Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 20

"Oana, I wasn't expecting to see you here today." Mr. Lawson raised his eyebrows, as I walked into his office, carrying the pitcher trey with a few glasses for his first meeting.
"Was there a particular reason why not?" I asked him, biting my tongue to keep from saying more, but he just smiled a little and shook his head.
"I didn't put it on the schedule, but I have another meeting at ten today, that I need you present for, if you can finish your work by then?" He asked, as I set down the trey.
Nodding, I adjusted a loose tendril behind my ear, and left his office. Rushing through the work he had given me, I realized that it wasn't as much as I thought it had been, and it ended up being mostly finished within ten minutes of Mr. Lawson's second meeting.
I walked into his office, after he called me inside, when I knocked. I stopped short, half-way through the doorway, when I saw Mr. Lawson and Damon standing together by Mr. Lawson's desk. They both turned to look at me as I walked in.
"Are you sure you need me, sir?" I asked quietly, looking directly at Mr. Lawson.
"Yes, Oana. My brother and I have a few things we need to discuss with you, involving the situation with the mafia." He said, his voice completely calm as if he were discussing the weather.
I clenched my jaw. "Please," I gestured to them, doing everything I could to keep an even tone, while I stared at my boss.
"As you know, the mafia leader has targeted you," Mr. Lawson began, ushering me towards the four seats in the conference side of his large office. Damon followed his brother to the seats, glancing over to me, as we took our seats, but his expression gave nothing away. "I understand that you may not be too worried about this situation, but I need you to be informed on just what is going on." He said, taking the seat across from me, and pressing his fingers together to form a small triangle in front of his chest.
"To be honest, sir, I don't want to be informed of anything else in this matter." I answered, crossing my arms across my chest. "The more I know, the less chance I have at being let off their hit list- or whatever the heck it is that I'm on." I pursed my lips. Mr. Lawson nodded, but Damon sat unmoving beside him, his eyes burning into me, as I spoke.
"I'm afraid it's too late to be taken off the list, Oana. Once you're on, you don't get off." Mr. Lawson shook his head. I tried not to choke on the breath in my lungs at his words, but my expression must have given me away. Mr. Lawson's expression softened, and Damon glanced away from me.
"I opened a letter," I inhaled, looking directly at Mr. Lawson, "and now I'm on a hit list?"
"I understand that this is overwhelming, but I was hoping you would hear me out, before you go." Mr. Lawson said, as I started to get up. Flicking my gaze to Damon, I slowly sat down and stared at Mr. Greyson impatiently. "Damon and I own a house in Cape Trent, that would be an ideal place to stay for a few weeks, while I try to work things out as best I can," Mr. Lawson started, and I bit my lower lip. "I can arrange travel to the house, and send word to your familiy, if you agree." He finished, meeting my eyes with his electric blue orbs.
"That's a kind offer Mr. Lawson, but I'd rather not leave my family here in danger while I go sit on a beach." I shook my head, holding his gaze, with my own steady one.
"I know, but I don't want anyone to get hurt." He gave me a small smile, "Especially my personal assistant."
Reaching up to run a hand through his blonde hair, he gave me a moment to think, before he reached over to the table beside him, and grabbed a letter. Standing up to give it to me, he gestured that I read it, before he took a seat once more.
Dear Ms. Atkins,
I am pleased to announce that you have won employee of the month, and have been gifted with a free two-week trip to Cape Trent, as a thank you for your hard work. The Lawson company appreciates your patience with customers, attentiveness to me, and hard work involving even the smallest details. Unfortunately, the tickets have been bought a few weeks early, and you have been asked to accept or decline this offer with two days of receiving this letter. I hope you accept, and I thank you again for your hard work.
                           Sincerely,
                     Mr. Lawson
I lowered the letter, glancing from Mr. Lawson, to Damon, before I let out a breath.
"You wrote this just to help me?" I shifted my eyes back to Mr. Lawson's gaze, and he raised his eyebrows.
"The original destination for employee of the month is a week long trip to the Florida keys, but when the situation arose, I thought Cape Trent would be better." He shrugged, adjusting his tie.
Damon still hadn't said a word.
"This is too much..." I trailed off, at a word loss for words, as I tried to see any problems with the offer, other than having to leave my family behind. "Would it be safe for me to go home and pack for the trip, and wish my family goodbye?" I asked, and this time Damon shook his head.
"No, I'll accompany you to your apartment, and stay nearby until the following morning when your flight leaves." He said, and I tensed.
"My family-" I started, but Damon cut me off.
"I'll stay out of sight until the time I'm supposed to pick you up." He assured me, and I inwardly snorted.
"It won't be nessecary for you to stay. I can get my own ride to the airport."
Mr. Lawson lowered his hands, "So you accept?" He asked, and I bit my lower lip.
If I can convince David and Mom that this is for real...
I thought to myself, staring down at the letter in my hands.
"Yes."
*
"Where have you been?" David met me at my apartment door, his arms crossed, and his brown eyes flashing.
"My phone died last night, I told Soma to text you..." I frowned, stepping inside, and brushing off his hard glare.
"She didn't."
Thank goodness.
"She must've forgot." I shrugged, setting down my wallet on the table, and plopping onto the couch. "The meeting ran over until eleven, and Mr. Lawson needed to get home for some sort of family emergency, so he offered to drop me at a hotel near work, to spend the night." I told David, holding my breath as he came around the couch to stand in front of me.
"That's the worst story I've ever heard." He grumbled, dropping onto the couch beside me.
"Really? I would have thought it was the one you told Mom, that night you snuck out to party with Jared and got caught." I smirked, reaching for the remote. David's face broke into a grin, and he seemed to forget my tale for a moment.
"Yeah, that one was pretty bad." He laughed.
"It would have been fine, if she hadn't seen you at the stoplight, on her way home from work." I snorted, and he sucked in a breath through his teeth.
"I was grounded for like eternity."
"Speaking of Mom," I frowned, "where is she?"
David shrugged, focusing his attention on the TV. "Grocery shopping."
"I guess I have to tell you then."
"Tell me what?" David perked up, turning his attention to me, as I pulled out Mr. Lawson's letter from my pocket.
Tossing it to my brother, I focused back on the comercial that was showing on the TV, while he read. David raised his eyebrows, "Can I come?" He asked, dropping the letter, and looking at me.
"Only one ticket." I sighed, and he frowned.
"So you're leaving me here for two weeks alone?" He asked, and I inhaled.
"Unfortunately."
"Sweet!"
"What's sweet?"
I turned and glanced behind me, as Mom walked into the house with some grocery bags, and smiled.
"She's going to Cape Trent for two weeks, on office awards." David said, when I opened my mouth to answer my mom. 
"Oh honey, that's great!" Mom set the groceries down, and I walked over to hug her. "It's too bad though, because your father and I leave tomorrow, so David will be here alone..." she said, looking to David.
He laughed and shook his head, glancing from me to Mom, "Nah, I'll go spend two weeks with Jared." He winked, and Mom pursed her lips.
"He's a terrible influence  on you David-"
"Don't worry Mom, he's staying at his parents house a few towns over, so no parties for him." David smirked, and Mom shook her head.
"Sometimes I wonder about you David..." Mom shook her head, starting to unload the groceries, winking at me and smiling as she put the milk away.