97

97
ALEXANDER
I knew even before I left the words leave my mind, before the words even slipped from my lips, I knew it would scare the shit out of her if her past reactions to the topic was any indication. I should have stuck with the plan, insisted on waiting till she was ready.
Just like clockwork, mother's words pierce into my thoughts. She would make a wonderful wife. It was weird hearing it from the same woman that has accused the same Raina of being a pompous over spoilt brat who knew nothing about taking care of a business she's been trained for, much less a home she wasn't. Still, I had tried everything, the comment never left my mind, like poison, it had gone from being just a passing thought to a full blown invasion of my mind.
The excitement has been too much to contain at the time. The moment mother affirmed what I already thought, I didn't realize, until it was too late, when I blurted, "Yes and she doesn't care that I'm upset because she's being too stubborn for her own good." I wished I could take the words back but they were already out in the open, there would be no taking them back.
"Alright we would talk about it tomorrow then." She had responded in a voice that was too low to even count as a whisper, but the moment she turned away from me, I had all the answer I was probably going to get.
The air in the room thin till breathing felt like a struggle. I needed fresh air. I couldn't be around her right now because everything screamed at me to get her attention, insist on the talk, but I didn't want to upset her and even worse, I didn't want to be that guy. Not anymore. The Alex before was an ass who wouldn't know a good woman if she slapped him in the face.
"Alright. Goodnight." I planted a kiss on her forehead and left the room before I said something stupid.
The drive back home didn't take as long as usual considering I drove well above the speed limit. Cool air whipped against my cheeks and feathered my skin, slowly but surely unwinding the knot in my stomach and muscles.
I shut the car door behind me and went straight headed straight for the front entrance. I had a lot of work to catch up one still and if I couldn't clear things up with Raina, I could at least clear the mess that was my company's future. All I needed was some coffee and maybe water on the side.
My steps faltered for a second when I came face to face with Vanessa the moment I stepped through the door. She sat cross-legged on her phone while the television flipped from scene to scene.
Her gaze shifted to the door and she snapped to her feet the moment it registered in that conniving brain of hers. "Welcome." She tried for a smile, but failed. It could have been the snarl on my lips, or the warning gaze I pinned her with, whatever it was, it shut her up.
I ignored her and went straight to my study. Footsteps followed me. I didn't bother to check who they belonged to and I didn't have to.
"For how long do you intend to ignore you sister?"
"Preferably for the rest of my life." I grunted and searched my briefcase for the keys to my study.
Rushed footsteps echoed in the hallway. Vanessa rushed to us, her knees hit the black marble floors but she didn't even flinch. "Alex, I was wrong. It was stupid of me." The corner of her eyes filled with tears. Anyone could fake tears. "I spoke with Raina." The muscles in my jaw flexed. She did what?! I swear if she went there to do something as stupid as warning her off me, she might as well forget I exist. "It's not what you think!" She waved frantically. I cocked a brow at her. She was a mind-reader now? "I went there to apologize. We spoke and to be honest, I misjudged her. She's actually sweet. We might actually be good friends." She was definitely high on something cheap.
"Absolutely not." I cut her daydream short, "You will not associate nor attempt to influence my wife with..." I scanned her entire being, disgust welled up my throat at the remembrance of her deceit. "The likes of you." I spat.
Her face fell but that did nothing to the smile lifting the corner of my lips. Wife. If only that were possible, if only Raina would take that leap, my family would be whole again. I didn't need family that would so easily betray me.
I shoved the key into the keyhole but paused. Just to be safe.
"Vanessa." I tuned to face her.
Her eyes snapped to my face, her eyes gleamed with hope.
"Stay away from Raina, especially now that she's pregnant with my child. I would hate to have to get a restraining order."
Mother jumped, her eyes bright with glee.
"No." I cut her before she could even open her mouth to speak.
She paused for a second, but the smile was so plastered on her face, it never waned. "Hear me out." She scoffed. I didn't respond, just gave her the most bored look I could muster, which was easy. "I don't want he or she to be born outside of a safe family unit, you should propose again. I'm sure if it's glamorous enough, she would accept." She smiled from ear to ear.
"I repeat n-"
"That would be a perfect way into the Graham family. Things would go back to the way they were. Two power families united as one again. It's perfect!" She held her chest, her thoughts already far gone to notice the glare I shot at her.
I knew she was going to bring the Graham fortune into it. That was all that ever mattered to her, social status, getting acceptance from a bunch of strangers who could barely look themselves in the mirror with an actual smile.
"Are you done?" I deadpanned. That seemed to snap her out of whatever daze she was in.
"What do you me-"
"If I ever do marry Raina again, let me just make one thing clear. She wouldn't be staying in this house because I would find her another where I would stay with my wife and kids, without anyone coming to disturb their peace." I glared at Vanessa to emphasize my point."I refuse to let the past repeat itself."
I didn't wait for amy of them to speak before I slid into my study and locked the door before they could follow. I had bigger issues to deal with than my mother's insistent butting in and Vanessa's meaningless apologies.
I sighed as I dropped into the chair. I flipped through page upon page for hours, but nothing made it past that one question. Why wouldn't she want to marry me? I know I wasn't the most handsome or the best out there but damn it, I would be anything she wanted me to be if it would make her happy. So why?!
Even if they spoke mostly about things that matter way less than Vanessa did to me in that moment, mother did have a point. The baby did deserve more than being born outside a steady marriage, out of wedlock. Why couldn't she just see how much I loved her?! How much I was willing to do for her? I would literally do anything, literally anything for her. Getting married would solve a lot of unnecessary problems like the issue with the company, the baby in the picture, the endless thoughts that drove me closer to madness every passing day. It would fix a lot, but her trauma wasn't something I wanted to play it, not if it was going to be the final push that would take her back to the hidden spot behind the high walls of defence guarding her heart.
I groaned, shoving a hand through my hair, frustration raked through my entire being. There was barely any light strakign in through the windows anymore and still, I hadn't gotten anything done after two full hours of 'work'. This wasn't working.
I grabbed my keys , shut the door behind me and made my way to the garage. I drove above the speed limit, it was slowly becoming a habit, but I could care less at that moment. I needed clarity, I craved it, but I couldn't rush her.
I slid the car into a dark corner with a row of cars.
Dom leaned against one of them, a wine Bentley, his legs crossed, but his arms held a cigar to his lips.
"You're starting to look like one of us." Dom snickered. I shoved him the middle finger and continued my brisk walk to the front entrance.
"If you were the only one here, we both know I would never step a foot here." I scoffed, "So don't flatter yourself. I'm here for Raina."
"I knew this pregnancy was going to be more a pain in the ass than it was worth." Dom groaned. "You're never doing to leave us for more than a day in peace, are you?" He whined like a framing toddler.
I chuckled, "Yhup," I said, pooping the 'p' "You both are stuck with me now.
Dom shook with laughter as we went inside, "Either way, Congratulations." He smiled. "But, what's the plan going forward?"
I shrugged, the answer was simple, "If Raina would agree to marry m-"
"No." He cut in before I could finish the statement. I swung to him, more than a little confused. I thought he would be happy, elated by the news. He looked anything but. "Raina would not be associated with the likes of your mother or sister, I'm sorry." I shook his head.
I let out a breath I hadn't even realized I had been holding, "Agreed!" I lifted both hands in surrender before he brought the big gun. "If she does agree to marry me, I would get a separate house." I would definitely be doing that while I waited for her answer, but Dom didn't need to know that.
"Okay enough marriage and pregnancy talk. Who's the new board member?"
He shrugged, "Still waiting for an answer myself."
"Do you think it could be the-" I paused. The insensitivity of my statement hard to ignore, but it had to be said. "Do you think it could be the other brother?"
"Who knows? Could be." He agreed, " but from my conversations with the number they shared, he isn't the type to have the money or balls to actually pull something of this scale off. He handed me a cristal glass filled with golden liquid.
Okay. That left only one person who did infact have the ball.
"Could it be Nathan?"
Dom shook his head, taking the plush couch across from me. "Doubt it." He ease into a lay, "Nathan wants Raina for himself and with that comes the entire Graham fortune. Do the math." He gave me an 'it"s a pretty obvious choice stare'. "Nathan would want to keep it. This new buyer wanted to do the opposite, sell it off.
Okay. Fair point. But who else was there?
"We would know more tomorrow, fingers crossed it's something useful.
He paused at the door to Raina's room, his hand hung over the handle, "Speaking of, make sure no one knows about Raina's pregnancy. Please." His voice dropped low and I knew what he meant. Do as he requested or risk a fight with his 6'4 self.
Mother's face invaded my vision right on time. Speak of the devil. Thankfully they knew better than to put my child at risk, and if they didn't, I did mention it at least once so that would be their mistake.
I let myself in. Dom remained in the all way.
"Before you chase me out, I just need to know. Why wouldn't you marry me? I know you asked for space and I'm really not trying to disrespect your choice, I'm not a fan." I rushed before I could over think again.
"Al-"
"Do I even have any hope?"
The morning, I couldn't help it. I wanted to be around her. She wasn't supposed to be at work, she was meant to be resting, but there she was strutting down the hall like the administration wasn't falling apart.
"Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"I swear if I hear you ask that one more time, you'd be the one on compulsory rest." She rolled her eyes. I ignored it and took her hand in mine. With my free hand, I cupped her cheek.
"If at any time you feel even a little bit shaken up or tired, just let me know and we'd handle the rest.
Despite how clingy I was being, she never once complained.
"Okay, but you have to wait outside the conference room. I didn't like it. Not even one but, I agreed to trust her choices, I could start with this.
She'd barely taken ten steps into the room when all hell broke loose.
Screaming broke the peaceful silence in the office area. One man. And then it was a screaming match, everyone increasing their voices to be heard that no one was actually speaking.
"Raina!" A voice yelled angrily. Okay, fuck understanding her choices.
I rushed into the room, my heart raced in my chest, a pit welled in my stomach even before I turned to the source of the chaos.
Raina laid on the floor, barely breathing, her eyes shut. Dom tried to pick her up but my body moved on autopilot. I shoved him aside and scooped her up in my arms. He had one job. Just one job. To protect her until she let me do it myself!
I tried not to look at it, tried to control the building rage in my chest but it became an inferno the moment I did. Blood dropped down her legs, leaving a trail of crimson as I rushed her out of the stupid building. I never should have let her go in there on her own!