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27. The Presentation
Last Updated:
2024-06-16 23:41:49Related chapters
Better 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 : 2024-07-01Better In Every Way 29.Elevator Doors
“I think I’m going to head out, it’s getting late.” I announce to the table when I get back. “Ah what? No!” Rory says to me before directing her gaze behind me. “What did you do? Have you been bothering her?” She shoots a hard glare at Alec. “Me? Why would you assume I did something?” Alec scoffs. “I just know you did something.” She looks him up and down with a suspicious glint in her eye. “Don’t you need a ride?” Emma says, breaking through Rory and Alec’s bickering. “I could take you. Let me just get my stuff—” “No. Sit.” I wave her off. “I’ll be fine. I can just get a cab, you don’t have to cut your night short because of me.” I give her a reassuring smile as I grab my coat and purse from the seat. I pull a few notes from my purse to pay for my part of the tab. “I think that should cover it. Plus a little extra if you get yourselves another round.” I say. I still see everyone giving me a weird look as if to say they’re not all that convinced that I’m okay to go alone. “Guy
Last Updated : 2024-07-02Better In Every Way 30. Mad
As soon as Alec disappears from view, my discomfort gives way to annoyance. I try to dig my keys out of my purse and open the door to my apartment quickly so my neighbours don’t have to be disturbed at close to midnight by the inevitable argument that will ensue between Cam and I. This night just keeps getting longer and longer. I storm into my apartment and toss my purse onto the kitchen counter before turning around and facing Cam. “What are you doing here?” I ask him as soon as he shut the door behind him. “I already told you—” He starts to repeat the same story he gave when Alec was here, pretending to play the part of the worried, doting “friend”. “I’m serious, Cam. What do you want?” I interrupt. He takes a deep breath. “You’re mad.” He says. “Not yet, but I’m definitely getting there.” I gesture with my hands for him to answer my question. “Why?” He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “What the fuck do you mean ‘why’? I find you at my door close to midnight, u
Last Updated : 2024-07-03Better In Every Way 31. Headache
Alec My head kind of hurts. I can’t even begin to think of why because it is pulsing so hard. Thank god for blackout curtains because daylight would have made this so much worse. I can barely remember when the cause of this hangover happened. All I remember is taking Dariana home, that mind numbing kiss in the elevator, and finding Cam sitting outside her door. An unwelcome interruption to could have been a very wonderful end to the night. It takes a while to figure out that that pounding sound that has defined my headache isn’t actually my head, but rather my door. It’s odd, who knocks like that? Rhythmically, for such an extended amount of time. I crack one eye open to see the time on the clock on my dresser reads a little past seven in the morning. Now I’m annoyed. Someone is knocking at my door like a weirdo at a time when most people would rather be sleeping on a Saturday. I can’t even ignore them. They’ve been at this for so long, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind continuing.
Last Updated : 2024-07-05Better In Every Way 32. I Get Busy
Alec I don’t usually have a problem with waiting, but these days it seems like my patience is constantly being tested. So I have begun to truly despise waiting, especially in these circumstances. Sitting in this gynaecologist’s waiting room just to ambush Eliza as she comes out of her appointment is the furthest thing from my finest moment, but it has to be done. I haven’t been waiting long, but this is a little humiliating. The other inhabitants of this waiting room, and it’s receptionist, are all looking at me like I’m the deadbeat dad that’s being kept out of the appointment for not showing up on time. It definitely doesn’t help that Culture Converse’s older editions are part of the reading material in this waiting room. One of them even has a not so flattering picture of me on the cover. I’d do anything to make that appointment go faster so I can get out of here. I really do need to get out of here. Eliza is only the first stop on a list of people I need to go see on my sid
Last Updated : 2024-07-07Better In Every Way 33. Golden Boy
Alec I sit in my car for a little while before walking up to the house. I need to mentally prepare myself for what is about to happen. I have to calm myself down. If there’s one thing I dislike more than having my patience tested, it’s having it tested unnecessarily. This entire day has been one useless endeavour after the next. What a complete waste of my day. I could have spent the day nursing a hangover from hell, lounging and relaxing for the first time in months. But a temperamental idiot had me rather spending my day trying to clean up a stain that has already set. My mental preparation is cut short, however, when Adeline comes around the corner from the garden and walks toward my car. “What are you doing here?” She extends her arms toward me for a hug as I get out of the car to greet her. “If I knew you were coming I would have prepared something.” “You don’t need to worry yourself about that, I won’t be long.” I give her a kiss on the cheek. “Is Cam home?” “It’s the
Last Updated : 2024-07-09Better In Every Way 34. Seen What?
Dariana Before the elevator doors opened I had been feeling relatively good coming into work. The events of this past Friday night shoved neatly in the darkest corner of my mind labelled “later”. I don’t want to think about any of it. Well, maybe some of it. The first part of it before Cam showed up and wrecked my night. Wrecked is an aggressive word, but it’s the one I feel most appropriately describes about his presence that night. But I wasn’t thinking about that. On the elevator ride up I was calm. I was excited about this new phase of development for the HaphaesTech project, but most of all I was glad to mostly be getting back to my regular routine. I feel like it is a opportunity to reset. After those doors opened, however, I could tell that the universe was not interested in letting me maintain my sense of peace. It really does not want me to rest. As soon as I step out of the elevator, the looks I get from my employees sets a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in my st
Last Updated : 2024-07-11
Latest chapter
Better In Every Way In Our Seats
Dariana“Is that a question?” I ask her, but she’s not looking at me anymore, she’s too busy watching Alec walk away. Can’t say I blame her, it’s a good view— one that I will never admit to watching myself. And I won’t begin to acknowledge it now. But seeing her drift off while watching after him makes me feel a bit…. weird inside. But that’s another thing I won’t begin to acknowledge right now.“A little bit…” She finally manages to mumble.“Come on.” I say, pulling Shelby toward one of the tables so we could sit down. “These shoes aren’t exactly meant for standing around.” I say. They may be gorgeous, but this may be the last time I allow Emma to pick my shoes, the stiletto heal is biting into the heel of my foot.“This isn’t our table.” She says once we get to one.“We can always just move later.” I shrug, nudging her into a chair and not-so-gracefully plopping into one of my own. “Sweet relief.” I breathe out.“So… You and Bradley Greene, huh?” I say in an attempt to steer the c
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
