Mr West

Chapter 7

Dylan

Stalking down the hallways I tried to escape everything. Feet pounding against the floor, breathing ragged I was thinking only of one thing. Her. She was becoming all I could think about, all I saw. Invasion of my privacy is what I'd call it! Invading all my senses. All I heard ringing in my ears was her tingling giggles and her sweet as honey voice. My skin prickled just thinking of her sultry voice. Damn she was making me a mess! Only face I saw when I closed my eyes was hers. A room could be crowded and somehow I could find her and focus only on her. All other sounds would be drowned out by her. She would glow. She was like a damn siren and I was in serious danger! I was treading water before she came along and now I was struggling to stay afloat. Sinking deeper and deeper as she wound her way around me; heart, body and soul. I was wrapped so tightly around her perfect little finger! In all my life I'd seen only darkness, felt only misery and despair but like an everlasting glow she was shining bright. Feelings I didn't even know I felt were surfacing. I just hoped they stayed on the edge and never broke free. Vulnerability was not something I was prepared to feel. Towards her I was vulnerable, almost naked before her. She could see through my selfish ways. She knew the whole thing was a façade, a way of keeping everyone out and protecting myself. Somehow she was cracking the foundations and entering a world I'd only ever shared with myself.

Only problem was I had some competition. One of the reasons I'd never let people know how I felt about things was for this exact reason. Stealing the things that made me happy had become an occurrence. Especially with him. I grit my teeth just thinking of the jerk that has caused me nothing but pain. He was purposely trying to piss me off. All he would do with her was use her like a doll and toss her aside when he was bored leaving her shattered and broken. If this was anyone else I wouldn't give a damn. But this wasn't just anyone. She was special. She was Eliza.

I made a beeline for my office purposely ignoring all the constant calls from my employees as I strode past them. They could deal will all matters for once and leave me in peace. In the state I was in I daren't speak to a single one of them. My wrath was powerful in this moment and I didn't want to burn them. I would snap if I opened my mouth most likely making someone cry again. Sick of hurting others and having to stand watching them crumble I avoided everyone. I could not do that. Not again. Right now I was not in a good enough mood to even try dealing with a crying employee. I could not have that guilt on my plate again. Last time it was too much. I had almost had a breakdown myself just seeing the tears leaking from that poor girls eyes. I blamed Marcel for that. Not long before I ran into the girl I had been in a bust up with Marcel over.... I could not even allow myself to say her name. But it had happened, the fight. Outside the building in the middle of the car park. If it had not have been for Caroline's soothing words and Larry's physical strength pulling me I could have killed him. I had left Marcel in a bloody heap on the gravel, his eyes swollen shut, and arms limp at his sides and his breathing shaky. Never had I allowed myself to get into that state again. I shuddered just seeing the images flashing through my mind. As I neared my office I saw the one person I did not want to see leaning against the door. The smug smile plastered on his lips was pissing me off and I wanted so badly to knock it off. With my fist.

"Leave!" I ordered, shouldering my way past him.

I slammed the door shut. He caught it with his foot and made his way inside.

"You really think yelling at me in front of her is going to get her to like you?" he scoffed.

I could not hear this right now. I would not allow him to get into my mind as he had many times before. I ignored him, pretending I had not heard the words.

"Get out."

I moved to the bay window and stared out at the streets. They were empty. My hands deep in my pockets were balled into tight fists. Across the street I spotted an elderly couple on a morning stroll. Arms linked and smiles spread wide across their faces, I began to wonder what a love like that felt like? How joyful it must feel to know you have another soul caring for you. In my whole life I had never imagined craving another as much as I craved Eliza. If only she would let me in, let me love her. A whole world was unravelling outside of these walls, people living the fullest of lives, overflowing with happiness, love and laughter. For the first time I was envious. Filled with regret for never settling, for never keeping close to my family especially my dear mother, I suddenly felt wishful. Hopeful that I could mend those tortured bridges and join those on the side filled with only light.

"You know Dylan, I didn't really like her when she first arrived. I mean don't get me wrong, she's hot. But she's not my type."

Lives were unfolding, stories were being told everywhere. In the world people were beginning journeys, new experiences were being lived and I wanted it all. I yearned to be out in the world actually living rather than what I have been doing for the last ten years. Silently waiting for death. Death is inevitable. There's nothing we can do to avoid it reaching us. It will happen sooner or later. Therefore I decided to wait for it. I figured living was worthless. Now I am starting to see that I have wasted 24 years of my life when I could have been celebrating. Celebrating the fact I am alive, I am a living, breathing human being. I have the whole world at my fingertips. Maybe I just realised how lonely it was to explore, experience and celebrate alone. Now though I finally had a reason for living, a special one. I have a person. My person. Soon to be mine at least.

"But knowing you didn't want me near her. Well that just made me want to go near her. And seeing the way she riles you up is rather entertaining."

I turned around to face him and he was grinning like a fucking idiot. He was enjoying this, acting the fool. He grabbed a blank notepad off my desk and flicked through the pages nonchalantly. I guess I should feel sorry for him. He was missing a gem, a diamond of purity that was right under his nose. He was losing out on such bliss.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to sleep with her. Just dangle her in front of you and show you she won't want you. Did you really think she'd want someone with daddy issues and anger problems?"

He was challenging me, almost daring me to play in his stupid little games. She was no game, no trophy to be won. She was a person, a beautiful woman with a beating heart. I cared far too deeply for her to be foolish and risk ruining everything. However, bringing my father into this, not to mention the problems I had had with my anger was hitting below the belt. My jaw clenched and my fists tightened till my knuckles were white.

"Oh she doesn't know does she?" he acknowledged, pulling his lips to the side, his tone mocking.

My knuckles cracked under the pressure I was conflicting on my fingers.

"I've seen you get so mad that you yelled at an employee and made them cry. A female employee might I add. You looked close to hitting her. Would you do that to Eliza?" he gasped, feigning fear.

He was pushing me so close to the edge. My fists were balled up so tightly they hurt. Daring to even accuse me of laying a finger on another soul, on a woman, on my Eliza. I could kill him! I would never, I have never laid a hand on a woman before. This sick, twisted man is treading on thin ice.

"She doesn't want a crazy person. Just remember that," he fretted, with a tut.

He tossed the notepad on the desk, and it slid to the edge. I watched it clatter to the floor. I could not move, my body was so tense.

"She doesn't want you West. Forget it."

He smirked as he sauntered out of the room and slammed the door behind him. I let out a growl as I grabbed the notepad and threw it at the door. It drifted to the floor. His sniggering on the other side pushed me further. I roared as I grabbed the chair reserved for any visitors and threw it across the room with a crash. I pulled on my hair as I checked the damage I had caused and fell to my knees. The angry tears fell from my eyes and I quietly sobbed.

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