Chapter eleven

Nathan's POV

" I am listening to you, Mom, but the answer is still no," I sighed, exhausted by this repeating conversation.

" I understand your fear, Nathan, but you have to understand me," Regina Blackwood looked at me pleadingly, but I held her stare. My chest tightened as I watched her wiping her eyes, but it did not change anything.

" It is not fear. It is just common sense," I replied much softer. I loved my mother, and seeing her like this was painful, but I could not let the past repeat itself. I could not risk other people's safety.

" Maybe you could reconsider. There has to be another way."

" We have chosen the best possible solution," I shook my head and looked through the window.

" You have chosen this solution, and I was always against it, and so was your father." My mother's voice became cold. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. We had this conversation repeatedly for the last ten years; ultimately, I was the bad one.

" Yes, I made this decision because you could not face the truth." My voice raised slightly. I was not happy with what I had to do, but it was necessary, and my mother could not understand it. In her opinion, I could try harder and find some miraculous way to fix everything. But some things were beyond repair.

" I can't leave it like this," Regina Blackwood stood up, her face filled with determination.

" I am afraid, Mom, you will have to leave it as it is," I offered her a sad smile.

She glanced at me for the last time and stormed out of the office. Our conversation ended as always. Deep down, I knew she understood my reasoning, but like every mother, she could not accept it.

I plopped into my chair, breathing deeply. Those battles with my parents always kept me worn out. They came here in turns with another great idea, and I had to turn down their offers. I hated myself for that, but someone had to be reasonable here.

That was the main reason I limited my visits to my family home to the minimum. No matter what, we would always end up with a conversation about my brother, which I hadn't seen in ten years since that tragic night.

I leaned back in my chair, looking at the robot standing on my desk. I worked on it for months, ensuring it would be ready for Christian's birthday. This boy loved robots just like me at his age, so I figured out this would be a perfect gift. I could already imagine him jumping with joy. This boy was an energy ball, and nothing could stop him. I enjoyed every moment we could spend together.

My phone rang, and I picked it up after a moment of hesitation. Maybe it was my mother coming back to scold me a little more. It wouldn't be the first time.

" Mr Blackwood, Miss Roberts came to see you, " Angela, the new receptionist, informed me.

" Send her in," I replied harsher than I wished.

This day was getting better and better. I almost wished for my mother to come back, but I gathered myself to greet my uninvited guest.

The memory of our last meeting still stung. I could clearly remember the disgust in Margot's eyes and her hurtful words. I thought she was different, but after so many years of being brainwashed by her boyfriend, she turned into him. How could she be this blind? I almost laughed at the thought. Was it not exactly how I was when I met Sam at the university? I would never see through his mask if it weren't for this one evening. He had been leeching off me for so long, and I have been completely oblivious. Even now, I was stunned by my stupidity back then.

I leaned against my door frame, watching Margot sauntering through the hall. It looked like she was not particularly happy about this meeting.

" Well, I did not expect to see you again so soon. Or ever. But I guess you did not insult me enough last time, and you came for more." I could not help myself but taunt her a little.

Margot raised her doe eyes and looked at me. I almost regretted my words. Almost.

" I..." she spoke, but I interrupted her rudely. Previous meetings with my mother still kept me on edge. I was not ready for more, and I already knew how temperamental Margot could be.

" Before you say anything else, I highly recommend you think about that twice. I am not in the mood to tolerate any rudeness." I warned her. I could still be mad at her, but I did not want her to hate me more than she already did.

Slowly, Margot nodded her head in agreement.

" I wanted to ask you about something," she said calmly, and I could tell she was struggling to control her emotions.

" After the last time? I thought you saw me as a heartless liar." I repeated her words. They still burned like an open wound. She knew nothing about me; she only knew what Sam told her, and none of those were true.

Margot lowered her head, visibly embarrassed.

Then, I heard the words I was not expecting to hear from her.

" I need your help. Please."

My chest tightened. I could be fooling myself that she meant nothing to me. It worked for the last few days, but now I looked at her, and all my feelings returned. She seemed broken.

" How can I help you?" I asked warily. I could have feelings for her, but I must still be careful. " Please come in."

Margot entered my office, and I motioned to the chair before my desk. She sat gracefully, putting her purse on her lap. I sat on my chair, waiting patiently for her to speak.

" I need to know what happened that night," Margot said, and I raised my brow, surprised.

" I thought you knew what happened that night. You were very clear about that. Why this sudden change of heart? Are you not afraid that I will fill you with lies?"

Margot flinched as if my words hurt her, and I cursed myself for being such a d*ck. But she hurt me too, accusing me of something I would never do. We were even then, at least for now.

" I am sorry for what I said," Margot replied, averted her eyes. I could not tell if she was sincerely sorry or if it was bait.

" Apologies accepted," I offered her a slight smile.

" I need to know what happened that night. How did you find me?" Margot looked at me, waiting for the response.

" I was not looking for you. It was a coincide ce. I told you that already."

" What about the man who was with me when you saw us? Did it look like I knew him?" Margot asked, fidgeting her finger. She was nervous.

" Not from my perspective," I replied honestly. " It looked like you tried to get rid of him, but you were too drunk to do it."

She shook her head. " I was not drinking much that night."

I pursued my lips. It was not the time to tell her that she was probably durg ed. Besides, she came to that conclusion before, only blaming me for doing this.

" And what then?" Margot stared at her hands.

" He was not going to let you go, so I made him," I shrugged my a ms. She did not need to know all the details. " And then I took you to the hotel, where you could sober." ' Or get the dru*s out of your system,' I thought to myself.

" And that was all?"

I furrowed my brow, wondering what else she could be asking about. " Pretty much yeah."

Now, Margot looked at me, her face hardened.

" Are you sure about that?" There was something suspicious in this question.

" Yes. What else do you want to hear?" I asked, annoyed. Are we going back to the st rt? I swear, it was like talking to my mother. I was the bad guy all over again.

" Maybe how I ended up naked in the same bed as you?" Margot's eyes flashed in an r. I averted my gaze. How was I supposed to tell her? I am sure she was not ready to hear the answer.

" Well?" Margot pressed on the matter.

" It is complicated."