Heart of Stone

Theodore Pearson

Gabriel set up his things in Eloise's bedroom after retrieving them from his vehicle. Luna had stayed by Eloise's side the entire time, and she watched the two men intently from where she lay beside her on the bed. Alexander also stood watch as Gabriel pulled on some gloves and cleaned the area above Eloise's vein in the crook of her arm. She opened her eyes to look at what he was doing briefly before turning her head away. Perhaps she didn't like needles. With Gabriel's deft fingers, however, she didn't even flinch as he gently slid the needle in. He taped it to her arm in two places to secure it and then pulled his gloves off.

"Now we just wait." He said.

Alexander nodded and his phone began buzzing in his pocket. He slipped it out and scowled at the screen. Gabriel noticed the change in his cousin's demeanor as he ran his fingers through his hair and clenched his jaw.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I have a fucking late-night meeting." He ground out before answering the phone.

He stepped out into the hallway and Gabriel followed behind him, softly closing the bedroom door.

"What?" Alexander snapped to whoever was on the phone.

After a pause he said, "I don't understand why you need me at every single meeting. You guys are like helpless little children."

"Alex." Gabriel interrupted quietly.

He glanced at him with his dark storm cloud eyes.

"Just go. I'll stay here with her." Gabriel offered.

Alexander sighed but nodded.

"I'm coming." He said, his tone cold.

He ended the call and shoved his phone back in his pocket, muttering under his breath about useless employees.

"Thanks, I owe you one." He said to Gabriel before slipping back into the bedroom.

He brushed the hair away from LouLou's face and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. She barely stirred and he left her to sleep with Luna beside her.

"Call me if she needs me." Alexander said.

"Don't worry, I will." Gabriel said, unused to seeing his cousin so worried about someone and knowing how serious it must be for him if he was.

Alexander drove from Eloise's place back to his corporate building, pushing the speed limit. The higher-ups were beginning to get on his nerves. He was starting to remember why he left the states in the first place. He shouldered the burden of his father's entire company at the age of only 26 years old. Most men his age were out partying and making bad decisions while he carried the weight of a legacy. Not that he much cared for partying, but he found himself wanting the normalcy of a night with his girlfriend, especially when she was sick.

Was that what she was, however? His girlfriend? He'd never officially asked her to be his. Perhaps he should have, but he almost felt as if it didn't need to be said. LouLou didn't seem like the type he needed to worry about securing titles with. Could he even ask her to be his girlfriend while he had a wife?

His phone began ringing again, and the split second before his car displayed the name, he thought that if it were someone from his company again, he was going to tell them to fuck off.

"Theodore Pearson." The car spoke.

Slightly surprised, he answered the call, his anger diminishing completely.

"Hello?"

"Alex! I'm sorry to call you so late, but I was thinking of you and I just wanted to check in." Theodore said.