BLAIR'S POV
"YOU KNOW YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME IF YOU WERE TIRED?"
I chuckled, "it's fine really. I wouldn't have gotten any sleep even if I stayed home."
I spent most of the night tossing and turning under the covers. my thoughts were almost crashing around in my head all night and I had no control over them. I couldn't get rid of the feeling in my chest all night, it only ever seemed to grow the more I tried to get rid of it.
"Are they happening again?"
I swallowed hard. "No."
I never wanted to remember that time. I never wanted to relive the horror I went through at that age. I wanted to forget about them and move on. it was a story I never spoke of to anyone but Lana. Not even Dalton knows what I went through.
I didn't want him to know either. Seeing Lana's reaction was enough to terrify me from telling anyone anything like that again.
"You know you can tell me if it's happening again? I'm here for you, Blair Bear, remember that?"
I gave her a reassuring smile as the elevator doors opened. My breath hitched in my throat seeing him standing there in all his damn glory.
Why does he have to look so god-damn good?
"What are you doing here?" Lana was the first to speak upon stepping into the small box.
"I came to see your brother. Dad is making me handle the new security systems we're building."
"Must be nice having something to do." She huffed, leaning back onto the wall.
"Where's your little proxy? Scared him away already?"
She scoffed, "like I'd let him run away so easily…I gave him the day off since I was in the office all day unpacking."
"Is she building another dark cave?"
"She wouldn't be Lana if she wasn't." she gave me a bewildered look before letting out an unimpressed scoff.
"You two are unbelievable."
I quietly chuckled beside her watching the scowl twist on her face. Roman's office was six floors above Lana's. They both run different departments in the business. Lana handled the security personnel and assigned people their bodyguards while Roman handle the new technology and systems they built.
They both worked their arses off to get here. To get further than their father had taken this company in his time as the CEO. I still don't know much about what happened with them and Khadir but what I do know is that they're doing what they can to drive away from his name. They practically erased the name Khadir Azad from everything.
The elevator stopped on a couple of floors taking people on and letting people out. Most of them avoided it simply because of Lana's resting bitch face or it could be the fact she was their boss and she terrified everyone in this building.
The only person who didn't run at the sight of her was her assistant who looked no older than us.
But that was beside the point… the entire time I stood here, I found myself taking glances at Corbin every chance I got. It was almost impossible to ignore his presence.
Apparently, Corbin was doing the same thing to me every time I looked away since it prompted Lana's question.
"Did you two sleep together or something?"
"No!" Corbin and I shouted before snapping our heads back towards Lana.
She shrugged, "just saying looks like some lingering sexual tension between you from where I'm standing."
"Are you sure that's not your own after last night?" I raised a brow. She could act like she didn't have those thoughts last night even for a second but deep down I know she did. I was it in the way she looked at him. I had never seen her look like that in a while at anyone. not since the last guy she was with that is.
Lana never openly made conversation with people unless they said the first word. Even still she made everyone do the talking for her especially when she was around Roman. He made it clear when he spoke, he spoke for both of them.
They both had similar views and ideas about how to live and the rights and wrongs in this world. So whatever Roman thought Lana did as well. it was rare for them to disagree on something.
"Okay, first of all, we were discussing business and not the sexy type and secondly, I never had sex with him, nor did I insinuate that I did."
I shook my head, "that's what you said about your last sexual partner and how did that end up reminding me?"
She cursed under her breath and pulled out her phone. A victorious smile pulled on my face. I loved riling her up.
Not that she really ever stopped me from doing so.
But still, it was fun seeing her face go red with annoyance and trying to think of something to say back. It was fun.
But rather than focusing on that, I was busy trying to not collapse from his scent. the fresh woodsy scent that came from him swept over the entire elevator almost knocking me back off my feet. Once the doors opened to the top floor, Corbin stepped off and Lana followed, "I need to talk to Roman quickly and we can go." I nodded following her down the hall almost laughing at how she aimlessly walked through it while everyone parted for her like the red sea.
"Wait out here for a minute, I need a word with him in private." I had already lounged myself outside on the seat, fiddling with my rings
Neither of us say a word while we waited. Not that we really had anything to say to each other. We haven't been alone together for a long time. We never spoke unless it was through Dalton or if he was around.
I was more of a watcher growing up. I took in everything that was happening around me and kept to myself despite the fact everyone that who comes on my path called me an extrovert. I also had my introverted moments.
"You're going to get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that"
"I'm not frowning." I looked up at him through my lashes as his brown eyes bore down on me.
His chuckle bounced off the wall, "whatever you say, kid."
"I thought I told you to stop calling me that." I huffed.
I hated it. it reminded me of every conversation I've ever had with my parents. Each one ended in me being labelled a kid who didn't see the world for what it really was or a kid who doesn't understand the adult world.
I wasn't any. I understood more than I let on, yes.
But that didn't define how well I really understood what was going on in that house and their company. Dalton tried to ban all business talk from the house, but I caught some moments of conversation that were disguised as something else but weren't.
I didn't like it. I hated the princess treatment I was given.
I wanted something to do. I wanted to be a part of something more than myself. But no one ever let me. Not while they existed that is.
The only person who really let me do as I pleased was Lana. No matter how messy or stupid my plans were she remained on the side-lines watching me carefully, ready to jump in when I need her to but never on her own accord.
She made me free.
She let me be free in ways no one else would.