Page 42 of The Fool
He laughs, glances at his watch, then widens his eyes in what looks like horror.
“Oh, crap, Bea, this will have to be continued because it’s time for us to go. Do you want to go out to the car, and I’ll lock up.”
“Sure,” I answer as I begin to shuffle past his huge, muscular frame. “It really is a beautiful home, Nathaniel.”
“Thank you, Bea,” he says with what looks like a genuine smile. “I hope you get to see it again…soon.”
Another awkward staring session ensues before I sheepishly walk out the door.
Keep your cool, Bea, this can’t happen. You’re his PA for Christ’s sake; it’s got stupid written all over it.
Chapter 14
Bea
We arrive back at the office earlier than expected, and as I walk in, I glance over at Helena and think about what Nathaniel had said about her. Looking at her hair pulled up in a neat bun, dressed conservatively with little to no makeup, I wonder how on earth she was ever the type of girl to dye her hair pink and work abroad by herself. She seems like she’d rather be completely invisible, and yet her brothers are so confident. Even with her father’s sexist upbringing, what happened to her?
“Hi, Nate, Bea,” she says, smiling at us before picking up her glass of water to sip, which looks more like a nervous reaction than a need for hydration.
“Hey, Hels,” Nate beams at her, “has Lucius Hastings arrived yet?”
At the sound of that name, Helena freezes mid-sip, then takes a few moments to gulp down her rather large intake of water. She then stares in shock at her brother, with color quickly draining from her face.
“What? I mean wh-who?” she flusters, shaking her head like she must have heard him wrong.
“Lucius Hastings, you remember him, don’t you? His father was married to Aunt Jen. You even stayed with them when you were seventeen. You must have run into him now and then?”
“Er…yeah, no,” she gasps, now flapping over some papers. “No, he’s not arrived yet; is he due in now?”
Nathaniel silently nods his head, looking at her with a deep-etched frown of concern. He then looks at me as though I have the answer to his sister’s sudden anxious behavior. All I can do is shrug my shoulders; I know even less than he does. Just as we’re having this strange telepathic conversation, she snaps our attention back by suddenly dropping her glass, which hits the floor with a smash that echoes all around the reception area. I emit a gasp of shock before I spin around to see who she’s staring at.
Standing in the doorway is perhaps one of the most intense-looking men I’ve ever seen in my life. If this is Lucius Hastings, then Nathaniel’s description of a soul-sucking devil is spot on. With dangerously good looks, he exudes masculinity and power in a way that’s different from Nathaniel and Cameron. I would not want to go up against him in a courtroom. Actually, I wouldn’t dare go against him inanyroom.
Initially, he looks at Nathaniel, offering a nod of acknowledgment, but then he bypasses me altogether and stares right into Helena’s wide eyes. The wad of envelopes she was holding out for Nathaniel is now trembling within her white-knuckled hand and she looks sickly pale. When no words are exchanged, just Helena staring at him with an unreadable expression, I turn back to see what this strange man is doing, only to find he is beginning to smirk in such a way, I almost think I’m intruding on an intimate moment between the two of them. It’s so intense, that even I feel a shiver run down my spine.
“Nathaniel,” he eventually says in a deep voice, a voice that could command anyone in any room. “I hope you are well; how is the family?”
He glides over with purpose, and they grasp hands in a manly handshake. It feels like the testosterone levels are suddenly rising to dangerous heights in this already male-dominated building.
“Great, thank you, Lucius,” Nathaniel replies with a deeper-than-normal voice. I sense the competitiveness in masculine authority and find it fascinating to watch. It’s like observing two male lions pacing around one another, ready to fight it out. Helena, on the other hand, looks so uncomfortable, I can tell she would like to vanish into the wall behind her.
“Helena,” Lucius addresses her in a strange, but commanding tone of voice, “it’s been a while.”
“Yes,” is all she manages to say in barely more than a whisper.
“How is the family? Your husband and daughter are well, I take it?” he asks, taking her hand to kiss the back of it. It’s still shaking but Lucius holds it firmly, then watches it until it eventually stills within his grip.
She clears her throat in an attempt to answer, but her brother jumps in for her. Something I’m beginning to think she’s had to endure her whole life, especially with two brothers and an overbearing father.
“Thankfully, she got rid of her ass of a husband, didn’t you, Hels?” He grins at her playfully, but she merely gifts him with a cold, hard stare, all while blushing with embarrassment.
“Really?” Lucius says, raising his brow in surprise. “That is…interesting.”
“Nate,” Helena manages to push out, “is it ok if I take my lunch now?”
Nathaniel frowns with concern over her sudden change in demeanor but eventually nods his head in reply.
“Course, you don’t need to ask if you have it covered. She is my big sister, after all,” he says, now looking at Lucius, and they both laugh politely at one another. Helena nods her thanks before scurrying out back to grab her bag.