Donovan stood tall in my office, an air of arrogance in about him as he stood with his hands shoved inside his pocket. He was putting on a dark sunglasses but I could see the shiner he was spotting just below his chin. Now I understand where Grayson had been last night.
Keeping my composure calm, I turned to look at Sarah. "Thank you Sarah, I'll handle it from here."
Sarah seemed to understand that something wasn't quite right with Donovan's presence here because she gave him one last look before turning to look at me. "I'm going to be right outside just in case you need me!"
Translation, in case you need me to call security! I smiled and nodded my head at her, because that wouldn't be necessary but I gave her nod with a smile on my face. Sarah looked stunned for a moment, but she left, closing the door after her.
I turned my full attention to Donovan, my face completely neutral. "What do you want?"
He didn't bother to remove his sunglasses but I felt the weight of his gaze as he appraised me, "You can be a real bitch you know that?"
Smirking, I shrugged at him. "That isn't news to me, how about you tell me something new and then I'll consider listening to you but if that's all you have come to say then get the hell out of my office!"
Donovan scoffed at me, raising a hand to up to his face as he used a thumb to scratch his forehead. "Why did you tell Grayson?" He asked taking off his glasses.
"Because I was tired of everyone viewing me as the bad guy." I responded with a duh look on my face, "Besides, in case you missed it, he is my husband so I tell him everything."
Donovan let out a sharp humorless laugh, one that grated on my nerves. "Your husband? Is that what you are calling him now?"
I tilted my head, my patience thinning. "What else should I call him?" I asked while Donovan huffed out another laughter which was starting to get on my nerves because I had no idea what was funny and he was pissing me off.
"Are you done or do you mind telling me what exactly is so funny?"
Donovan didn't answer right away, his silence stretching long enough to make my discomfort grow. The air between us felt heavy, charged with something unspoken.
"Oh my sweet, sweet, Andrea…" Donovan cooed as he took long steps towards me, walking around the table and before I knew it he was in front of me. "Are you jealous?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
Donovan smirked was a challenge, daring me to react as he leaned in closer. His fingers brushed against my cheek, a gesture that felt invasive and made my skin crawl.
I immediately smacked his hand away, my movements sharp and deliberate but before I could step back, Donovan grabbed me by neck, his fingers wrapped around my neck and a gasp escaped me as his grip tightened.
I clawed at his hands glaring at him, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? I should be asking you that?" Donovan hissed at me, his voice low and dangerous, "You are ruining all the plans for us or have you forgotten our agreement?"
I frowned up at him, wondering what the hell he meant by that. What sort of agreement could Andrea possibly have with a dangerous man like him? I grabbed a hold of his hand tightly, my gaze hardening as I stared up at him.
"What agreement?" I asked, my tone calm despite the confusion swirling inside of me.
It was Donovan's turn to frown at me but I watched his lips curved into a sly smirk. "The plan to take over this entire company and make it yours instead of handling it to your younger sister like it was initially stated in your father's will?"
I blinked, his words hitting me like a blow to the chest. "What?" My voice came out quieter than I intended, laced with disbelief and confusion.
Before I could even process what he was saying, the door opened with a force that shook the walls.
"What the fuck is going on here?"
Donovan and I both turned to look at the entrance only to find a pissed off Grayson standing at the entrance of the door. His piercing gaze darted from me to Donovan, and his jaw tightened when he took in the scene before him.
The tension in the room shifted instantly, taking advantage of the distraction, I shoved Donovan off me with all my strength. He stumbled backwards, but smirked as he stared at Grayson, "Well hello brother!"
"You fucking bastard!" Grayson's yelled before he raced forward, his hands shooting out to grab Donovan by his collar which wasn't good.
I recovered from my shock and immediately walked over to step between the two bastards. "Okay Grayson, you need to calm down."
It would appear Grayson didn't hear me because his glare was still on Donovan who was busy smirking. "What the hell do you want?"
"What you going to hit me again?" He drawled out, his tone dripping of mockery.
Grayson jerked Donovan, "Don't fucking test me asshole!"
I reached forward and placed a hand on Grayson's arm, "Grayson, stop it right now! You don't need this, he isn't worth it!"
Donovan's smirk deepened, as he arched a brow up at Grayson no doubt feeling pleased. "If I were you, I would listen to your wife, after all you wouldn't want to cause such a huge scandal in her work place now would you?"
Bastard! I seethed quietly but I knew he was right. I turned to look at Grayson with a pleading look in my eyes. This wasn't what I wanted to happen on my first day at work, people will talk and that was the last thing I wanted, more people up my ass.
"Grayson, come on!" I urged squeezing his hand tighter.
Thankfully Grayson listened to me and let go of Donovan when I asked him. I heaved out a relieved breath and turned to look at Donovan who had a satisfied smirk on his face, he was no doubt pleased at the turn of event.
I had to clench my hands at my sides, the urge to punch Donovan in the face suddenly overwhelming me. It took everything I had to keep my expression neutral, managing a strained smile instead.
"While it's been nice and considerate for you to drop by, I'd like if we do this whole meeting another time." Translation; Fuck off and I hope we never meet again.
The corner of Donovan's lips tugged upwards as he stared at me, as if he could sense my actual thing. "Sure thing," He drawled, but his eyes shifted to Grayson, a silent taunt hanging in the air. He sauntered towards the door, but just as he reached it, he paused, turning back to pin me with a pointed look.
"And don't be a stranger Andrea," Donovan stated, "Maybe we could grab a drink another time, get to know each other properly, dearest sister in law."
The deliberate emphasis on the last words sent a cold shiver down my spine. He held my gaze a beat longer than necessary, then turned and left without another word. A breath I didn't know I was holding escaped me and I stared at the door, there was something about him! Something creepy and deeply unsettling.
I needed to stay away from him that's for sure! I thought to myself reaching up absentmindedly to touch my neck.
Grayson noticed, "Are you okay?"
I turned only to find him looking at me with concern, "I'm fine." I answered clearing my throat before I turned to take my seat.
"Are you su_"
"I said I'm fine!" I snapped at him instantly shutting him up.
Grayson kept quiet but stared at me with worry in his gaze and it was just something I hated. Because when one worry about something they tend to be curious about something and that was just something I do not need, not if I was determined to keep my new found identity as Andrea.
"I need to rest right now," I said in a dismissive tone, "I'll see you back at the hotel."
Grayson stared at me for a moment before he gave a single nod, "Alright." He said and without any other word he turned and left.
The soft click of the door echoed in the sudden stillness, leaving me alone with the heavy silence. The air in the room felt different now, it felt thick and suffocating, as if Donovan's presence had left a stain that refused to fade.
I exhaled shakily as I stared down at my hands which were slightly trembling from my anxiety. Grayson's concern, Donovan's smirk, their unspoken questions was all starting tow weigh down on me. For a moment, I closed my eyes willing the knot of unease in my chest to loosen but I knew it was no use because the only thing that could calm me down and give me more insight was hidden in a wardrobe back at the hotel.
Andrea's diary!
***
Comments anyone?