The Serum and The Bask Book 2 || b. barnes [ ON HOLD ]

Chapter 11 - A Lovely Morning

I woke up the next day feeling refreshed. Still carrying that same energized feeling I got from sparring yesterday. Sitting up, I reached my arms up letting sigh escape me before I pulled the comforter off of me. Practically dancing my way to my dresser, I picked an outfit, my usual slacks and flowy blouse paired with a cropped cami underneath. I wasn't expecting anyone until later today so I left the white blouse untucked and unbuttoned with the cami revealed underneath. I knew I was going to put all of my energy into my work today, and didn't want to have to bother with a change.

Maven had managed to get some more information on Walker but it wasn't much. Him and the rest of my men were still working on getting to his wife.

I grabbed a pair of black ankle boots and tucked a pair of socks in them before tucking them under my arm and leaving my room.

"Good morning Heiress,"

"Good morning Jonathan," I said with a hair tie tucked between my teeth as I pulled my hair into a bun.

"Annali will you meet you in your office," He said, taking my boots out from underneath my arm as I pulled a few wisps from my bun.

I nodded rolling up the sleeves of my blouse as we turned a corner. The two of us walked through the house, waving at maids and various guards posted in the house. Once we had made it to the office, Jonathan held open the door for me. Once I was in he closed it shut behind me.

"Good morning Heiress," Annali sung from the couch she sat at surrounded by paperwork, her tablet and her laptop. Her feet propped up on the coffee table.

"Good morning Annali," I chimed matching her bubbly tone of voice.

"Someone sounds refreshed this morning," she giggled as I made my way behind my desk. I smiled at her as I set my boots down, taking a seat.

"Just slept well is all,"

"Mhmm," She teased and I scoffed throwing a balled up piece of paper at her.

"Maybe you should spar more often," She teased waving her eyebrows up and down.

"Maybe you should tell me what's on the agenda for today,"

Annali rolled her eyes before pushing her paperwork and laptop aside. She stood up holding the tablet in her hands as she walked up to my desk.

"Today you have a meeting with two investors that you met at the gala. Then you have a meeting with Emilia Starkov and her family," Annali read off before walking back to the couch she was sitting on and grabbed a piece of paper.

"This is Maven's latest progress report, they ran into a hiccup but he says they are working through it,"

"Hiccup?"

Annali paused, swallowing a lump in her throat as she looked down at me as I sat behind my desk.

"Arthur was...uhm.. killed, it set the team back and now they are down a man," Annali explained as I read through Maven's report. Her tone of voice making me peek over the page at her in confusion.

"He doesn't want me to send a replacement?" I asked after I was done reading.

"He said that Arthur was dead weight-"

I couldn't help but scoff knowingly as I set the paper down on my desk.

"He threatened your life, then disrespected your name was all Maven told me," Annali said clenching her hands into fists at her side, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to do it."

Annali spoke through gritted teeth and I smiled standing up from my desk and walking over to her. I set my hands on her arms.

"I'm sure you would've done him in," I smiled tapping her shoulder lightly before walking past her to the couch opposite her laptop and paperwork.

I plopped down on the couch leaning my head back onto the arm of couch as I laid across it. A smile was still spread on my face as I rested my hand against my head. I looked up at the painting  on the wall beside me of my mother and father, and that small orb of light.

A blush rose to my cheeks as I thought about Bucky and his nicknames for me. I looked away from the painting and up at the ceiling. Thoughts of what we once were flooded my memory. Dancing in Madripoor, working on Sam's boat or just being in my old apartment in Brooklyn.

As Annali typed quietly opposite me, I let my thoughts flow freely. I was happy for a second before my mind found it's way to rob me of it. I thought back over the last month or so. From the explosion than to kidnapping Bucky at the gala.

It all seemed easy for Walker. Of course Bucky might have an effect on me, maybe that's how my SUVs were bombed.

"He's a distraction..." I muttered to myself sitting up.

"Heiress?" Annali asked as I looked down at the coffee table.

"I want to talk to him," I said standing up from the couch and walking over to my boots.

"Who?" Annali questioned her laptop resting on the coffee table in front of her as she watched me pull on my shoes.

"I think Bucky was meant to distract me. That's how the bombings happened. What if he's working with Walker?" I questioned slipping on my boot.

"What would he know? He's been here since the gala," Annali said pushing the paperwork across the coffee table and pulling her laptop closer to her.

"All that you've told me about him, makes me think that he would never trust Walker,"

She was right.

He's been here the whole time. Plus he hated Walker, with a passion. My mind wandered thinking maybe after all these years they became friends. I laughed at the thought.

Then I realized a lot could change in three years. Maybe Bucky was meant to distract me, a way to infiltrate my operation. The thought angered me so much I thought smoke was fuming out of my ears.

"Heiress you have a lot of stuff on the agenda," She stood up following me as I stomped to the door. I stayed silent and continued stomping my way out of the office, Jonathan and Annali following me now.

"Investors, Emilia..." Annali listed off, "all very eager to meet with you."

"So they can wait,"