Guilt

~Hannah~

“Me? Spearhead a project?” I ask in shock. 

“What were you both discussing?” Liam glares at me. 

“This is not the time for this, Liam,” Cathylene tells him off. 

“Mom, don't tell me you will allow her to negotiate with that jerk?” 

“Why don't you look at it this way…she shows her face and we get our contract.”

Liam snarls. “Why would he want someone like her to spearhead a huge project? That fool just wants to show authority!”

“Yes, because he knows we need him and you gave him the chance to behave that way when you refuse to put yourself in order.” Cathylene scowls. 

“And if he tries to do something funny? He was flirting with Hannah!”

“So? We should lose out on this project to Blackwood?” Cathylene slams, enraged. 

Lose out to Backwood?

There are things that are constant and everyone knows. One of them is how much Cathylene hates the Blackwood family. She hates them so much because she thinks they always copy the Durk in everything. The two families are into construction and cars business and now they are both hoping to have the Alpha title in their families. Cathylene will kill to win them. 

Liam gnash his teeth. 

“Nathan and Hannah will take care of this. End of discussion.” She tells Liam and to me and Nathan, she says: “And you two better make sure to negotiate the best deal out of this. Meet him today and confirm we will be going on with the deal.” 

Harinth comes over and whispers something to her and together the two leave the room. 

“Follow me.” Liam orders me. 

“She's coming with me.” Nathan interjects. 

Liam tilts with a frown. “What did you just say?”

“We have a deal to close. Let's go Hannah.”

“I—” I stutter but follow Nathan anyways. I don’t have my handbag or anything but insisting to go pick them up will be inviting trouble to myself. I don't know what Liam will do. He has been glaring at me ever since they returned from the company. Apparently the guy I met at cooking school wants me to close a deal or what. For whatever reason I don't know. 

“Thank you Red. I'll take the keys.” Nathan tells his secretary. 

“I didn't bring my phone or anything,” I mumble as he drives towards the gate. 

“It's alright. I have mine,” he says softly and slows the car down. The gate slides open and he drives past it. 

It suddenly feels awkward. Last time I noticed he was mad at me. I contemplate whether to bring it up or not. His attention is focused on the road with one hand on the steering wheel and the other beside him. His eyebrows are thick and when he hits the horn or is forced to slow down due to traffic, they grow thicker and gather. 

“Anything on my face?”

I swing my gaze to the radio and my body freezes. I groan inwardly, feeling my cheeks burning. 

“Did you say something?” I turn and ask innocently.

He stares back at me and chuckles. Holy shit, my heart does a flip. 

I try my hardest to not wander off again and glue my eyes on the radio and on the road until we arrive at the meeting. 

“Hello Hannah. We meet again.” Mario greets warmly. 

“Hello, Mr Mario.” 

“Hello, Mr Mario.” Nathan greets and shakes him. 

He glances around and huffs out, a cocky smile curling up in his lips. 

“May we go inside?” Nathan motions towards the café Mario had chosen to meet. 

“I hope you don't mind. I like simplicity,” Mario chirps on our way in. 

“Not at all. So long we are all comfortable,” Nathan responds. 

We sit and Nathan does most of the talking. Mario signs the contract but insists I must be following it up with Nathan until the deal is done. At least the paperworks part. Durk Construction is building his company’s warehouse–A multi million dollar warehouse. Now I see why this deal is important to Cathylene. 

“Then, we'll see again soon.” He smiles before he heads off. 

“Excuse me, Mr Mario. I wanted to ask, you know I have no knowledge in this business yet you insist I be present. Why?”

He smiles. “Well, let's just say I can't stand the sight of people like Liam Durk.”

The next meeting, Liam insists on driving me himself. He comes out of the house and stops me as I try to enter Nathan's car. 

“You are using my car.”

“You are out of this project. Who knows what the sight of you can ruin” Nathan sneers. 

“Don't worry. I won't be present. Get in,” Liam orders me. “Hand over the car keys,” he says to Nathan. 

“This is not your car.”

Liam scoffs. “All cars in this house belong to me. The true Durk.”

I feel helpless seeing the rage engulf Nathan. He looks like he's about to explode. 

“Fine. You can drive me.” I say quickly and get into the car, afraid Nathan will be forced to react if we continue to stand there. 

Liam doesn't just drive me to the meeting but he waits until we are done to drive me back. He questions me when I get back on everything we discussed. Immediately he sees Mario and Nathan coming out of the café, he pulls me into his body and holds me.

“Remember our little secret. I love you so much Hannah, I want this to be in your head. Don't think of fucking another man. Alright? After this we should go on vacation together, Olivia, me and you.”

My body crawls with contempt and I feel Nina wriggle. He holds me tight when I try to disengage. 

“Hannah, I'm not ending things with you. We are stuck forever. You understand me?”

It sounds like a threat. No, I know it's a threat. Liam knows all my secrets now and can ruin me with a snap of his finger. I swallow painfully as I nod my head like someone controlled by a remote and finally drag myself away from his body. I look behind and notice Nathan is looking at us and for a moment, a sense of guilt overwhelms me.