Mr. Brockwell

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

*Adrian*

I escorted Calista back to our office, all the while she kept her head down and didn't say a word. I could tell Tara and Tiffany were giving her a hard time, but to what extent I'm not sure. I do know women can be vicious, and I won't let anyone harm her... I mean anyone.

Calista sat back at her desk, pretending like nothing ever happened. I knew something was bothering her, but unsure as to what or who, and she didn't feel like sharing. I guess I'll have to play detective, until I figure it out. There were a couple of meetings today, one not particularly looking forward to. That would be the meeting with Dominic. I wasn't going to allow Calista to sit in on that meeting, mainly because I knew Dominic had eyes for her.

The first couple of meetings didn't take long, and Calista had her notations on my desk instantly after each one. I knew she would be a good assistant, but I also knew there was something else I liked about her. Something I still haven't discovered, not quite yet.

The meeting with Dominic was coming up, and I didn't want her anywhere near him, so I had to say something soon. She was working silently at her new desk, her little boot tapping as she wrote. I smirked, how can someone be so f*****g cute, doing something so simple?

"Miss. Bonetti, I'll have you sit out the next meeting." I announced, plain and simple.

"The next meeting?" She asked, shuffling through her planner.

Her eyes found Dominic's name and I noticed her breath hitched, her body became stiff, and she clenched her little jaw together. This is what made her nervous? The same thing as me? I hadn't realized that I arched an eyebrow, staring at her with a smug grin. I quickly wiped the smirk off my face and cleared my throat, meeting her gaze.

"Thank you, sir... but... can I ask why?" She asked, dammit she f*****g asked what I was hoping she wouldn't!

"It's not necessary for you to be there." I shrugged, enjoying the little smirk that appeared on her lips.

She nodded and continued working on her paperwork. I had given her a stack of invoices to enter into the log. I gathered my things for the meeting with Dominic, and I could feel her eyes watching my every move. When I turned to face her, she wasn't quite fast enough to drop her gaze back to her paperwork. I chuckled under my breath and left the office without a word. I had to refrain from flirting with her, otherwise I'd get us both into even more trouble. She already has two vultures circling her. I'm not looking to adding more to the list.

I walked down the hall and entered the conference room, setting up my paperwork, preparing for Dominic's arrival. I waited for ten minutes, and he still hadn't shown up. I was starting to worry. I left the conference room and walked back to my office, passing through the doors and stopping at the doorway. I was shocked when I saw Calista backed into a corner and Dominic standing in front of her, with his f*****g hand against her cheek.

Calista trembled, her lip quivered, and I stormed into the room. Without warning, I yanked Dominic back by his shoulder and spun him around to face me. Calista released a heavy breath, followed by a light whimper, and all I wanted to do was throttle Dominic for even laying a hand on her!

"The meeting is in the conference room, the same place it always is." I growled, shoving him towards the exit of our office.

"I saw this little beauty and couldn't help but stop to chat." Dominic purred, something that caused my adrenaline to skyrocket.

"She doesn't have anything to do with our conference." I grunted, standing in front of her, blocking his view.

"So protective... why is that, Adrian?" Dominic asked, leaning to sneak a peek at Calista.

"I'll meet you in the conference room." I pointed towards the door and he chuckled, testing my patience.

"I want her there, in that meeting, Adrian. Don't disappoint me." Dominic demanded, even Calista could sense the underlying threat in his words, as she shifted uncomfortably behind me.

I waited for Dominic and his two goons to leave my office, before turning around to take care of Calista. Her eyes were glossy, but tears weren't broken yet, and her lip was red from biting it. Her hands shook at her sides, while her eyes were dancing around the room, avoiding me directly. I slowly approached her, grabbing her hands in mine and steering her towards her computer chair. She sat down and stared up at me with a helpless expression, one that gutted me clean. Dominic scared her, and I want nothing more than to f*****g cap the fucker for it!

"Are you okay, babe?" I asked, the term of endearment slipping past my lips without a second thought.

"Babe?" She asked, pausing with a blushing grin, "I'll be okay..."

"What did he do to you?" I asked, searching her body for any visible injuries or blemishes.

"Nothing..." She whispered, glancing away.

"What did he say?" I asked, knowing there was some type of interaction between the two.

"He... he said he liked my dress..." She muttered, I knew she was relaying it in a classier version.

"I'll be back soon." I promised, kissing her on the top of her head.

I don't know what got into me, but I do know that I won't let someone like Dominic sink his teeth into Calista. She has enough problems, she doesn't need to add someone like him to the list. I shut the office door behind me and stomped down the hall, towards the conference room.

Dominic and his goons sat in their chairs, waiting for me to arrive. I didn't miss the disappointment on Dominic's face when it was just me to enter the room, shutting the door behind me. In fact, I think I even caught the faintest of glares, but he quickly disguised it and smiled instead. I sat directly across from him, offering my usual friendly facade, while a burning rage started to brew deep within.

"I want to add something to the contract..." Dominic announced with a sinister smile.

"What?" I asked, although I already knew the answer.

"That hot little piece of ass you have hiding in your office, I want her." Dominic said with a throaty chuckle, and an ominous grin that stirred up my guts.

"That's not how we do business, here, Dominic. You know that." I grunted, my fists clenching together at my sides.

"I don't care, I want her." He growled, leaning across the table and staring directly into my eyes.

"You can't have her." I firmly stated, sitting up with a stiff posture.

"How come?" He grunted, his upper lip curling into what looked to be a scowl.

"There are many reasons, Dominic. She isn't part of the deal and never will be, so get that idea out of your head. She's my assistant." I responded sternly, not willing to budge on this one.

"We'll see about that, Adrian. I'll agree to the investment, but I want to play a round of poker with you first. Tomorrow night, and take a date. We'll need a witness when I empty your pockets!" Dominic chuckled, and his goons followed in pursuit.

"Dominic-" I started to complain, but I stopped when I had him standing directly under me, with his knife pressed against my throat.

"Tomorrow night, eight o'clock, I'll be waiting out front of your house." Dominic snickered, tucking his knife away and giving me some space.

"Alright." I grunted, watching them leave the conference room.

I wasn't too far behind them, making sure that Dominic didn't make a pit stop by my office on his way out. Everything about this had my insides tangled in knots, yet I couldn't determine a way out. Dominic had already agreed to an investment, and I was involved now, whether I liked it or not.

When I entered my office, our office, I found Calista gathering her belongings. She had a look of trepidation on her face, and I found myself catching her by the elbow. She grimaced and pulled away, shaking her head, hiding tears. What happened while I was at that meeting?

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.

"It's Ivan," Calista groaned and turned to face me with damp eyes, "He's trying to break into your house. Quinn called me and said your friends are about to open up a can of whoop ass, her words not mine."

"Fuck." I growled and retrieved my phone immediately.

I tugged lightly on Calista's arm, pulling her out of the office. We're going to deal with this together. As we passed by Tara's desk, I mentioned to her that I'd be back later. Who knew when that would be? All I knew was I wasn't going to let Calista out of my sight.

We entered my car and I drove towards my house, both of us silent for different reasons. I don't know what was going through Calista's head, but I knew what I was thinking. This poor girl already has one ex-boyfriend stalker, she doesn't need another. How am I going to keep her away from Dominic? I know he wanted me to take her as my date, s**t I do too, but that only spells trouble. There are too many problems at once, the last thing I need is someone like Dominic on Calista's tail.

We pulled up to the gates and found them smashed to s**t, he must have plowed through with his car. A little further up the road, and we find his SUV, halfway parked in the lawn. The driver's door was still wide open and so was the entrance to my house. A deep unsettling sensation took place in my gut, and I knew this wasn't going to be good.

I had no doubts Quinn was protected. My main concern was Ivan's condition. He broke into a house with four trained Delta Force Military men. It was his f*****g funeral... not that he's got my sympathy, but what his stepdad will do when we deliver the broken pieces.

"Stay in the car." I ordered, hopping out and walking towards the house.

The entrance revealed broken glass, but the silence made my hair stand on end. Glancing around the area, I felt her presence behind me, turning to see her uneasy pout. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around mine and stood close. I didn't argue with her, I just lured us into the house, slowly.

We cleared the main level and didn't find anyone. I chose to go upstairs next, with Calista tiptoeing behind me. We reached the top of the stairs when we finally heard something, a faint grunt. I kept Calista behind me, as we edged closer to a spare room that was empty. I peeked inside and let out a deep breath when I saw my men surrounding Ivan.

Pushing open the door, I found my guys and Quinn all surrounding Ivan. He sat on the floor with his arms tied behind his back, his face a little roughed up. I walked into the room, but soon felt the cold air by my side, where Calista was standing beforehand. I looked back and found her hiding on the other side of the door frame, avoiding Ivan's gaze. This was the last thing she needed, after what happened at work today.

"Has he talked?" I asked my men, as they shook their heads with belittling chuckles.

"I want my girl back!" Ivan roared, spit and blood flying from his mouth.

"She's not your girl, not anymore." I smirked, taking great pleasure in saying that to him.

"CALISTA!" Ivan screeched, and I felt my right eye twitch with irritation.

"Shut the f**k up!" I grunted, sending my fist into the side of his face. "Didn't I tell you to leave her alone?"

"You're about to regret your little threat, Brockwell!" Ivan warned, something I already knew was coming, a war.

"You tell your stepdad, Harvey, that if he wants to step up to me, f*****g do it. But I'm tired of having to deal with you, the little ankle biter." I growled a menacing tone, one that raised the tension for everyone.

"I came here on my own! I wasn't sent by anyone!" Ivan shouted, and I was getting tired of his obnoxiously loud voice.

"That makes you even more stupid. What did you think was going to happen? Did you think you would successfully break into my house, kidnap Calista, and live happily ever after?" I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Seriously, bro. The lady said she didn't want you, then it means she doesn't want you." Christian added.

"f**k you!" Ivan roared again, "Cali! Cali!"

"Shut up, Ivan! I said I didn't want anything to do with you! That's your answer, now move on!" Calista came rounding the corner, barking, surprising the s**t out of me.

"Cali... please..." Ivan pleaded, while everyone rolled their eyes.

"How many times do I have to tell you no? Leave me alone, Ivan." Calista shrugged, leaving the room without another word.

"Toss him on the curb, I'll make a call to his stepdad." I grunted.

"You got it dude," Christian and the others complied without argument, "Come here, ya little bitch."

I ran after Calista, catching up with her in minutes. Her tears were cascading down her face like a waterfall, her makeup smearing across her velvet cheeks. I could feel my chest constrict, my heart pound viciously against my chest, I want nothing more than to protect her from this s**t. She wiped her cheeks, clearing her face of smudged makeup and tears. Forcing a smile, she released a hollow chuckle that split my heart in two.

"Oh my gosh... how many times will I have to apologize to you?" She said, shaking her head, ashamed.

"I kinda wish you'd stop..." I shrugged, chuckling and resting my hands on her shoulders.

"I'm a mess, my life is a mess, you don't need me in your life--" She started to ramble, and I stopped her, pressing my finger to her lip.

"I can promise you, I need you in my life, Calista..." I responded, softly.

"I need you, Adrian..." She whimpered, and I fell helpless to her velvet soft voice.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her flush with my body. Leaning down, my lips met with hers in a heated kiss. Both of us eager to explore the other, she opened her mouth and allowed my tongue to enter. I accepted, but not for long. I heard the others approaching from behind and cut the kiss short, which was probably for the best. I was about to get lost in that s**t.

She was panting, her breath hot against my lips, and our eyes met again. We slowly pulled away from each other, just in time for the others to catch up. Quinn wrapped her arms around Calista, hugging her and whispering softly into her ear. I'm guessing she was reassuring her friend.

I allowed Quinn to take over, while I slipped out of sight. Clutching my phone tightly, I was ready to make this phone call now. No longer playing games, I want our business to be done, and I want Ivan out of the f*****g picture. I shut myself in my office and dialed Harvey's number, time to chat with Ivan's stepdad.