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34. Seen What?
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Better 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
Better 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.
Better In Every Way 36. A While
Alec As soon as I hung up the call with Dariana I immediately dial Lachlan’s number. It takes a while for him to pick up and I’m just about out the door and on my way down to the parking garage of my building before he does. “Hey, sorry about that. I was on another call, you know how it is.” I hear him sigh as he picks up the phone. “Uh yeah, sure. Are you at home?” I ask “I can’t exactly go anywhere which things looking like this. There have been photographers perched outside the gate all day. I can’t even sneeze in my own yard without them snapping away.” I can sense his sass through the phone. “Maybe you should ask Barry for tips on how to sneak around them.” I hop into my car and get the engine going. “I’m not really interested in what that boy has to say, he’s done enough as it is.” He says. “Does that mean I can keep him?” I ask. “What are you talking about? Why are you calling me?” He responds in a tired tone. I can tell that he’s very annoyed by my intrusio
Better In Every Way 37.Low Class Company
Dariana I knew that the bliss would not last very long, but I’d be damned if I didn’t revel in every second of it. I miss it now the most while I sit here and receive a migraine inducing lecture from my parents. I was ambushed by my parents in my own office; my own secretary too powerless to stop it when they stormed in here like they owned the place. “All we are trying to say is that it would have been nice if you had warned us that this would be happening.” My dad says from the couch in the corner. “I don’t think that that’s what she’s saying.” I reply to him while pinching the bridge of my nose in annoyance. “It’s not like I had foreknowledge about this article anyway.” “You know that’s not what I mean.” He admonishes. “I told you about that boy– I told you about a lot of things but you thought you were too smart for me; that you knew better. We’ll look where your youthful wisdom has gotten you now. On the front page of some cheap tabloid!” My mother continues to rant
Better In Every Way 38. Ambush
AlecThroughout this entire week Barry has proven himself to be easier to deal with than the other one. It is a welcome shift from the drama that was Cam’s life, especially considering that I already have my hands full with so many other things. Next week, in particular, is supposed to be our annual Thanksgiving charity gala. It would be the first time I’m hosting it Stateside, so there will be a lot of new faces. Henry, my assistant, is handling most of the details for the whole thing; but it doesn’t change the fact that I am sort of a newcomer on the scene. Since most of my business had been cultivated overseas, this gala would be the first real formal event where I’d rub shoulders with the financial elite this side. And it is important that I make an impression if I intend to stick around. So I am grateful for the ease that comes with having Barry as a roommate. A part of that may have something to do with the fact that most of the really taxing stuff involving getting him settl
Better In Every Way 39.Giggling Over The Wine
Dariana “It smells like a omething is burning.” I say, rushing out of the bathroom to the kitchen where the girls are supposed to be helping me with my weekly meal prep. Instead I discover them giggling over the wine in the icing room. When they hear me come out, Emma is the only one who immediately springs up to meet me in the kitchen. She pinpoints the source of the burning smell a lot faster than I do. Quite frankly my contribution to the entire ordeal is worthless. While I was busy checking each individual pot on the stove to see which one could be the source of that smell, Emma hurriedly nudges me out of the way to pull out the blackened carrots, potatoes and peppers from the oven. It is only then, when the oven doors open to let out the steam (smoke?) and the the smell of charred vegetables becomes more pungent, that Rory and Rachel turn from where they’re sitting to witness scene in the kitchen. “Oh… that’s not good.” Rachel says. “No it is not.” I say, moving t
Better In Every Way 40. Uncomfortable
Alec “I don’t want to be here.” Barry repeats his stance for the umpteenth time since I told him yesterday that we would have to be here. “Neither do I.” I sigh as the gate to Lachlan’s estate opens for me to pull into the driveway. It seems very quiet and unassuming on the outside. All the reporters that were camped out here on this lawn earlier this week seem to have gotten tired and moved on to the next story already. The grounds are so quiet you wouldn’t know they were ever there. “Then let’s go. It’s not too late for us to just turn around and do our own thing.” He says. “You know we can’t do that–” I start to get out. “Like, fuck this. These dinners aren’t even that important.” He groans while rubbing his hands on his face in frustration. “This one is. Your dad said that they have something important to talk to everyone about. So we all have to be there.” I say, bringing the car to a stop and turning the engine off. Barry just scoffs at this. Like he has every sin
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
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Better In Every Way 38. Ambush
