Chapter 9: I GUESS I MISSED THAT MEMO.

   

     I stormed down the hallway, my heart still hammering from the scene in Blake’s office. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, embarrassment, and a flicker of something else I didn’t want to name.

Alan.

I clenched my jaw, heat creeping up my neck at the memory of his smirk, the way his black eyes danced with mischief. He had played me, and worse, he had enjoyed every second of it. And Blake—God, the way he had looked at me. I had never seen him so tense, so…off.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the person rounding the corner until it was too late.

“Oof—”

I stumbled backward as I collided into someone—again. A firm hand grabbed my elbow, steadying me before I could crash onto the floor.

“Samantha!” Nadia’s voice was startled, but laced with concern. “What on earth—”

I jerked my arm free, stepping back. “Did you know?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them, my voice sharper than intended.

Nadia blinked. “Know what?”

I folded my arms, trying to keep my voice level, but the frustration bubbling inside me was hard to contain. “That Blake has a twin brother.”

Something flickered across her face. A mix of surprise and something else—something unreadable.

She sighed, shaking her head. “So, you met Alan.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Met”

“Yeah met is an understatement. I thought he was Mr Blake. I tried to serve him breakfast, called him Sir, and—” I groaned, running a hand over my face. “God, he just went with it. He let me make a fool of myself.”

Nadia's lips twitched, but she quickly masked it with a neutral expression. “That sounds like Alan, don't dwell on it too much dear, you didn't know.”

My eyes snapped to hers. “yeah because no one cared to inform me.” I said trying not to sound rude. 

She sighed, crossing her arms. “Alright, alright. I get it—you’re upset. But in our defense, it’s not exactly common knowledge.”

I threw my hands up. “Not common knowledge? The man has an identical twin, Nadia! That feels like something worth mentioning!”

She gave me a knowing look. “Would it have changed anything?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but then hesitated. Would it have? Probably not. But still…

She sighed, folding her arms. “it slipped my mind dearest, I apologize”

I exhaled sharply, trying to process everything. “I can't believe there is two of them?”

“To be fair,” Nadia said carefully, “Alan doesn’t come around often. And when he does, it’s… unpredictable and he doesn't stay for long.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, I got that impression.”

Her gaze softened, like she could see the whirlwind of emotions I was trying to keep in check. “I take it Blake didn’t warn you?”

I huffed. “Nope. I walked into his office with breakfast for Alan, only to find the real Blake sitting at his desk, looking at me like I had lost my mind.” I shook my head. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?”

Nadia’s expression wavered between sympathy and amusement. “I can imagine.”

I gave her a pointed look. “And Alan, of course, thought the whole thing was hilarious. He just stood there, smirking, like he was enjoying some personal comedy show.”

Now she laughed. “He does have a talent for stirring up trouble.”That man breathes mischief.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Well, at least I know now. Next time, I’ll look closer.”

Nadia raised a brow. “You sure about that? Because even I still struggle sometimes.”

I gave her a flat look. “Not helping.”

She laughed again.

I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, you think this is amusing?”

She raised her hands in defense. “I mean… a little.”

I groaned. “You should’ve seen the way Blake reacted. He was—” I hesitated, remembering the way his jaw had tensed, how his fingers had curled into a fist against the desk, how his voice had been calm but dangerous when he told Alan to leave.

Nadia tilted her head. “He was what?”

I shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know. He just… wasn’t happy about it. At all.”

Something flickered in Nadia’s eyes, something knowing. “Ah.”

I frowned. “What?”

She shrugged, a little too casually. “Nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Nadia.”

She sighed, but there was an amused glint in her gaze. “It’s just… I think Blake has always been a little territorial when it comes to Alan.”

I blinked. “Territorial?”

She nodded. “They may look identical, but they’re very different. Alan is reckless, unpredictable, a bit of a flirt, and he enjoys pushing buttons. Blake, on the other hand, likes control, structure. He hates unpredictability.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, I gathered that much.”

“But when it comes to Alan, things get… complicated.”

I folded my arms. “How so?”

Nadia hesitated. “Let’s just say Alan has a habit of inserting himself into places he shouldn’t—and Blake doesn’t like it.”

I frowned. “And what does that have to do with me?”

She gave me a knowing look. “You tell me.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to insist that nothing was going on, but the words caught in my throat. Because the way Blake had reacted… the way Alan had deliberately gotten under his skin… the tension that had thickened the room the second Blake realized what had happened…

I exhaled slowly. “Blake was… different.”

Nadia smiled slightly. “Exactly.”

I shook my head. “That’s ridiculous. Why would he care if Alan messed with me? I’m just his employee.”

“of course you are” she said sarcastically 

Her words caught me off guard. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nadia simply shrugged, a cryptic smile on her lips. “nothing.”

I stared at her, but she offered nothing else. Just a small, knowing pat on my shoulder and laughing, nudging my arm. “Come on. Let’s get you something to drink. You look like you need it.”

I nodded, still slightly mortified but at least a little more at ease. “Yeah. And maybe a guide on how to survive Alan Hawthorne.”

Nadia chuckled as we walked off. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re on your own with that one.”

And just like that, I knew my time in this house had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

She turned to leave, after leaving me a bit confused. 

I stood there, my mind racing.

Blake’s reaction. Alan’s smirk.

The tension in the room.

And now Nadia’s words.

What the hell was I missing?.....

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