13. Delilah
Chapter thirteen
Delilah
A fter going home to change into a much more comfortable outfit, I had George drop me off at a coffee shop nearby and told him I would just be staying there to finish some work. He left and told me to call him when I was ready to leave. After some time, I left the building a little while later and went to Calvin’s building. God, this is so stupid.
I entered and went to the front desk. Did I have intentions of talking to Calvin about what happened with Archer? Of course not. Maybe about Luca, but I don’t believe that was my sole purpose for coming. Did I come for advice? I guess... I just wanted someone to talk to in general, and my family at home was obviously too invested in my business for me to go there.
I walked up to the receptionist’s desk, and the woman looked up before going over to her phone and dialing a number.
“Mr. Lockwood, your goddaughter is here to see you.”
She said it as if it was the most normal thing to say. Goddaughter.
I remember Calvin and Uncle Blaine having an actual argument about who would become my godfather. Uncle Blaine had the title regardless but was extremely upset when Calvin addressed himself as such. Much to my father’s dismay, my mother had to step in and grant them both the title. As a result, I was gifted two, um... wonderful godfathers.
The receptionist put the phone down and pointed to the elevator. “You can take it up to the top floor, and Mr. Lockwood will be waiting in his office for you.”
I thanked her and walked to the elevator. Thankfully, no one noticed me, and I made it to his door in less than five minutes.
I knocked twice and heard him speak for me to come in. I opened the door, and I was greeted with his smile as he sat at his desk.
“Kitten, what a pleasant surprise.”
I grinned and took a seat across from his desk.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“I’ve been fine, I guess.”
“Hmm. Are you adjusting well to life in the academy once again?” he asked, and I nodded.
“It’s been an… adjustment. That’s for sure.”
“So what brings you by?” he asked, and I shrugged.
“I don’t know. I just wanted to talk to someone,” I said, and he nodded.
“Well, you can tell me anything. I’m all ears,” he said, and I noticed his tone switch, as if he was waiting for me to say something.
His assistant walked in with some refreshments and sat them on the coffee table. Calvin stood up and directed me over to the chairs that surrounded it.
“Well, for starters, my father hasn’t been in his best mood lately.” I began recalling his rather heated conversations in his office over the phone as I made my way out the door these last few days.
Calvin chuckled. “Well, that’s Killian for you. Once in a while, you’ll see him loosen up, but ultimately, his anger gets the best of him.”
“You know what gets him riled. Why do you enjoy making him angry?”
“It’s been that way for a while now... It goes way back before you were even born. We’d never see eye to eye in many things.”
“But weren’t you the one who always started the trouble?” I asked, and Calvin chuckled as he picked up the tea from the table and took a sip.
“If I said no, I would be lying, but I don’t want to throw myself under the bus completely.”
I rolled my eyes internally. “Do his recent mood swings have anything to do with you?”
“We’re both after the same investor, though it’s purely business as of right now.” I nodded, and Calvin continued, “I noticed you and Crawford’s son are… awfully close.”
I rolled my eyes, recalling being forced to dance with him at the charity event. “That’s a stretch.”
He gave a short laugh at my choice of words and tilted his head.
“Is there anyone that has caught your interest lately then?” he asked, and my heart started beating a bit faster than it probably should have. Maybe discussing my personal life with my father’s rival wasn’t exactly a good decision. Having intimate encounters with his son wasn’t good either.
His eyes bored directly into mine as if he were looking straight through me, waiting for an answer.
I went to speak, but the door opened, and we both looked to see Archer walking in. My heart virtually stopped as his gaze stayed on me and never left.
“Hello, Archer. Why, isn’t this just unexpected?” Calvin remarked.
“You requested me to stop by two hours ago, did you not?” Archer said.
Calvin shook his head. “The details of why you’re here are quite unnecessary at this point. I was just wrapping up my conversation with Delilah here. Wouldn’t you agree, Kitten?” he asked me, and I nodded. As if that wasn’t a cue for me to get the hell out of here.
“Um, yes. It is best that I get going now.”
“Not a problem. I’m sure Archer will have no problem escorting you out, will you, Archer?” Calvin said to Archer.
Much to my dismay, he responded, “No. I wouldn’t have a problem with it at all.”
I nodded my head with a forced smile and walked to the door. Saying my goodbyes to Calvin, I went over to the door as Archer’s eyes lingered on me.
Once I was out of the office, I quickly sped over to the elevator. Not a moment later, Calvin’s office door closed and I heard footsteps coming after me. I increased my pace, as did Archer, and quickly reached the elevator.
Before I was able to press the button, I felt him grab my arm and spin me around.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you think? I’m trying to get away from you to avoid this!” I said, pointing to his hand on my arm as I tried not to be loud.
“What are you doing talking to my father?”
“Can I not just have a conversation with the man?” I asked, and Archer shook his head.
“You know you can’t. This is not something you are just allowed to do. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can guarantee that your father knows nothing about this, does he?”
“...Not necessarily,” I whispered softly.
“That’s precisely my point. So I’ll ask you again: What are you doing talking to my father? I know the type of man he is; he feeds off of trouble. And right now, it looks like you’re searching for it,” Archer accused, and I looked away from his scrutinizing gaze, finally noticing that he was still holding my arm.
“Can you let go of me?” I asked him in a hushed tone, and as if realizing it himself, he retracted his hand.
I sighed and pushed the hair out of my face. “I don’t know why I came to see him. Everyone else I know has been busy with their priorities, and the only person who came to mind just happened to be your father.”
“Just because you think you have no one to talk to doesn’t entirely justify this. You’re acting on impulse.”
“Well, you would know, wouldn’t you? ” I muttered, and my eyes shot open as I said the words only meant to be said in my mind.
“Is that supposed to mean something?” Archer asked, taking a step closer.
I bit my lip and quickly shook my head. “N-no, it’s not.”
Archer continued stalking closer, and I quickly hit the elevator button that was now against my back. Again, I always found myself in these predicaments: being snarky towards Archer only to be backed into a corner after going too far. It was always like this. I always knew what would rile him, and he fell for it every time. That, however, didn’t make him any less scary.
He tilted his head. “That little ‘remark’ didn’t have anything to do with the night of the auction, did it?” he questioned, and I gulped softly as I couldn’t speak. He leaned in, and I internally shuddered at how close he was. “Well, if that was what you were referring to, I can tell you that the kiss I gave you was not out of impulse...” he muttered, and I glared up at him silently as his hand reached up slowly to brush a strand of my hair back. Archer never knew boundaries. And it was silly of me to think that a guy who essentially “claimed me” as his princess ever since I was younger would know anything about personal space.
Reaching my hand up to push him away, his same hand grabbed my wrist knowingly, almost as if he expected it. Our glaring match lasted for some time; however, I was doing most of the glaring, and he looked like he was going to eat me alive.
The elevator opened with a small ring, and Archer slowly lowered his hand and nodded to the lift.
“Go home, Delilah.”
Not saying another word, I scurried into the elevator and turned to see the doors closing and Archer’s eyes staring right at me.
Omniscient
Calvin sat listening on the couch as Delilah spoke to him. He conversed with her harmlessly, though; it was evident she was troubled with more than just her father’s frequent outbursts of stress and anger. Most of the time, she would solely be allowed to visit him when Killian had been upset about something he’d done, and Brielle would send her... which was pretty frequent. Her coming to visit him was something that had shocked him, but he used it to his advantage, calling Archer to the office as well.
“So... is there anyone that has caught your interest lately?” he asked, and she didn’t say anything for a moment.
The door opened, and Archer walked in as if on cue.
“Hello, Archer. Why, isn’t this just unexpected?” Calvin asked with fake obliviousness.
“Did you not ask me to come for a meeting two hours ago?”
Calvin shook his head. “The details of why you’re here are quite unnecessary at this point. I was just wrapping up my conversation with Delilah here. Wouldn’t you agree, Kitten?” he asked her, and soon, their conversation ended with Delilah leaving and Archer escorting her out.
Calvin stood from the chair after a moment and walked to his desk.
A few minutes went by, and Archer walked back into the office.
“Well, it seems like your trip to the elevator was a bit longer than anticipated.” Calvin spoke sarcastically, but Archer didn’t say anything as he crossed his arms.
“Why was she here?” Archer asked, and Calvin smirked as he leaned back in his chair.
“I could tell you, but I’d rather not.”
Archer rolled his eyes, and Calvin chuckled. “After fifteen years, you finally decided to do something other than bothering the poor girl.”
“Father...” Archer started, and Calvin tilted his head.
“No, really, I’m impressed. You just need to make sure Crawford’s kid isn’t too much of a distraction.”
Archer scoffed. “A distraction? Please. Luca won’t get very far.”
“Not in his mind. He thinks he’s on the same playing field as you.”
Archer didn’t say anything, and Calvin looked back to his computer.
“We’re having lunch with him and his family soon.”
“Would this have anything to do with the upcoming lunch the Russels have planned on Sunday?” Archer said knowingly, and Calvin gave a shrug.
“We were invited by Brielle for Killian and me to ‘resolve’ what’s been going on in the past week or two.”
“Well, that’s surprising.”
“Yes, very unexpected.”
“I’m assuming you don’t plan to comply to any of the amends she may suggest. I can only ask that you don’t make the lunch a complete shitshow, but knowing you, that’s all you know how to do.”
Calvin shrugged once more. “You know your father well.”