CHAPTER TEN #2
The rest of the day passes slowly. A knock on my door has me pulling my eyes from some documents.
“Got a minute?” Levi asks.
I toss my papers and pen on the desk and lean back.
“For you? Always,” I say, giving him my full attention.
He comes in and heads straight over to the windows to look out. He has the same view, but this is where he always likes to stand when he comes in to talk with me.
“Congrats on the win today,” he offers, but there is something in his voice.
“Thanks. What’s going on bub?” I ask.
“Do you ever wish you picked a different career path and not the one we have?”
I have thought about it, especially when I left dad’s firm to start this.
“Of course, but I can’t really see myself as anything else.” He turns to look over at me. “Are you wanting a change?”
“No… maybe. I don’t know,” he says, shaking his head.
“What’s going on?” I ask and watch as his shoulders slump.
I’ve always felt as though Levi was my responsibility.
Growing up after our parents died, it was me who made sure he was eating and bathing.
When we moved from Washington to California, to live with Daniel and Alice, I was the one who made sure he did his homework and learned how to ride a bike.
I’d taught him how to wash clothes and took on everything he needed.
At first it was because I didn’t know these people and the last thing I wanted was for a stranger to take advantage of him.
As time went on it was just easier for me to make sure that he was taken care of.
We were all I had left and I didn’t want him to ever feel abandoned like I had when our parents left us.
As the years went by we relaxed more around our new family and we let them in.
I was thrilled that he wanted to follow in my footsteps going to Yale and then law school, but I could tell that he never really had that drive in him.
Levi has always been the type of kid and adult who loves to work with his hands and be outdoors.
Even now, I know that suit is making him itch.
“Do you think it’s too late in life to make huge changes?”
“I guess it would depend on what you’re wanting to change. Are we talking about moving somewhere else? Maybe a different specialty in the cases you’re taking on, or not being an attorney at all?”
He looks back out the window, “All the above, maybe?”
The hair on the back of my neck rise. The only time I’ve ever been separated from my brother was when I was at college. Even then, I came home to see him all the time. We spoke multiple times a day. I feel like I’m really more of his parent, rather than a brother sometimes.
“Talk to me bub,” I say, needing to know what he’s feeling. The urge to fix whatever he’s going through right now is strong, and I feel my heart hammering against my chest.
“I’ve just felt like I need a change recently. I thought I was happy here—”
“But?”
He shrugs and makes his way over to the chair across from me.
“Why don’t you take some time off and go explore some things.
Have one of the newer associates take over your workload then go out to Grandma and Grandpa’s place.
You love to hike out there and help repair their house.
Get out of the city to clear your head. When you come back, we can sit down and look over everything.
If you want a different career, then let’s make that happen.
I’ll support whatever it is you want to do. ”
“You don’t think it’ll upset Dad?”
“I think you should do what is best for you and not what Dad or I think,” I say whole heartedly. “I know I’ve encouraged you to follow me in my endeavors, but you should be doing what makes you happy. Not what others want for you.”
Levi goes to stand, straightening out his suit.
“I’ll think about it.” He leaves without another word, and the last twenty years play over in my head.
I wonder if I ever pushed him too much, or if I let my goals and ambitions be pressed on him.
I’ve only ever wanted him to be happy and never feel the way I did when our biological parents died.
Levi has such a soft soul that I worry some of the pressures of being an attorney have ruined him.
The phone on my desk buzzes, bringing me out of my thoughts. Ruby reminds me to file a document before the end of the day and I shift my focus back on work. I’ll let Levi have some space for a beat then I’ll circle back, and he and I can go for a beer and talk some more.
I spend the rest of the day working hard to make sure the rest of the weekend is cleared, and that I’m not interrupted at all, because I plan to spend it holed up in my penthouse with Everly.
I’ve asked Tina, my cook and housekeeper, to stock the house with food and beverages.
I also gave her a list to have done before she leaves for the weekend.
She is a godsend after a long day at work; coming home to a homemade meal and a clean house is exactly what I need when things here don’t go as planned.
Also, I’m not the tidiest person in the world.
Just as I’m finishing up on some transcripts of another case that a very wealthy and influential client has called and begged for my help with, a knock interrupts my concentration.
Before I can even call out to come in, the door opens and my angel walks in like she owns the place.
At this point, she could ask for it and I’d sign it right over to her in a heartbeat.
“Hey handsome,” she greets me as she walks around my desk with that sway in her hips that makes me groan every time I zone in on those curves.
Everly plants a soft, quick kiss to my cheek and before I can reach out and grab those luscious hips, she pulls out of reach and rests on the end of my desk.
Oh, the memories we could make on this desk.
She’s wearing a short off the shoulder dark teal dress, matched with silver heels. Her hair is curled and styled over her exposed right shoulder. Edible, that’s what she looks like, and I plan on devouring her all night long.
“Hello gorgeous,” I say, making a show of looking her up and down. Her firm trimmed legs are out for me to stare at and I can only picture what they’re going to look like around my waist. “Ready to get some dinner?”
“Only if you are.” Everly eyes me with a half hooded lustful gaze, and I almost clear my entire desk and lay her out on it. She’s playing a very dangerous game with me and if I wasn’t someone who prided themselves in total control then I’d do just that.
Pushing away from my desk, I quickly adjust my dick then grab for my suit jacket on the back of my chair. I plan to wine and dine her tonight and if I don’t get out of this office, we’ll never make it out of here.
“After you, angel.” I gesture towards the door and once I see her hips sway away from me, I know I’m going to be a walking hard-on all night. Maybe we should eat at the penthouse so no other fuckers can see her like this.
“Have a great weekend, Ms. Ruby,” Everly sweetly says to my secretary. They seem to get along well together ever since they first met over a month ago.
“Goodnight Ruby, have a wonderful weekend,” I say in passing as I reach for Everly, making sure to tuck her into my side.
“Have a nice evening you two,” she cheerfully says to us both. She already has her orders not to call this weekend, and I hope for her job’s sake she passes off everything to Olivia if there’s a major ordeal on our hands.
As the elevator doors open, Olivia pops out with a stack of papers in her hand. She finally looks up and sees me.
“Oh, good I was just coming to see you,” she states looking back down at the documents.
“It’ll have to wait until Monday,” I tell her and move us around and step into the box.
“Monday?” she questions then looks up. “Oh, hi Everly, sorry I was distracted.”
“Hey Olivia,” my angel greets.
“I’m off until Monday and not to be disturbed,” I tell her, giving her a pointed look.
“Really?” She raises an eyebrow, looking at me like I’m crazy.
“Really,” I say deadpan. “I told Ruby to route any emergencies to you.” I wink as she purses her lip together.
The doors close and I can’t help the chuckle that leaves me at her shocked face. I rarely take any time off, so I know I’m throwing her for a loop.
“If you need to do some work, I’m okay to wait,” Everly offers, and it makes me adore her even more. She’s so understanding that sometimes I wonder if she truly is real. Most of the females I’ve experienced want all the attention and throw a fit to be the central focus.
“You are my priority this weekend. We are overdue to have some much-needed quality time together, without all the interruptions.”
Dale is standing at the curb with the back door opened to our black sedan for the evening.
“Evening Mr. Thorne, Ms. Bryant,” Dale greets us and helps Everly in the car.
“Everything all set for tonight?” I ask as I walk around the car to enter on the other side.
“Yes sir, everything is set according to Tina, and the restaurant has your reservation confirmed and is waiting for your arrival.”
“Good.”
“Where are we going to eat?” Everly asks, the excitement in her voice makes me feel like a kid again. Being around her is like experiencing everything for the first time. I forget that she’s not used to the fancier things that I’ve lived with since my parents adopted me as a kid.
“Have you heard of Osteria Mozza?” She shakes her head. “It’s an amazing Italian restaurant.”
“I love Italian.” She wrinkles her nose for a second. “You know I’d be happy with anything, right? We don’t always have to go with something expensive and over the top.”
“I know but I want my girl to eat the best.” Everly blushes, then moves her eyes to our joined hands. “Plus, I want to make tonight special.”