Page 32 of Always Been You
“I’m sorry, but you don’t have an appointment, so you can’t see him,” the receptionist says. Déjà vu hits me like a wave, and suddenly, I can’t breathe. My chest tightens, and everything blurs around me.
What the FUCK! I’m over this. I haven’t thought much of Derrick so what the hell is going on with my body?
“Is your sister okay?” I hear the receptionist ask, but I can’t register much else.
“Lawliss!” Elisa shouts, rushing to my side.
I curse under my breath the moment I see Eddie turn, his gaze locking onto me. In seconds, he’s beside me, steadying me before I can fall. He leads me to a chair, his hands firm yet careful.
“Are you okay?” Elisa asks, her worry evident. I glance at her briefly, but it’s the fear in Eddie’s eyes that confuses me.
Elisa steadies me as I rise shakily to my feet. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks again, but I wave her off. My pulse pounds, but I can’t let this get the better of me—not now, not in front of him.
“Do you need to go to the hospital?” he asks.
“No. I’m fine,” I manage, my voice unsteady.
“You scared the shit out of me. I’ve never seen you like this before,” Elisa says, her breathing erratic as if she’s run a marathon.
“Just some flashbacks, nothing more,” I reply vaguely, hoping she doesn’t push but of course, she snaps, “I’m going to kill that motherfucker,” rising from her seat, but I pull her back.
“We’re here to meet the new owner of the company, remember?” I remind her, my voice steady, though my pulse quickens.
Eddie’s expression sharpens at my words, his jaw tightening... Just as he opens his mouth to speak, Josh approaches, “Eddie, there’s a mix-up with the supply—” He stops mid-sentence, his gaze landing on us.
“Lawliss,” Josh nods in acknowledgment, his tone polite.
“Hi, Josh.” I smile at him.
“I guess you’re here to negotiate your supply orders,” he says, his words more resigned.
“How did you—” Elisa begins but trails off as though realization has dawned on her. Her eyes narrow, flicking between Eddie and Josh.
“Are M Industries the new owners of this company?” She asks, her voice laced with suspicion and Josh nods his gaze flickering briefly toward Eddie.
“Do you, by chance, hate us or have something against our family?” Elisa demands, leaning forward slightly as if daring him to deny it.
“NO! What are you talking about?” Eddie asks, acting as though he genuinely doesn’t know.
“What the hell are you up to?” I snap, causing every head in the lobby to turn in our direction. “Let’s talk inside,” he says, grabbing my hand and leading me to the elevator. Josh and Elisa follow behind. My mind is lost in the feel of his hand on me. I just watch his hands on mine and we enter the elevator. I remove my hands from him when I catch the hint of amusement in his eye.
“What’s funny?” I ask but he shakes his head. The air feels stuffy and I’m suddenly sent back to the elevator in Florida. My heart pounds, and I glance down at his hand on mine. It’s warm, steady, and sends an unwelcome shiver up my spine. When his lips twitch in amusement, I yank my hand away, my cheeks heating.
The elevator dings and we all step. We arrive at a spacious office floor.
The office is spacious. Sleek black furniture dominates a massive glass desk. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the city skyline, cold and distant, much like the current Eddie himself. A faint scent of cider and mint lingers in the air.
We then enter the office and he takes his seat and Josh goes to stand beside him. Elisa came up to stand beside me.
“I like him,” my heart skips and my head whips to hers. “Who?”
“Relax. I’m not talking about your man but the one beside him.”
“He’s not my man.”
“Who do you think I’m saying is your man?" I open my mouth to answer but my throat clears, bringing our attention back to the present.
“So…” Eddie says, leaning back in his chair, his icy gaze boring into mine. The tension is suffocating, the air charged with emotions.
