33. Delilah
Chapter thirty-three
Delilah
M y knee bounced up and down as I sat in a local tea room, waiting for my mother to arrive. It had been about two weeks working for Calvin and Archer, and things were… different, to say the least. Archer was able to be professional seventy-five percent of the time, and the rest of the time, he made sure to find ways to make it known that his mind was often occupied with quite the opposite.
He and I had begun spending time together more frequently. And even though it is mandatory for me to keep it a secret from my father, not keeping my mother up to date was out of the ordinary. I even felt guilty for doing so.
I invited her to breakfast to discuss this very issue, and she was currently on her way.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it to see a message from Archer. Opening it, I rolled my eyes.
Archer: I keep looking towards the door each time someone walks in, thinking it’s you. My father’s employees will become suspicious. I never give them even the slightest bit of attention.
Be nice. And I’ve only been out of the office for ten minutes.
Are you nervous, Princess?
Of course I am. Now leave me alone and get back to work.
I heard the melody of my mother’s chuckle, and I looked up as she walked inside the shop with the phone to her ear.
“Killy, do you know how insatiable you sound?” she said, rolling her eyes, and I tuned her out as it was most likely the last conversation I wanted to have the pleasure of eavesdropping on.
Finally, she took a seat in front of me, and I smiled as she put away her phone.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Well, hello, Delilah... It seems as though you’ve forgotten about your dear family and are too busy with school and work. If your father is overworking you, tell me now, and I’ll make the rest of his week a living hell.” She spoke in a rush, and I laughed at her antics.
“I have been busy, but don’t blame Dad. It’s not entirely his fault.”
Mom hummed as someone approached our table and set teacups for both of us before he poured the tea into each. We both thanked the man, and he nodded as he stood back up.
“Please let us know if you need anything at all, Mrs. Russel,” he addressed my mother and acknowledged me before he left.
“I’d beg to differ. Almost everything ends up being a result of his decisions. Your father scares everyone, Delilah. Find a man who doesn’t think the world revolves around him,” she muttered, and I fidgeted with my cup as I bit my lip.
“Yeah, about that. I’m talking to someone, Mom.”
She tilted her head. “Oh? Is this something serious or just a friend?” she asked, and I sighed.
“It is serious, and he’s kind of my boyfriend…” She took a sip of her tea, and her eyes told me to continue. “I wanted to tell you first before Dad found out.”
“Found out that you were dating someone?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“I’m not scared of him knowing that I am dating someone. I’m just scared of him finding out that someone is Archer.”
She took another sip of her tea as she averted her gaze from mine. I anxiously waited for her response, and she folded her hands on the table.
“When did this start?” she asked, and I shrugged.
“If we want to get specific… Paris.”
She nodded. “Right. For the record, I was expecting this, but I don’t think I truly prepared myself to hear the actual words.” I gave her a tight-lipped smile, and she glared at me for a moment. “Delilah... what else are you hiding from me?” she asked, and I shrugged.
“I…may or may not have sold my soul to my dear ‘godfather’ in return for Dad’s sanity.”
Her jaw dropped slightly, and she ran her hands through her hair. “You’ve been working for Calvin?”
“Well, technically for Archer… Why do you think Dad agreed for me to go to Paris?”
She didn’t say anything, but it was clear she was almost at a loss. Her eyes met mine once again, and neither of us said a word.
“Aside from you admitting to me that you sold your soul to the devil, I can tell you’re happy,” she muttered, and I smiled genuinely once again.
She huffed as she continued thinking. “Can’t tell your father about any of this.”
“Wasn’t planning on it… ever,” I responded, and she laughed.
She stood up slowly and opened her arms for a hug, and I practically threw myself into them. I laid my head on her shoulder, and she sighed.
“I want you to be happy, my love… I do, but this can get very messy very quickly. Our family is not exactly a drama-free one.” I nodded, and she whispered, “I just want you to be careful. I will support you all the way. And just know that I love you, Dede.”
“I love you too, Bribri,” I replied as unshed tears threatened to come to my eyes, and she lightened the mood with a playful sigh.
“I’ve always preferred ‘Mom,’ but whatever makes you satisfied.”
I giggled at her playful annoyance, and we pulled away. My phone sounded on the table, and she grinned.
“I think the lover boy misses you. And always remember, don’t forget to use protection—” she started.
I pulled away as I grabbed my bag and phone. “All right, Mom, this was fun, but I have to run. I have a very scary boyfriend, or rather boss, to see for the next few hours,” I said in a rush.
She giggled as she ushered me out and gave me one final hug before we parted ways.
My phone rang, and I sighed as I picked it up.
“You can’t give me twenty minutes to talk to my mother?” I asked, and I could picture him rolling his eyes.
“It’s in my blood to not want anything to do with the Russel family... You seem to keep forgetting that you’re the only exception to that.”
“Apparently, in your eyes, I’m an exception in almost all cases,” I retorted, and he chuckled.
“You’re not wrong.” We sat in silence for a moment, and I stepped into my car. “ How did it actually go, Princess?” he asked, and I sighed.
“My mom will always be on my side. No matter what. She’s okay with us being together, but she’s worried about the person in our relationship who could make or break us.”
“I take it she’s not too fond of Killian finding out either?”
“No one is fond of my father finding out. And for the record, I’d like to stop thinking about him for as long as possible while we’re together.”
“Whatever you want, Princess. Oh, and I’m going to need you to work a bit overtime today.”
Starting the engine, I rolled my eyes with a smile. “Of course you do. I’ll see you in fifteen.”
After finishing the last of the paperwork, I placed the file in the cabinet with a huff. Archer was not kidding when he said “overtime.” I’d been here four hours later than usual, and it was almost midnight.
Archer leaned against the door frame as he watched me brush the hair out of my face.
“You stayed longer than I anticipated.”
“You needed help… and he sure isn’t of any use,” I said, pointing to Sterling, who was sitting in the corner.
He made a face. “Hey! I help,” he said with a pout, and Archer sighed.
“Yes, you help yourself to my father’s snack drawer every ten minutes. Other than that, you don’t.”
I laughed at their banter as Archer brought me into his hold from behind and rested his head on my shoulder. I leaned into his arms and rested my hands on his.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and I jumped as Kimiko locked eyes on the three of us.
“Give me my best friend back,” she ordered, and Archer tilted his head.
“Why?” he asked.
Sterling bit his lip, ignoring her obvious irritation. “Hello, tiger.”
“Piss off, Reynolds.” She spoke in a rush.
I pulled myself out of Archer’s hold as I approached her. “Kimi, what’s wrong?”
She pointed to Sterling, who was now looking around the room as if he was clueless. “It’s his fault I’m all over the place. He’s trying to take me down, he wants to make my life a living hell, and he’s best friends with the dean, which means all of my hard work means nothing if it has to go through him!!”
I calmed her slowly as I rubbed my hand soothingly on her back, and looked over to Archer. “I think I’m going to take off, Archer; it’s getting late, and I need to find something to cool her down.”
Archer nodded as he leaned against his desk. “All right, I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon—” he started, and Kimi cut him off.
“No, she’s my best friend, and I’m upset because your best friend—” she began, but Archer stopped her.
“Acquaintance,” he corrected.
Sterling rolled his eyes. “Really?” he asked Archer who, in turn, shrugged his shoulders.
Kimiko stomped her foot and glared once again. “Whatever!! He is making my life a living hell, and I need to vent to Delilah.”
“You’ll have that time during schooling hours,” Archer replied.
“Guys,” I began, trying to keep the peace.
Kimiko glared angrily. “She was mine first, Archer .”
Archer retorted as he narrowed his eyes, “Well, now she’s mine, Kimiko. ”
“You’re mine.” We heard a third voice, and the three of us sharply turned our heads to Sterling as his eyes lay fixated on Kimiko.
Kimi’s face turned red, and she avoided eye contact with him as she looked back at Archer. “You are technically withholding the most significant asset from my life, and I will press charges if you keep doing so.”
“Well, have your lawyers contact mine, and we’ll go from there,” Archer responded, and Kimiko stormed out of the room.
I crossed my arms as I stared at him. “Archer, you need to learn when to stop.”
“Eh... where’s the fun in that? Now go before she breaks something. You have tomorrow off, by the way.”
I rolled my eyes at him and placed a kiss on his cheek before pointing to Sterling. “Behave,” I ordered, and he sighed.
“I’ll try.”
Archer gave him a look before looking back at me. “No, he won’t.”
I shook my head at the two of them, and as I went to go, Archer stopped me one last time. He grabbed my hand softly, and I gazed up at him.
“I’m taking you to dinner. Friday, seven PM.”
I hummed as I pulled away from him and walked to the door to find Kimi. “I’ll think about it...” I responded stubbornly, and he sent me a wink, and I smiled as I descended the elevator with a moody Kimiko folding her arms, pouting as if she was a ticking time bomb.
We exited the building, and it was quiet on the street for the most part, which made me question why it looked like I saw someone familiar leaving the building’s garage.
My heart raced as I grabbed Kimi’s arm, and before she could protest, we sat inside the car, and I looked into the rearview mirror.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with worry on her face.
I shook my head as I continued to stare. “Nothing... just thought I saw someone...”
She nodded, and I started the engine.
My eyes glanced back to the mirror once again, and I bit my lip nervously.
Was that… Uncle Eugene?
I sat with my little sister and brother as Kimiko paced the floor back and forth. It was the next day, and yes, I had the day off, but my mother stuck me to watch the kids, and apparently Uncle Blaine saw that as a reason to drop his off, too. I did sort of promise to watch them all at one point, but I was regretting my decision as Kimiko, who was supposed to be helping, was simply ranting about her “feelings” about Sterling. Only Kimi didn’t regard them as feelings: just thoughts that were, in her words, “vile and foul.”
“Where’s Avery? He usually calms me down when I’m this upset,” she asked, and I sighed.
“Avery is getting you coffee like you asked him three minutes ago… You know he has a life, right? He’s your assistant, yes, but you need to let him breathe, Kim-Kim...”
She shook her head. “He signed a contract. He’s the other half of my brain for the next year.”
I sighed; Of course he is .
She stopped in the middle of her walk, and even the twins were confused by her movements.
“Am I missing something?” she asked, confused, and I tilted my head at her. “I mean, the guy makes my life a living hell, but he continually finds ways to gesture that he finds me attractive or alluring... which, by the way, I am not touched by in any manner.”
Gosh, do I know the feeling.
I set the twins down, and they followed Marshmallow out the door as he trotted over to their rooms down the hall. I patted the seat beside me, and Kimi sat in an unsettled way.
I sighed as I looked at her. “Kimi, Sterling is teasing you,” I said as a matter of fact, and she looked at me as if I’d grown two heads.
“I’m not following,” she said, and I sighed.
“The reason why he bothers you so much is that he has a crush on you.”
She blushed once again, and I leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, “And the reason why you blush most of the time is because you—”
She stopped me mid-sentence as she stood and screamed, “I do not!”
I watched Avery cautiously enter my room as he handed her the coffee. She practically gulped down the burning liquid, and we stared at her in shock.
Placing the cup down, she cleared her throat.
“I would never so much as wonder if Reynolds and I would be compatible, and it makes me sick to my stomach. If anything, I want to tear him to shreds,” she muttered as she exited the room.
Avery spoke as she was now out of range. “Mr. Reynolds sure has a hold on her.”
“You know what she said was completely a lie, right?” I replied, and he nodded.
“Oh, absolutely. But knowing Kimiko as both a boss and a friend, she only lets two people see her weaknesses, and that’s you and me. Mr. Reynolds wants to push boundaries that aren’t made for pushing,” he said, and I sighed.
“You think she may have a crush on him too?” I asked, and he chuckled.
“She’s my boss, Delilah. Even if I wanted to give you a full answer, she’d have my head.”
“Blink twice if you need help, Avery.” I spoke with concern and sarcasm lacing my voice, and he laughed as he left the room as well.
As they were gone, my mind drifted back to yesterday, and I smiled. I had a date on Friday with Archer—a real date. One that he asked me on formally—and for some reason, the smile on my face didn’t want to go away as I giddily kicked my feet as I internally sighed in content.
Omniscient
Stephan walked into Luca’s living room, and Luca sighed as he took a seat.
“How’s misery holding up with you?” Luca asked, to which Stephan simply shrugged his shoulders. Deciding not to pry much, Luca continued, disregarding his gesture.
“I need you to become a distraction for Archer.”
Stephan ran his hands down his face. “I hesitate to ask how or why.”
“He needs to hate you more. You obviously don’t care for your relationship with him or your father, so make it believable. Tell him to screw himself and act like your usual self,” Luca said nonchalantly, and Stephan shook his head.
“Archer wants my brotherly affection. He doesn’t hate me.”
“Then you need to give him a reason to.”
“My mother would castrate me, and my father would kill me for being cruel to his golden boy.”
“But... Archer would break,” Luca said as a matter of fact, and Stephan looked over to him as he continued, “He cares about your relationship. As much as he says he doesn’t, he does. Crush it. Make him suffer. His pain could go either way. He becomes more attached to Delilah, increasing their likelihood of getting caught, or he pushes himself away from her and causes problems for both her and Calvin.”
Stephan bit his lip as he looked away. He was not entirely opposed to the idea but still hesitant to put his younger brother through such things... even though in his mind, with all the work he’s done for his father being in vain, he’d argue he’s been through worse.
“I don’t know,” he said, and Luca sighed, not looking to beg the man as he knew he would eventually cave.
“The choice is yours, really. You either help me take down Archer, or you don’t... It’s simple. Have him hate you so the other plans will fall into place, or remain miserable and do nothing. It’s not like you’d be doing anything different than what you are now…”