this is your lesson to be more careful. Because what if you don’t like a book? Now you have wasted valuable coins on a book you don’t like…. *sigh* tsk tsk tsk. I’m glad I cou
Better In Every Way 47. Good For Them
Dariana Standing here, taking a good long look at myself in the mirror while I get ready, I am glad that Emma, Rachel and Rory didn’t let me settle for the first dress I picked up off the rack. This one is much better. It’s a black floor length, off-shoulder slip dress. The side is pleated in a way where it looks like it’s being pulled in a way that accentuates my curves that are usually hidden under many layers of professional clothing given the weather recently. Overlaying the pleats is some of the most exquisite beaded flower embroidery I have ever seen. It’s so simple but so well done. Emma essentially put out a whole look for me, all I had to do was obey. All the way down to my hair and the silver accessories in it. “This dress demands an up do.” She had said, last night when she was laying everything out for me. “Gotta show off those collarbones.” Not to forget the makeup. Many inspo pictures were sent. A light smokey eye paired with a deep, plum lipstick. I wasn’t
Better In Every Way 46. Wink Wink
DarianaI hate how quickly the days are going by. This week in particular seems to be in a rush to get done. It’s feels like just yesterday when I was trying– and failing– to convince Rachel to let me sit out the gala. But I blinked and now it’s Friday and Emma, Rachel and Rory are dragging me from store to store to find a dress for tomorrow evening.I would have been fine with the first dress from the first store, seeing as I didn’t really want to put in too much effort for something I wasn’t really keen on going to in the first place, but they would not let me.That and the fact that they didn’t have it in my size and it is too short notice to put things in for alterations.“I’m tired.” I dare to complain, leaning on Emma so I don’t have to carry my own weight. Rory and Rachel are walking slightly ahead of us, engrossed in their own conversation.“It’s your fault for leaving things for the last minute.” Emma rolls her eyes.“Why can’t I just wear something I already have? I don’t ne
Better In Every Way 45. Pet Name
The walk to my office was longer than I’m used to. Or at least it felt that way. Your brain has a funny way of stretching out and building up moments that you’re dreading. And that is what I am feeling right now, dread. Not for any other reason than the fact that I don’t really know what I am walking into. I mean– I knew she would be here at some point, she had warned me after all, I just didn’t expect that point to be today. It feels too soon. I feel rushed. I finally make it to my office door. I take a deep breath to prepare myself for what is waiting behind it. When I open the door I am greeted by Hadley’s back to me as she pours herself a drink from my bar cart. “Sure, help yourself.” I say as I walk in; causing her to jump up a little in surprise, spilling a bit of my not-so-cheap twenty-five-year-old single barrel bourbon. “Alec, hi.” She says, offering a small smile. “I didn’t think you’d mind.” “Of course not.” I say, trying my best to keep things polite. “What are yo
Better In Every Way 44. Punchline
Alec “You’re here.” I say, very much shocked to see Dom walk past me to his office. Over the last few weeks I’d seen him so little I had actually begun to forget that he works here and is not stationed at Brokk for some reason. “I’m not saying it’s not nice to see you, I’m just surprised. It’s a good surprise, I’m just… surprised.” I continue to ramble as I follow him to his office, his foul mood stinking up the hallway as he moves along. “Why are you here?” “Don’t you have other things to do?” He groans. “Perhaps.” I shrug. “But your sour mood is written all over your face and it has peeked my interest.” “It’s really none of your business.” He shakes his head and starts to set up his work station. “I think it’s my business when my partner seems a little worse for wear.” I say. “Now, tell big bro what’s wrong.” I tease, and he scrunches up his face. “She doesn’t want me there, so I thought I’d just come back to my own office. I see it’s been collecting dust.” He sig
Better In Every Way 43. It Happened
Dariana I have been staring at me computer screen for an amount of time I couldn’t possibly have perceived, never mind kept track of. This morning started off like any other. It felt like I was finally starting to fall back into a routine, like it would just be another unremarkable Monday morning. I walked down the hall from the elevator to my office without anyone staring at me. I greeted Liliana at her desk. She followed me into my office to brief me on my day and she changed out the flowers while making a remark about the ‘anonymous’ sender under her breath and I pretend not to hear her. Like normal. Like any other average Monday. But it wouldn’t be my life if I got to start off my week without a single out of the ordinary thing happening. And this week’s out of the ordinary thing is an email from Eliza. Subject line: Resignation. She’s resigning? I have been reading and rereading her resignation letter for so long it has completely stalled my morning. I can hardly believ
Better In Every Way 42. He Knows Me?
Alec Brea follows Rory out as she leaves the rest of us sitting in uncomfortable silence. Cam keeps staring daggers at me, and I am compelled to act on my earlier promise. “Barry come on. I think we should go too.” I tap Barry on the arm as I get up. “Congratulations, you guys. Thank you for the food Adeline.” Barry, looking like he has been itching for this moment, does not waste a second in getting up and getting out of there. In fact, he makes it to the car before I do. He is already inside by the time I get to the front steps. Just as I am making my way down them, I hear Carter calling my name so I pause to let him catch up to me. “You okay? You don’t have to leave so soon, Adeline made that chocolate and strawberry mousse cake of hers—” He starts as soon as he gets to me. “No, I’m good. I’m jus– Barry’s got school tomorrow so I’ve got to get him home.” I say, hoping that it would be enough to end the conversation and he could just let me go. But that seemed to just be
Better In Every Way 41. You’re Joking
Alec Barry goes into a coughing fit, choking on his food as soon as the words leave Lachlan’s mouth. “What did you just say?” He says between coughs. “The wedding won’t be anything big, it’s more of a formality. That way we can get it done as soon as possible. Elizabeth is far along enough already, we can’t waste any more time.” Adeline takes the conversation over from her husband. The whole room is shocked to silence. Somehow this silence is even more quiet than the one before. Gone are the sounds of utensils scratching against the plates as everyone has abandoned the meal to stare at the newly engaged couple. “I suppose a congratulations to the happy couple is in order.” I say, raising my glass to them before taking a large swig of my water. Everyone else around the table mumbles their own congratulations, they’re a little uneasy but they’re all mostly genuine. Contrary to my well wishes, the couple don’t seem so excited about their impending nuptials. Why would they b
