Chapter 8:Family Finds Me

Elliot's POV

My phone rang during my afternoon break so I looked at the screen expecting a spam call but instead saw a name I had not seen in months.

Liam, my brother. My finger hovered over the decline button because talking to Liam meant dealing with my family which was the last thing I wanted.

If I did not answer he would just keep calling so I finally pressed accept then put the phone to my ear.

"Hello," I said.

"Elliot," Liam said and he sounded relieved like he thought I would not pick up. "Thank god, i have been trying to find you for weeks."

"How did you get this number?" I asked while walking away from my desk toward the hallway where nobody could hear me.

"Does it matter?" he said. "We need to talk."

"No we do not," I said. "I left for a reason Liam."

"I know where you are working," he said which made my blood go cold.

"Blackwood Tech, pretty bold move little brother."

I stopped walking. "How do you know that?"

"Mom and Dad hired someone to find you," he said. "It was not hard once we knew what city you were in. You are not as invisible as you think."

My hands started shaking so I leaned against the wall to steady myself. "What do you want?"

"I want to see you," Liam said. "We need to talk face to face. There is a café two blocks from your office called Rosie's, meet me there in an hour."

"I am working," I said.

"Make an excuse," Liam said. "This is important Elliot. One hour."

He hung up before I could argue. I stood there staring at my phone while my brain tried to process what just happened. My family found me, they knew where I worked.

Everything I built in the last few months felt like it was falling apart.

I went back to my desk then told Aiden I needed to leave early for a personal emergency. He looked at me concerned but just nodded then said to take whatever time I needed.

I grabbed my jacket then left before anyone could ask questions.

The café was small and quiet with only a few people inside. I saw Liam sitting at a table in the back looking at his phone.

He was wearing an expensive suit because of course he was. Liam never wore anything that cost less than a thousand dollars.

He looked up when I walked over then stood to hug me but I stepped back. His face fell but he sat down so I sat across from him.

"You look good," he said. "Different but good."

"What do you want Liam?" I asked because I did not have time for small talk.

"Mom and Dad are worried sick about you," he said while leaning forward. "You just disappeared without telling anyone where you were going. Do you know what that did to them?"

"They will survive," I said flat.

"Elliot come on," Liam said. "I know you were upset about the engagement they wanted but running away was not the answer."

"It was the only answer," I said.

"They wanted me to marry someone I did not love then spend my whole life running a company I did not care about.

That is not living Liam, that is dying slowly."

"So what are you doing now?" he asked. "Working as some assistant for pennies when you could have everything?"

"I am happy," I said. "For the first time in my life I am actually happy."

Liam looked at me like I was speaking another language. "You are happy being poor?"

"I am not poor," I said. "I have enough money to pay my rent and buy food. That is all I need."

"That is not all you need," Liam said then ran his hand through his hair which he only did when he was stressed.

"Dad is planning something Elliot. He is not going to let you stay here playing normal person."

My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"He is talking about forcing you back," Liam said quiet. "Even if it means causing problems at your workplace. He knows people everywhere including at Blackwood Tech.

One phone call from him and you could lose your job."

"He would not do that," I said but even as I said it I knew it was a lie.

My father would do anything to get what he wanted.

"He would and he will," Liam said. "Unless you come home willingly. Just come back Elliot, marry the girl and run the company. It is not as bad as you think."

"Yes it is," I said while standing up. "And I am not coming back. Tell Dad he can do whatever he wants but I am not leaving."

"Elliot wait," Liam said but I was already walking toward the door. He called my name again but I did not turn around.

I walked back to the office fast while my brain spun with everything Liam said. My father was planning something which meant I needed to be ready. But ready for what? What could he possibly do that would force me back home?

When I got close to Blackwood Tech I saw a black car parked across the street with tinted windows so dark you could not see inside.

Something about it felt wrong, the car was too nice and too out of place just sitting there.

I stopped walking then stared at it. The engine was running, I could see exhaust coming from the back. Someone was inside and watching.

I pulled out my phone then pretended to look at it while I kept my eyes on the car. It did not move. Whoever was inside was definitely watching the building or maybe watching me specifically.

My heart started racing because this had to be connected to what Liam said. My father hired someone to follow me, the black car was proof that my family was not going to leave me alone.

I walked into the building fast then went straight to the bathroom where I locked myself in a stall. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold my phone.

Everything was falling apart and I did not know how to stop it.