The Secret Billionaire

Chapter 20

ERIS

"Assistant? Really?" Alana laughed.
"Yes, he made me believe he was the assistant to a grumpy old boss," I explained to her.
"The grumpy part is accurate," She said and continued eating.
"Watch it," Nathan warned from across the table.
"Relax, you grumpy old man. Why didn't you tell her about me? Are you embarrassed?"
"No, of course not. You know exactly why," He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why? Do you think my dead abusive ex is coming back for me?"
I dropped my spoon on the plate and looked between them. Whoa, you can cut the tension with a sword in here. Nathan glared at her, and she shook her head.
"You know it's been a long time since it happened. Do you think I like hiding from you?" She sounded upset. I looked at Nathan, who, let me just say, had a death grip on his spoon and a stern look on his face.
"You're not in hiding. I want to make sure you're safe,"
"You call that being safe? I call that being locked up," It was so quiet in here that you could hear a pin drop. She turned to look at me and shot an apologetic smile.
"Excuse me," She stormed out of the room, and Nathan sighed.
"What was that about?" I asked, staring in the direction she left in.
"It's nothing," He didn't take his eyes off Elijah, and I scoffed. I stood up with a loud screeching noise from my chair, and he looked up at me.
"Pick this up, please. I'm going to go check on her," I said and walked out of the room.
I didn't know what room she was staying in, but I was able to find her with her faint sobs echoing down the hallway. I knocked softly on the door, and the sobbing stopped.
"Go away. I don't want to talk to you right now," She said.
"It's not Nathan," I called out.
She opened the door fully, and I frowned. Her eyes were red and puffy. I walked in and hugged her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, pulling away and closing the door behind us. We sat on the bed, and she sniffed.
"I don't think Nathan has told you anything about me, considering you didn't know I existed until a couple of hours ago," She said, and I shook my head. "Two years ago, before Elijah was born, my ex started acting differently with me. I hadn't noticed what was wrong until it was too late. The first time he hit me," She sobbed. I had tears in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away before she could see. "I didn't tell anyone about it because he made me believe it was my fault. He made me accept I deserved it. One day things escalated, and I was determined to tell Nathan about it, but things got out of hand, and Nathan beat him up. He got us out of there and got my ex arrested. Not long after that, I found out I was pregnant with her," She rubbed her belly and smiled. "My ex got released on parol a few days later, but he got killed in a hit-and-run accident. Nathan bought a house for me and paid for everything because he didn't want me in any more danger."
She left me speechless. All I could do was rub her back in support. No wonder Nathan was so protective of me when he found out my ex was an abuser as well.
"I'm sorry for putting it all out there," She laughed through the tears, and I shook my head.
"No, don't apologize. It helps me understand everything better,"
She looked up at me, confused, and I chuckled. "I just got out of an abusive relationship myself. Nathan helped me through it. Thankfully, He is sitting in jail as we speak and not hunting me down," She laughed and covered her mouth instantly.
"I'm so sorry for laughing," She apologized. I grabbed her hand and laughed along with her.
"No worries. It proves how much Nathan cares about the people he loves,"
"I felt bad for surprising him and ruining what was going on between you two, but now I know it wasn't going great.." She trailed off, and I nodded. "but I'm glad I got to meet you. Do you know he couldn't stop staring at you the whole time at dinner? It's like he was mesmerized by you."
I nodded and said, "Trust me, he makes me feel the same way,"
"You have no idea how happy it makes me see him like this and how exciting it is to have a sister!" She hugged me, and I laughed. "Just don't get intimidated by Crystal. She is so annoying," She said as she pulled away.
"Who is that?"
"The receptionist down in the lobby. She has been trying to get into Nathan's pants since she started working here. Always questioning anyone that is here to see him, especially girls. She tried to stop me from seeing him; I'm his sister!" She laughed. "I've tried to tell him, but he doesn't pay her any attention,"
"See, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me,"
"No problem, Now come on. Let's go check up on the boys," We got up and went to the living room. Nathan and Elijah were on the couch watching t.v.
"He is asleep already. I'll take him to your room in a little bit," He told Alana.
She smiled and nodded. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for the way I acted right now,"
"Don't worry about it," He said and looked at me.
"We cleared everything from abusive exes to annoying receptionists," I joked, and Alana laughed. Nathan was confused, and I waved him off.
"I'm going to call Stacy to come for me. I'm quite tired," I said as I picked up my phone.
"It's late. Why don't you stay? That way, your friend won't have to drive late," Alana suggested and smiled at me.
"No, it's fine. I just came to talk to Nathan. Plus, she is expecting me,"
"Eris, we'll all go out tomorrow. Alana is right. It's late. Don't make her come over here," Nathan said, and I laughed.
"Fine," I sent her a quick message and went sit on the couch to watch t.v. with them.