Taken

Chapter 16

Armie drove quickly back to the house.
"Why did we have to leave?" I asked opening my door and getting out of the car after we had pulled behind the roller doors.
"They're coming back early. They wanted to speak to me about the contract. They should be here soon."
I nodded and grabbed the bag from Armie and walked to the kitchen.
I grabbed out the box with my food and a fork and sat quietly on the floor in the kitchen.
Armie walked into the kitchen behind me and smiled at me.
"What are you doing?" He asked, clearly amused by me.

I shovelled another mouthful of egg into my mouth before answering him.
"I didn't get to finish my breakfast." I replied simply, turning back to the food and eating another fork full.
Armie smiled at me and grabbed his box of food and sat down on the ground next to me.

We ate without talking and soon we were both finished.
"What an earth are you doing?" Henry said walking into the kitchen and looking down at us.

"Breakfast" is all I said before taking a bite of a random pastry. Henry laughed and walked over to us. He squatted down in front of me and grabbed my pastry and took a bite of it. I pouted up at him. He smiled at me and moved to the coffee machine.

"I need Armie for a few minutes." Henry said pouring the coffee into his mug.
"Please, take him. He was horrible company." I joked, throwing a sideways glance at Armie who clutched his chest in mock pain.

Henry walked back to me and passed me the coffee.
"We can have a coffee before I save you from him."
I took the coffee from Henry and allowed him to pull me up by my elbow.
"Where are all the others?" I asked pausing and looking to Henry.
"They'll be in the room as well."
I nodded and grabbed a plate and put the pastries on it.
"Morning tea?" I said turning back around to Henry and Armie's glances. Henry nodded and helped me prepare the coffees.

Together we walked out into the room. I felt my heart hammer against my chest when I saw Max and Erik sitting down. I smiled at Matt as I passed him a coffee and a pastry.
"Amazing! Thank you!" he said, gently running his hand over mine as he took the coffee and the small plate.

I took a deep breath and grabbed another coffee and another plate with a pastry, placing them on my arms and loading up another coffee and plate. Internally I though back to my first job working as a waitress in a cafe. I glanced at Henry who was standing in the kitchen talking to Armie, but they were both watching me intensely.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat I walked over to Max. He stopped talking to Erik and stared at me.
"This is for you." I whispered, in a shaky voice. Max watched me for a second before taking a coffee and plate from me.
"Thank you Anna." I nodded my head at him, and turned to Erik.
"These are for you."
"Thanks." Erik said as he took the coffee and the plate from me.

"Waitressing? I struggle to see you in that kind of occupation." Max said as I began to turn away.
"Although I can see you serving me." I grit my teeth at his remark and slowly turned back to him.

"Wanna know why your minions found me working at a store rather than a cafe?" I said sassily. I watched as Max's presentation changed dramatically, he was more relaxed, leaning back in his chair smiling up at me. He liked feisty.
"Whys that?" He said leaning in slightly.
I met him half way and smiled sweetly down at him.
"Coz I broke someone's fucking jaw with the tray when he touched my ass."
Max's eyes lit up. The smile that spread across his face showed me that he was very amused by me. Without thinking I moved my hands from behind my back. Almost as if it was perceived as a threat, Erik launched forward and wrapped me in a bear hug, he pulled me back down so that he was sitting in his spot holding me tightly.
I gasped and tried to wiggle out of Erik's grip. My arms were pinned by my side so I had limited movement.

"Mmm yeah, keep going like that." Erik whispered in my ear. I froze, realising what I had been doing. Tears began to well in my eyes. Matt watched me from his seat, I could tell by his posture that he was alert and ready to respond if he needed to. Armie and Henry walked into the room and looked at us. Henry didn't say anything only raised his hand and tilted his head in a questioning manner.

"She can't be a tease and not expect a consequence." Max said from beside me, before nodding. Erik's arms relaxed and he pulled them away from me. Immediately I stood up and went to leave the room. Henry stopped me by gently grabbing my upper arm as I walked past him. I looked at his hand then to him.
"Don't leave yet, have your coffee with us. You can stay for this meeting." I nodded at him before walking and sitting on the sofa next to Matt. My heart was hammering against my chest, and I could feel my head spinning.

Henry passed me my coffee and I gradually sipped at it. I zoned out and leaned in on Matt's shoulder, he wrapped his arm around me and held me close to him. Before too long my body felt heavy, everything felt slowed.
"And then from there it should be okay, but I'm more than happy to come and make sure it runs smoothly." Armie finished and sat back in his chair. He looked to me, his chin resting in his hand, his index finger running up his cheek and his middle finger resting under his chin.
"You okay Anna?" He asked, a small smile forming on his face. I couldn't respond. My eyes were becoming heavy and I felt sleepy.

"Time to get her into bed then." Henry said beside me as he scooped me up into his arms. I blacked out.