Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 13

"Oana!" I froze, as my apartment door swung open and I stared into my kitchen, right at my mom. My step-dad was beside her, stone-faced, and arms crossed.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" I gaped, stepping inside, and letting her scoop me into a hug.
"What do you mean? We've had our visit planned for weeks!" She laughed, stepping back to rub my cheek.
Crap.
I'd forgotten that they were coming, and by the look on David's face, he knew I'd forgotten. Cleary he had not.
"Right...it must've just slipped my mind. I've been pretty busy." I forced a smile, glancing behind my mom, to where Soma was walking out of her room with a suitcase. "Soma, where are you going?" I asked her, and she smiled cheerfully.
"I'm heading to Colorado for two weeks! There's an art show, and I'm staying with my uncle...didn't I already tell you this?" She waved, manuvering around my family and towards the door. I opened my mouth to wish her goodbye, but my step-dad walked up in front of me and opened his arms stiffly for a hug. Looking up to his face, I drew my lips into a line and turned away. Half way through doing so, I felt him catch my arm and pull me back around to face him, a nasty glower on his face.
"Give me a hug, I haven't seen you in months." He growled. I tensed, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Dad, leave her alone." David stepped up, grabbing my shoulders, and giving his dad a look. My mother had been observing quietly, but as soon as Tony released me and I'd moved behind David, crossing my arms, she unclasped her hands and forced a big smile.
"Well then, now that we have hello's over with, let's get settled!" She exclaimed, reaching for her suitcase.
"We're sleeping in the bedroom." Tony, my step-dad snarled, grabbing his two bags, and barging through the living room towards my bedroom. Clenching my jaw, I glared at his back, but said nothing, instead I turned to help my mom with her bags. David took her suitcase and told her to try to find something to make for dinner. She gladly accepted and headed towards the fridge. Jerking the two small carry-ons over my right shoulder, I moved towards my bedroom, but David crossed over in front of me, cutting off my path.
"You ok?" He asked me quietly, so that neither of our parents would hear.
"I'm fine."
"Don't let him get to you, ok?" He smiled a little down at me, and I let out a breath. I glanced back at my mom and nodded in determination.
"It's only a week, I can handle it."
*
"I can't handle this!" I yelled through my teeth, clamping my hands together into fists, and glaring out at the parking lot.
"Take it easy, Oana." David murmured beside me, when I ripped off my jacket and slammed it into the wall behind me.
"He can't just come down here to my apartment and start shoving me around!" I clenched my jaw, turning back to face the parking lot. "For nine years I had to put up with him! And when I move away, he thinks he can just come back into my life and take over again?" I seethed. David reached over and put his hand on my shoulder. I whirled around to face him, digging my fingers into my palms. "I won't let him do that again!" I lowered my voice looking up at my brother, and wiping angrily at the tears that spilled onto my cheeks.
"You can't let him get to you Oana-"
"Let him get to me?! He slapped me- he shoved me into a wall, David, how am I supposed to not let that get to me?" I yelled, more tears sliding down my cheeks. David's brown eyes scanned my face, and a muscle in his jaw tightened.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your job to apologize for him." I grit my teeth, looking him in the eyes. I felt guilt starting to creep up my spine as sadness muddled in his eyes, but every word I said had been true. I couldn't pretend like Tony wasn't a terrible person- especially when he physically abused me."He's a jerk, and you can't change that." I sniffed, feeling my anger begin to evaporate as I looked away from my brother.
"I swear, Oana, if I had known he was going to hurt you, I wouldn't have left." David mumbled, and I let out a snort.
"This isn't your fault." I let out a small breath. For a moment neither of us said anything, but we both knew what the other was thinking. Tony was getting worse, and I could only imagine what life for Mom was like daily if this was what it was like for her on vacation. "We need to go check on mom." I said after a moment, watching David move his eyes back to the door.
"I'll go-"
"We'll go." I said firmly, brushing my hair back out of my face, and giving my brother a weak smile.
We headed up to my apartment again, and Tony was gone. According to Mom he'd gone out for some air, but David said he was probably smoking somewhere.
Mom was fine after Tony's outburst, but David and I decided to take her out to dinner anyways, hoping to get her mind off things. Even if my week was going to suck, I wanted to help my mom get some relaxation and fun out of her vacation. Tony wouldn't get the pleasure of ruining mine and my mom's week.
*
The next day, I sat at work, staring at the papers on my desk, trying to concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing, but failing miserably. I couldn't stand the thought of my mom home with Tony while David was at the gym. As much as I knew he probably wouldn't hurt her after last night, I couldn't shake the feeling that he could.
Pulling out my phone, I text David and asked him to take mom out for groceries as soon as he got home.
'Sounds good.'
His reply made me let out a relieved breath, and I tucked my phone into the desk drawer so I could focus on my work.
I was already an hour behind. Subconsciously, I began to sift through the papers, and my left hand wandered to the small throbbing on my right shoulder blade. When I hit the apartment wall last night, I'd landed primarily on my right shoulder blade. A bruise was already formed. After David and I had come in last night, and Tony came in from smoking, we all went to bed early. But not before mom practically locked herself and Tony inside my room. I knew she was uncomfortable with how Tony was, and she ought to be, but I missed her. As much as she was protective and over the top most of the time, I still wished she would talk to me. I wanted more than anything to just hang out with her like we used to do when I was young. Before Tony had so many issues- better yet, before Tony.
Shaking my head, I struggled to rein in my thoughts and keep focusing on my job. Glancing at the clock, I sighed.
Five more hours...
I vaguely heard someone calling me from Mr. Lawson's office, but because I was focusing so hard on focusing on my work, I shut it out.
"Oana?" Damon Lawson stepped into my office quietly, a gentle frown gracing his face, as he closed the door behind him. Starting in surprise, I snapped my head up to see who had called my name, and his frown deepened. "Is everything ok?" He said, obviously seeing my startled expression.
"Yes sir- my apologies. I didn't hear you." I stood up quickly, and he glanced me over.
"Greyson went out. I was hoping to ease your mind about-" he started, but I shook my head.
"I don't need to know sir, it's none of my business." I answered quickly, and he raised his eyebrows.
"I know." Damon's green eyes searched my gaze. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but he closed it and the muscle in his jaw twitched. "Is something wrong?" He asked, almost as if he'd thought better of something else he was going to say.
I felt transparent under his gaze, but I still shook my head. His eyes stayed on mine for a moment, and he took a couple steps forward, before he leaned down on my desk, pressing his hands out in front of him.
"You're a terrible liar."
I bit my lower lip, and tried to act confused, but it wasn't working.
"I don't know what you're implying Mr. Lawson..." I trailed off quietly, fighting the urge to shrink back under his burning gaze.
"You're jumpier than usual." He said, as if it were as simple as that.
I stiffened, immediately examining myself to see if what he said was true. I suppose I had been a little on edge since Tony had come- and last night hadn't helped, but was it really that noticible?
When I didn't respond, Damon seemed to lower the intensity of his gaze, and he straightened to his full height. "I apologize for prying." He fixed his suit coat. As he was moving towards the door, I let out a small breath, but he stopped when his hand touched the handle. "May I ask you a question?" He asked suddenly, turning back to me, determination burning in his eyes.
"O-of course..." I stuttered, brushing my hair out of my face.
"Who hit you?"