Mr. Brockwell

CHAPTER ELEVEN

*Adrian*

The following morning, my alarm blares its obnoxious sound at six o'clock and I roll over to shut it off. Lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling, I realized something. I am losing any fight I had left against Calista. I can't believe I kissed her forehead last night.. I'm glad she was asleep. Maybe she won't remember? I don't know what compelled me to do it... It was just subconscious. f**k it, I can't explain it and I won't sit here and try. It's no use, just a waste of time and that's not something I like to do.

I prepared for the day, starting with a hot shower. Dressing in a black pinstripe business suit with black tie, I styled my hair back with some gel and shaved my face. Once I was finished, I left my bedroom and walked down the hallway that met the corridor that leads to Calista's room. I noticed Ida walking towards me with a tray in her hands and a broad smile plastered on her face. I arched an eyebrow with a crooked smirk. What is she up to?

"Top of the mornin' to ya, sir!" Ida greeted me with a bright smile, to which I smiled back and nodded.

"Morning, Ida. Where are you coming from?" I blatantly asked, I don't have time to beat around the bush.

"Miss Calista's room, sir. She requested coffee about thirty minutes ago. I just delivered it." Ida reported.

"She's already awake?" I asked, hearing the concern in my voice and feeling my eyebrows knit together.

"Is that a problem, sir?" Ida asked, confused.

"No, not at all. I just expected her to sleep a little longer, I guess." I shrugged, unsure of why I was feeling concerned for her.

"I'll make sure she has the best care, sir. Have a good day at work." Ida gave a warm smile and motioned me towards the stairs.

"Thanks, Ida." I nodded, heading downstairs to grab my own cup of coffee.

I poured some coffee in my tall metal travel cup, with a dash of milk and sugar, before running out the door. I didn't want to be late for work, because there was a lot of s**t going on today. s**t that I wanted nothing to do with, honestly. It's funny, because my business was everything to me, and still holds a lot of value, but ever since Calista entered my life... Everything else pales in comparison to her. She has become the most important thing in my life and-- holy f**k, I need to get a f*****g grip! What the hell has happened to me? It's like Calista unknowingly put a spell on me, because I don't know who I am anymore. I've never acted this way about a woman before and I don't know how to feel about it.

I love the way I feel when I'm around Calista, like there's this live current that dances between us and jump starts my heart every time she says my name. However, I've never felt this feeling before and I don't know what to make of it. Sure, I enjoy the sensation, but I'm also weary of it. I know it has the power to wreck me, gut me from the inside out, and I'm not sure I'm ready to admit that yet. That's admitting to a weakness, essentially, and that would taunt way too many of the bottom feeders in my life. I can't have Calista becoming the ultimate target for my enemies.

Shit. I have a lot more to worry about than my feelings for her, that's for sure, but it is something that bothers me. I've always respected women, but I also didn't have a problem sleeping with one and never seeing her again. I couldn't imagine doing that with Calista, even kissing her forehead felt like a large step for us. That's what scares me the most.. Getting caught up in all of these feelings, getting lost in something I don't even understand yet.

I pull up to the office and park in my usual spot, right in the front. Grabbing my briefcase, I walked inside and didn't bother greeting Tara in the front. I could tell it bothered her, but I guess I didn't care, because I knew I had bigger fish to fry today. Today, I was meeting with Dominic again, my most lucrative and dangerous client. I didn't want to keep him around, but I did need the money coming from his pockets.

Dominic Decarlo was a notorious billionaire who loved two things; gambling and investing his money. Currently, we're working out a deal with a local casino. Although most are reluctant to deal with Dominic, mostly because he's tied to several murders and disappearances. Dominic isn't my usual client, but I've agreed to do business because he knows a lot of people that could benefit my company. I got the owner of the casino, Darren, to agree to the investment upon one contingency: he never wanted to encounter Dominic in person. So, I agreed to be the middle man.

The only problem is, Dominic insists that we gamble together and that's not something I dabble in. Instead of blindly agreeing, I've done my homework. I've been learning how to play poker and all sorts of games, because I know Dominic would sweep the table with my money. I'm not going to agree to something I know I'll lose, it's that simple, but that's not something I've admitted out loud. I consider Dominic every bit much my enemy, as I do as a business partner. I know he's crooked and likes to break the rules, that's usually not someone I find myself doing business with, but with my background and knowledge I decided what the hell. I could handle him.

If only I knew how soon I'd come to regret those words.

I entered the conference room and waited but two minutes, before Dominc strutted through the doors with a lit cigar hanging out of his mouth. He was followed by two henchmen, who looked like the Italian mob, and all three men sat at the table across from me. I pulled out the paperwork, explaining the income and payouts. I slid the file across the table and Dominic scanned through everything, sliding it to the man on his left.

The man on the left had gray hair and round glasses, maybe in his sixties. He began studying the papers harder, making notations in his personal brown leather notebook. Dominic stared directly at me, smoking his cigar and flicking his ash on my mahogany table. I held back the glare that I so badly wanted to unleash and forced a smile instead, waiting for his assistant to comment on the proposal.

"Good deal, sir." The man nodded and closed the file, setting his pen on his notebook.

"I'll look through it more and have an answer for you within a week." Dominic said and held out his hand for me to shake.

"Sounds good, Dominic. I look forward to hearing from you." I agreed and shook his hand.

"I'll see you soon, Adrian. I hope I'll also be seeing that little assistant of yours, as well." Dominic snickered as he walked out the door.

I remained seated after they left, because the feeling in the pit of my stomach was eating me alive. It seems Dominic has taken a liking to Calista and that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Nothing good can come from it. I'll come up with an excuse, but Calista most certainly will not be around for that next meeting. I'll see to it.

The rest of the day drags on, the meetings are grueling and when it finally hits five o'clock, I'm one of the first people out of the building. I leave the parking lot and make my way home to where Calista would be waiting, probably bored out of her poor little mind. It's at least Wednesday, two more days and she can remove her neck brace. She wouldn't return to work until the following Monday, because I wanted her to have plenty of time to heal.

It occurs to me that I've been extremely misleading towards Calista and she's probably wondering what the hell is going on. What she doesn't know is, I've been asking myself the same question. One minute, I wanted to wrap my arms around her and taste her soft lips that I'd desired to kiss for so long. Next, I'm avoiding her because I don't want to complicate either of our lives. I know I can't continue this back and forth bullshit, I need to pick a side and, if I'm honest with myself, there isn't much of a decision to make. If she'd let me, I'd keep her forever and call her mine.

Which I can't believe, for the life of me, that I'm willing to commit to one woman so effortlessly. The thought of being tied down to someone has always left me feeling bane. It was something I never thought I'd allow myself to fall for, and here I am handing over my independent life like it didn't mean s**t. I guess compared to Calista, it didn't. Okay, f**k it! Clearly, I'm not walking away, so I might as well try. That is, if she wants to try too.

There's only one way to find out, but I don't want her to feel rushed or pressured into another relationship. s**t, she hasn't even ended it completely with the first douchebag. I'll have to feel it out, she is still fragile and recovering from a concussion. The last thing the poor thing needs to worry about is another douchebag that's vying for her love, and will just f**k her life up in a different way.

Sighing to myself, I pull up to the fenced gate and Adam buzzes me inside. I park the car right out front, under the covered roof, and enter the house. The minute I opened the front door I heard Calista's laugh echo through the hall, coming from the kitchen. My lips automatically pull into a grin, as I make my way into the room where her and Ida are making dough. Calista was standing in front of the counter with a look of shock, her face covered in white flour. Ida is slapping her knee with laughter, as both women glance at me. Calista bursts into laughter as well, causing a puff of flour to fly from her nostrils, and I even find myself chuckling.

"What happened here?" I asked, walking up to the counter.

"Well, I was trying to teach Calista how to make homemade bread." Ida chuckled, grabbing what little dough was left.

"Sounds like it didn't go so well?" I asked, glancing at Calista who was carefully studying me.

"I messed up.." Calista mumbled and dropped her head, ashamed.

"Oh, stop it! Ya did fine, darlin'!" Ida shrugged it off with a light chuckle, setting the dough in a pan and putting it inside the oven to bake.

"I can't wait to try it." I added, smiling down at Calista, who momentarily glanced up again from her shameful head drop.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Ida said, grabbing onto Calista's hand and guiding her up the stairs.

It seemed as though Ida had taken Calista under her wing. I smiled at the thought and was thankful for the people in my life. They mean more than anyone would ever know. They're also the only people I've truly been myself around, without having a cavalier facade to manage. The outside world will eat you up, unless you prove that you're equally as cutthroat.

After changing into comfortable clothes, I find Calista on the couch by the fire again. She's still reading Romeo and Juliet, already halfway through the book. Her hair is still wet from her shower, slicked back on her little head and draped across her shoulder. She set the book down with a creased corner on the page to mark her place. I sat beside her on the couch and leaned back, stretching my arm across the back of it. She smiled at me but I could tell something was bothering her, something she didn't want to trouble me with.

"How was your day?" I asked softly, smiling.

"It was actually pretty good, given the circumstances." She shrugged, grinning, but it didn't meet her eyes.

"You're almost out of the brace," I said to try and encourage her, "Just two more days."

"Thank God!" She snorted, shaking her head in irritation at the situation.

I was trying to think of a way to ask about Ivan, without sounding controlling or possessive. I knew he had already contacted her and I wanted to know what the creep said, but I had to play it casually.

"Adrian, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I don't want you to get the impression that I want to live here rent free. So, until I find my own place to live, I'd like to pay rent. It will make me feel less like a leech, and more like a tenant." She spoke before I had the chance, her words playing in my head like a sweet little melody.

"That's very considerate of you to offer, Calista, but it's not necessary." I responded with a tight grin and repressed laughter, because this girl is so damn cute!

"I know, but I want to.." She muttered, once again dropping her gaze to her lap.

"Alright, if you insist. I'll collect fifty dollars, monthly." I smirked, waiting for her gaze to snap back up and all it took was five seconds.

"Fifty dollars? Come on, be serious." She grumbled, squinting her eyes.

"I am, that's my final offer. Either you pay your rent or you live here rent free. It's up to you." I shrugged, holding her gaze.

"Fine. Fifty it is." She grunted and held her petite manicured hand out for me to shake.

When I took hold of her hand and gently shook it, all I could focus on was the radiant fireworks between us. The second my skin touched hers, my heart skyrocketed and sent every fiber of my being into a frenzied current of electricity. I could tell she felt it too, because the tiniest gasp escaped her lips, but she hid it well. We held on to each other's hands for a few minutes, before finally letting go.

"Honestly though, thanks again for having me here. I really appreciate it." Calista said, sounding ashamed again.

"I'm happy to have the company," I admitted and watched as her precious smile returned, "Especially such great company."

Calista turned her head to look at me head on, a look of shock and puzzlement devoured her face. I keep doing this, letting things slip and then I have to hastily cover my own ass! There's really nothing I can say to retract that statement, plus it created this beam of light behind her eyes. So, instead of denying my own words, I smiled softly and got back to my feet. I so badly wanted to explore my feelings with Calista, but now isn't the time.

She's still injured and healing, she's vulnerable and that would be taking advantage of her. I could never take advantage of someone like that, especially Calista. Before I can do anymore damage, I'll remove myself instead and hope that I don't f**k things up later at dinner. I have to fight my feelings for just a little while longer. I can confess my feelings for her when she's healed and isn't dealing with Ivan.

I retreated to my office for a while, staring blankly at the papers on my desk. I'm driving myself crazy, because all I can think about is her. I want to know how she's feeling and how she's going to handle Ivan, but I don't want to overstep. I'm just her boss, there isn't a whole hell of a lot I can do. So I'll just keep an eye out on her and ask Ida to do the same. I'm afraid Calista will try to meet Ivan by herself and that will only end in catastrophe for Calista. I won't allow it. I'll protect her at all costs.