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28. Up Tempo
Last Updated:
2024-07-01 20:21:31
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Better 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 contin
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
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?” “I
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 : 2024-07-11Better In Every Way 35 pt 1. A little immature
Dariana “You Blackburn boys have a nasty habit of just showing up at my door without warning or invitation.” I roll my eyes as I nudge Barry out of the way to get to my door and open it. Today had been long enough as it was, and I just need to prepare myself for this week to be even longer. After lunch with Rachel I had meetings up to my ass to distract me from everything. No one really brought it up, but I could still see the looks people were giving me when they thought I wasn’t looking. During one particular walk toward the boardroom I noticed that Eliza’s desk was empty. I couldn’t imagine that she would come in. Although the article didn’t mention her by name, it wouldn’t take any one at the office much time or effort to figure out that it might be her. Especially since she wasn’t really able to keep all her pregnancy symptoms under wraps. “What are you doing here, Barry?” I ask him, just as I notice that he had a few bags with him. “I can’t really be at home right n
Last Updated : 2024-07-12Better In Every Way 35 pt2. First Ring
Dariana “Do your parents know it was you?” I ask. He just nods and looks down to avoid looking at me. “Is that why things are so tense at home?” I ask, rhetorically. He nods again and I just let out a heavy sigh. “Well I’m sorry, Barry, but you can’t stay here.” I say. His head shoots up to look at me. “What? No! It won’t be for long, just a little while until everything is more calm. Please don’t make me go back.” He actually scoots off of the sofa to kneel in front of me to beg. “I’m not saying you should go home. But you are a minor and I’m not your family. You staying here without your parents knowing could bring about a shit load of problems for me.” I get down to the floor so I am on his level. “I want to help you Barry, I really do. But I also have to be responsible. I’m gonna call your uncle and see if we can figure something out, okay?” “Yeah, I guess.” He mumbles and we both get off the floor. I tell him to make himself comfortable while I go to my room to call Alec.
Last Updated : 2024-07-13
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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
