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21.Burning Bridge
Last Updated:
2024-05-16 22:27:22
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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
Last Updated : 2024-05-31Better 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.”
Last Updated : 2024-06-05Better 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
Last Updated : 2024-06-06Better 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
Last Updated : 2024-06-07Better 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
Last Updated : 2024-06-08Better 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
Last Updated : 2024-06-16Better In Every Way Quick Note
I am so sorry for the sparse updating these last few months. Like a fool, I started this book at the beginning of the semester with no real updating plan or schedule. All I had was an idea that I thought was worth sharing. But now that exams and the semester have ended I have had time to sit down and really work on chapters. Starting from the 1st of July there will be far more regular (hopefully daily) updates. Thank you to anyone who has read this far. I am truly grateful for your support and patience. 🙏🏽
Last Updated : 2024-06-24Better In Every Way 28. Up Tempo
I honestly don’t know what I expected. Alec and Dominic showing up to Melody Line anyway is somewhat very on brand for them. And now Rachel and I are fielding questions from Emma and Rory on their half expected presence. “Did you invite your boyfriend here?” Rory asks, pointing her question in mine and Rachel’s general direction. “No, Dar?” Rachel answers rather quickly. “Nothing to say about him being your boyfriend I see.” I say, raising my eyebrow at her attempt to throw me to the wolves that were our nosey friends. A blush quickly flushes Rachel’s features as she just silently nods at her defeat and takes a sip of her virgin cocktail. “Whatever, I’m just going to invite them over.” Emma says, she scoots Rory out so she can stand up from the booth and walk over to where they are before giving any of us—particularly me— time to process what she just said she was about to do, never mind come up with a sensible objection. Very soon after she gets to their table and s
Last Updated : 2024-07-01
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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
