Chapter 7: Just Wanted You To Know

Getting up and getting ready she went down stairs to be greeting by Nana and Vincent. "Good morning Fam." She joked making them smile. "Thank you Vinny." She smiled taking the Apple juice from him. " I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I took you in to work." He stood there with his hands in his pockets. "I'd love that but I actually need to leave now." Grabbing one of the new car keys and waving goodbye to nana. "We should stop and get some breakfast it's not good to be going on an empty stomach. "I'm really not feeling it. Could use some caffeine though." She gave him a please pathetic look.

"Fine." He smiled softly. "Stay here I'll be right back." He pulled up to a small place on a side. She forgot how sexy he sounded when he spoke his native tongue. Blushing hard trying to look away when he got back in. "Here you go. A blended Mocha and a chocolate chip muffin. Also an apple and a peach. He said handing her the back. "Thank you Vinny." Taking her drink moving her head side to side happily.

"Do you need anything that I can help you with later?" "Nah I got Knoxx coming in to translate to the realtor. Got to get a jump start on the new bunk houses out there for the sight. Also need to make sure we got enough land out there for all the equipment coming in. Permits to send in check through. It will be awhile. I should be done with everything by five and make way to that place right there." She pointed at the placed they would be going to.

"Alright than I'll make sure we are there on time. Do you want to drink tonight or drive out?" "That depends on you. I aint driving out here unless I have to. " "Well we'll get a taxi to subway than." He told her she nodded along. Better to be safe. "Besides there are some extra people coming that may make it useful to drink." She told him looking out the window. "Why is that? Do you have issues with these people?" He was concerned by her tone. "Well not exactly. Just sometimes we don't see eye to eye and we get kind of childish and argue like kids. It's pathetic but it happens. You would thank at our age we would be better or different but sometimes circumstances and other people don't ever make it that easy." She told him as she was gathering her things.

"That's true. I hope today will be better for you. If it helps I'll still be with you tonight." He was smiling to her and kissed the back of her hand as he she got out of the car. As he was still smiling to her watching her until she got in the office. Once she turned around. She saw Knox smiling widely. "Good morning boss." He said smugly. "It was. You're going to say things now aren't you?" She said as they walked in together. "Not at all. I was always pulling for you two. The boss men are going to be pist. I aint saying shit. I damn sure aint going to tell them." He said softly with his hands up.

"I will tell them today. After the meeting. Separately." She told him as they went about their day. By noon. Sienna, Landen, Colton, Jordan, Ana and their secretaries came and had the meeting they invited some accountant and project managers. Who left in the first half. Once their part was done they were dismissed if there were no problems or concerns. After everything was said and done she pulled Landen to the side. "Could you meet me in my office for a moment I run something by you." His face lit up a bit and just simply nodded.

Before she left the room. "Hey I need to run something by you I'll head up to your office in a little while." Looking at her as he lifted an eyebrow. "Bring me a soda on your way in." He just continued to look at her oddly. Shrugging it off. Walking into her office she saw him standing at her book case as picture s of all of them as kids were everywhere. "This is my favorite office. Just because of this. It's like a safe place we can all just be us in." Landen said hands in his pockets just like content and happy. "Everyone always says that. Guess I'm just homey person than." She told him as she walked over looking at them with him.

They were always comfortable with each others company. Guess that's how he started to fall for her in the first place. "So what's up. You never ask me to pop in for anything." He turned to face her. "Chloe, Cici, Sienna and some office girls are coming out for Karaoke tonight. I know how your homebody ass is. I want you to bring your lonely ass out and join us tonight. I'm bringing some new friends and guys to. It's like a single mixer of sorts." "Count me in." He snapped in quickly. "It's also like a gathering to meet someone special." "Really. And who is this special person?" He was amused. "My boyfriend." The whole world stood still for him.

"When did you get a boyfriend." "Well we've been friends for awhile. A few months. Actually he got hired out with us a few months ago. We just got close over some time and became official two days ago." "Does he know everything?" "We haven't gotten to all of that yet." She told him sadly fixing her shirt to cover her back. "Does he know about us?" "There isn't anything to really know Landen. He knows we do business with your company and we are friends so he does know the truth." She told him as she sat in her desk.

"What do you plan to tell him once the rumors start circulating." He asked putting both hands in fist form on her desk. "Well I think once word actually got out about me and him. I will just have to do an interview and lay it all to rest." She told flatly. "How do you plan to do that without telling him everything? How long are you going to wait to tell him? Why are waiting to tell him anything anyway unless there's some reason you don't trust him." He was throwing questions to her quickly.

"ENOUGH STONE!" "I will tell him what I want him to know on my own God Damn terms. AND NO ONE IS GOING TO BUTT INTO THAT! We are taking things at our pace and all of you will respect that. I trust him fully. He is not the problem. No one is going to cause a problem unless they want a problem in return. Only us and the elders know about me and my role around here for the most part anyway. So let me remind you about the old me. AS long as no one starts no shit. There won't be no shit. Besides if my friends truly care for me they would want me to be happy right?" She asked him looking him in the eye. If looks could bust you into flames, she would be dead by now.

"Why now?" He asked her in a voice that was a little shaky. "Why what?" "Why are you doing this now?" "Doing what Landen?" She was now getting aggravated. "You only been together two days. You've been talking for a few months. Why are you bringing him around now? It's too soon to be doing all this. Meeting your friends." "Why not now. It's customary to bring your partner around to meet your friends. I don't understand why I should wait. I'm not ashamed of this. Why would I hold him back from my world or the people in my life?" She asked him confused this was pretty normal thing world wide to do. "You think that way but still hold back from him your real world. Maybe you need to think about all this a little more deeper than you are. See you tonight." Landen said as he walked out mumbling something with the word irony.

Taking a deep breath looking down at her watch. Can't believe that argument took and hour better keep it going. Walking over and grabbing a soda she went to the elevator and went up two floors and went to know on the door. "Come in." She heard as he was going through documents and looking at his computer screen. Walking up she placed the bottle of coke on his desk. Looking up in a blank yet curious look. He motioned for her to sit down in the couches he had in the middle of the office.

Getting up and walking around sitting in the one across from her opening the drink. "What'd you do?" He asked her in an empty tone. "What's that supposed to mean?" Catching her off guard. "You only look like that when you are feeling guilty about something with someone or you did something." "Fine I guess that's fair. But it's nothing that you probably going on in your head right now. Nothing bad." She told him looking around the room when she saw a suitcase. "Where you going?" She asked him as her head snapped back to him. "I am going to Greece and than England I should be back in a about a week. I just have to go over somethings in some of the new places that just went up over there walk through checklist." He said waving it off it was normal.

"You want to come with me? You got some time to kill." He asked with a small smile. This wasn't new for them. "No I want to stay for Lunar New Year it's my first time I actually get to go. I've been looking forward to it." "That's right that Vincent guy and his family invited you right? Damien is going to swing though and hang with you guys for a bit as well." Colton said nodding his head. Honestly he was thankful she finally gets to go with good friends. After all the years she went through she deserved to have this. He used to like going to it to.

"Well I was going to invite you out tonight I'm bringing some new friends to mix around with some of our office ladies. Theres a guy I want Chloe to meet." "No. I've been around you at those little parties you call it. You damn girls are nuts. I'm good. Don't drink to much though." He pointed a finger and warned her. "I'm serious watch yourself I'm going to be around to take care of you if you get in to trouble." He added on. "I don't need you to come take care of me I got a man of my own to do that now. Even if I didn't I am perfectly capable to handle myself." "What'd you just say?" Colton was shocked.

"I said I can take care of myself." "No, no, no before that. When did you get a man." He was speaking softly to her. "I got a boyfriend officially two days ago. I wanted to be the first one to tell you. I didn't want you to hear from anyone other than me." Nodding his head. "Well yeah. I appreciate that." He said looking at her and he did. "Landen, Cici and Sienna are coming out tonight." Nodding again looking away quickly. "Do I. Do I know him?" He asked trying to wrap his brain around what she was saying. "It's Vincent. The one who invited me here." Looking at her. "You're with someone working under you? If I had every dime we ever made I would have never had one that guess." This was out of character for her.

"I know. I know. I just. We spent a lot of time together and you know how feelings build up to the point where they're either there or they aren't." She was trying to talk to him but it still felt a little weird to speak to him bout it. It would feel even worse to not speak about it. "Does he know bout us?" "Not really maybe a small piece but no more than the average public." Nodding his head. "Does he know about the big mess all the families are trying to bring on us?" "I don't think so. I never told him." "Does he know about anything?" Colton was looking at her confused.

"Not really. I mean about my parents. About your parents and Maddie. He knows Jordis parents took us and that's it." "So he know just enough for now than right? Look I am not judging you. Let me just put that out there real quick. I think you take all your life's information at your pace. Just remember he is human and will have questions eventually right? He must be special or mean something to you to be able to slap a label on you. I mean hell Vee it's not like you the type to date. I don't even think you been with anyone for a while now." He said as they both got sad for a second.

"He's not like that. He's different. He gets where I'm coming from. "How? How does he? If he doesn't know. Have you told him about what happened?" Looking down. "I will when it comes up. It's easier to talk about that then some of the other issues that will cross when we get to it." She told him simply. "I know how hard it is for you. No matter how strong you want to be. I know. I of all people fucking know better than anyone Vee. I can be there for you. When you ready to speak out. I can even do it for you. Last time you tried to you." "No Colton. This will have nothing to do with you. This will happen when I decide it will. No one can say anything to him or so help me God Colton people will regret it." She looked at him with a warning.

"Nothing to do with me? Really. That's a hell of a thing for you to say to me." "Is it? Think about it? I don't remember anyone else having the major role. DO YOU?!" Looking angry. "Doesn't mean you were completely alone Vee. I." "YOU WHAT? Huh? You what Colton? All the things you know all the things you seen. Tell me I'm wrong. Go ahead." She said as the were face to face now nose to nose. "Tell me I'm wrong on this?" She was daring him. He knew it. Taking a step back from her because her couldn't and she knew it. "Right. Have a safe trip." She said walking out the door with fumes rolling off her. "Yeah. Sure." He mumbled. Throwing the empty bottle across the office along with a glass ashtray. Running his hands down his face as he stared at the desk. Seeing his phone start to ring anger grew more in him as he ignored it, going back to the work in front of him.

Vincent and his group of friends came walking in and was escorted to a room where they heard the sound of female laughter. Walking in there was about nine girls including Ana who was smiling and laughing. They were beautiful. Bella instantly felt self-conscious even though look wise she could blend right in. "Bella come meet some friends." Ana said coming up to take her hand introducing her around the guys all went around and shook the other hands. "Finally the last three ladies here. My bestie Chloe Parks, Cillian who we call Cici Stone. This is Sienna Solomon. This lovely woman is Bella Lang." She told them as they all smiled deeply at her.

"She's so adorable." One said. "You're gorgeous." Sienna told her looking over everything from her hair and her nails. "You need to go with me to get mine done. I love these." Cici told her making Bella get excited she was worked up over the thought of James meeting a girl tonight. As heartbreaking as it may make here she didn't want to hold him back either. Being to scared to make a move. Even though James was Ace's friend. He had always been her best friend. It was nice to be around friendly women since she never was much. "Forget your nails. I'm loving the hair. When are you free to get mine dyed like this?" Chloe said fascinated by her hair.

'I'm sorry Bells we really have no boundaries you will have eto make do with your comfort level tonight." Ana told her making them all laugh and agree. "Also ladies I would like you to Meet Vincent Cheng. My boyfriend." Ana added right when the door slammed shut. Everyone's mouth hung a little open. "Did hell freeze over?" One girl asked. "Is the end of the world this year?" Another added. "Enough of the jokes. Be nice we have company." She motioned to the other men who all introduced himself as Ethan went straight to Chloe and sat down since they have been texting.

Looking to see who came in it was Landen and five other guys from his office. "Landen I'm so glad you came." Cici said as he smiled to her. He was the loving brother to her. She was everyone's precious angel. "Well I couldn't miss this now. Can we lads?" He asked with his hands opened in a friendly manner. Then giving Ana a daring look. "I'm Landen Stone it's nice to meet you." He said shaking Vincents hand. The thing about Landen is their father was Scottish and his mother was Chinese. He was raised both homelands but they mainly stayed in the States as children and teens.

"Vincent Cheng. Nice to meet you man." He said with a polite smile. His arm was still wrapped around Anas waist as she was hugged into his side. He tried hard not to let it show it bugged him. "It's been awhile Landen." Sienna said putting a lose curl behind her ear. No doubt she put some effort into her look today. It took everything in Landen to be nice. She was still his friend. "Yeah been busy you know." He said scratching the back of his neck. Cici and Ana looked at each other sadly than quickly away. "Is Jordan coming?" Landen asked excitedly. "Asshole never text me back." Ana told him making everyone laugh. "He went to Greece with Colton he'll be back tomorrow ." Cici said stretching her hands out happily. She was indeed a girl in love.

How Jordan is blessed with such a girl like her is beyond anyone's mind. He was a broken shell of a man who only loved Cici. He also loved his mother, Maddie and Avianna but guilt eats away to him and his only safe place. His real home is within Cillian. They all got to know each other singing and dancing and having a good go at each other it was such a wonderful night. James even started to show his true colors as he kept coming in between Landen's friend who kept making Bella laugh. They ended up leaving early after Bella go the girls social media handles.

"I think it's time to go babe." Vincent said as the word slipped out catching him off guard making Ana smile. Nodding to him and thanking everyone for coming out. "Enjoy yourselves you guys get home safely. I have settled the bill. We are going to head out now." She said as they all waved happily. Vincent never seen his friends so happy and openly talking to the other girls. "You coming too?" Ana asked Ethan who was still having a blast with Chloe. "It's ok you guys can go I'll take care of him. If nothing else I leave around the corner." She said as she winked to them. Vincent went to say something but Ana drug him back. "Ok y'all be safe." As she waved out the door.

"Ana." Landen said as she turned. "Have you gone down to the site yet?" Landen asked her watching only her. "Not personally no. But I did get the permits and have everything cleared to make a trip out there some time next week." "How about lodgings. Are they set?" He added. "Yup they will be popped up before anyone arrives." "Do you know the teams going? Do we need more people. I just need to know quickly because I have some people asking for filler work. Like laborers. I need to get back to them." He told scratching the back of his head.

"I have my crew set. Jordan has his crew set. We can take laborers as they come and sign in for interviews with my crew. First day there. They need to be ready to go and interview we will get started fully on the second day. Anyone late will be put on a special day worker only list until one of them full timers fall out." She said pointing her finger to him. "Make your list with Sienna and she will give the final lists to Chloes who will give them to Knox." She told him flatly. Nodding his head to her and giving Vincent a weird nod as he look like he was sizing him up.

"Well he's… something." Vincent said looking at her trying not to smirk. "Oh yea. Aint he just a treat." Ana said rolling her eyes as she took his hand and they walked down to the subway station. They took their time heading back as he shared more stories with her about certain places they past by. After getting home they realized how late it was. Ethan texted Vicent he was just going go home Hunter. Who also lived in the city. Walking her up to her door she turned to him smiling. "Thank you for tonight I had so much fun. This was such a good night." She told him placing her hands on his chest.

"It was a trip for sure. Your girls are crazy." He told her making them both laugh and shake their heads. "I told everyone in the management positions that we are together and even made the formal notice to H.R." She told him. "I didn't know we had to do that. Are we in trouble?" He asked her getting nervous. "No. You can date in the company you just have to tell H.R. so nothing bad or weird can happen we had some small petty problems before. It's nothing serious. We just need to tell them is we break up or get married after this. Everything is fine." She told him as she realized what she just said.

"Ok." He said just smiling to her he understood what she meant. "I wanted to post a picture of us form tonight since we got some good ones. Announcing it publicly. You know so the crew can have something new to bitch about." She said as he just nodded. "Alright. How about you do it in the morning though otherwise neither one of us going to be getting any sleep. You gotta remember for half of them we bout twelve hours ahead and the others we about fifteen hours ahead. Phones will never top ringing." Vincent told her hanging his head down.

"Alright morning it is. Good night. Babe." She teased him kissing his lips sweetly and going into her room. Vincent walked into his room smiling so hard looking at his pictures taken from early in the night. He felt like he was smiling straight from his heart. It was the first time in a long time he felt to happy to sleep. It was a night he was going to remember for a while. He was to excited to think of all the more adventurous nights they had still ahead of them.

Everyone had left for the most part. Only less than half of the people remained. Landen got up Cici had left right after Ana did. Landen had three drinks but was still in a good mind set. In fact all of the heir friends except Cici had a very high tolerance of alcohol. Giving on how they had to grow up it wasn't much shock as to why. He just waved to the rest and walked out the door telling his driver he was coming. "Landen. Are you leaving? Do you maybe wanna split a ride?" Sienna asked him smiling being hopeful.

"I can get you a lift if you need one." He told her with no emotion as he fixed his sleeves rolling them up to just before his elbows. "It's pretty late do you need help getting home?" "No." Being very short with her. As they got outside to the front of the building, his driver in front waiting the streets with very few people on it. "Can you just stop and have one civil conversation with me. Honestly Landen this is being a little much even for you. Right now you're acting worse than Colton." She snapped to him in a hurt voice.

That made his head snap up and turn to her. "What do you want Sienna?" He was beginning to fume everywhere so much getting built up for awhile now. "Why don't you ever return my calls, or texts?" She asked him trying not to let her eyes water. "I think you know why." His tone was hard as his stare. Looking at him. "I don't get it. We have known each other for way over a decade Landen. You know me. I know you. You don't have to be this way. Why are you being like this with me?" She literally felt her heart snapping at the seems.

"You fucking know why Sienna. You are a friend. A junior sister known here. " Running his hand down his face to his chin than looking back at her. "I like you Landen. I love you. I love you so much it hurts. Ever since Jordan's uncle tried to set us all up separately you have been so cold to me. It was even before that. What have I done to you to make you hate me so much." "You ruined everything for me!! You are fucking hypocrite Sienna. You are so fucking messed up. The worse thing is you can't even admit it even when it's just us!" "What are you even saying. What did I ruin for you?"

"I love Avianna. You know how much I fucking loved her. I told you. I told you how badly I wanted to be with her before Jordans uncle even made the damn proposals. That was the happiest day of my life. I was finally going to be with Avianna and my sister was going to be able to marry the guy she loved. Even though he doesn't fucking deserve her I know she will be ok with him. I know Jordi would lay down his life for her because that is real love Sienna. Being able to put somebody else before yourself." Landen was now a few steps away from her yelling at her making her silently cry.

"I was finally going to get everything I ever worked hard for. I busted my ass to get to the top of my fathers company nothing was fucking handed to us and you know that Sienna. I have busted my ass working every damn department so I could take over with Vee someday. I told you that was my dream. Until you and Colton had to step in. You couldn't just let me be happy. Avianna backed out of everything. With Colton backing her up no one could have a say. I know you and Colton don't want each other. Hell you didn't even have to agree or be with each other. You didn't have to ruin it for me too." Landen told her eyes red with anger.

"You think listening to you talk about how much you loved another girl was easy for me Landen? Do you think that was something I was able to handle well especially when that girl was one of my best fucking friends. I don't love Colton I love you. We are more suited for each other. Vee doesn't want you the way I want you. She has moved on from all that parent mess why can't you just accept me." "I lost her because of you! You had years to get over your damn little crush. You were so mad at her because I liked her you even took your own form of revenge on her." He snapped at her.

Sienna's face flushed completely. "You don't know what you're talking about. She said as she started crying more looking away from him. Grabbing her by the chin to make her look at him. "The hell I don't. Tell me Sienna when Vee found out her boyfriend was not only addicted to the same drugs Maddie was using. Oh let's not forget she found out Maddie slept with him a few times while they were high. Did you ever mention that you took a few rides on that fucking dumbass as well?" Her face went completely shocked.

"Go ahead answer me. When he almost died form the over dose while he was still riding Vee's best friend and she walked in on it. Than called you to come get her from the hospital did you tell her the truth and tell her you also slept with her boyfriend because you were mad at her. You were made at her because I told you I loved her. Did you think taking that kind of revenge on her for something she never even knew at the time was making you a good friend to her? You watched her fall apart. Over and over and over again. If you were half the friend she is too you. You would have never been able to do something so shitty to her." He told her pushing her away a little.

"I don't know how you honestly look yourself in the mirror every morning. The only reason she backed out of the business marriage with me is because you went crying to her about how much you liked me and she couldn't handle the thought of hurting you by being with me. You somehow made her believe that we had something small going on to the point where she didn't want to get in the way. You not only pushed one of my best friends away from Sienna. You lost me the chance to be with a girl I loved for over a decade. Oh but a friend would never cross a line and be with another friends crush. Isn't that what you said Cici showed me the drunk video of you dumping out lies to her. Yet you think you were a good friend sleeping with her drug addicted ex?" Landen lashed out on her.

"There is a reason why Colton turned you down first why he said no immediately. It's because we both know what you did. You let Maddie go through hell for the same thing you did. Yet you throw around what a good or real friend would always do. We all care about you Sienna. But I will never love you. You know that deep down inside that I can never reach that with you. You know what else I never want to. I can be friends with you."

"We all go back way to much. We all seen and been through too much. I will do whatever it takes to make Vee happy and safe. I will never stop loving her Si. You know damn well if anything would have happened for us it would have already happened. You need to move on. Stop texting me. Stop calling me. Unless it's about work. Just stop. You have taken so much form me. My time will no longer be apart of that. Dexter please take Ms. Solomon home." He said giving her a daring look and walking away. Landen. Landen wait we can talk it out. We always do." She tried to grab his arm but he was to quick. She got into his car starring out the window crying quietly the whole back. Neither of them ever noticing a person watching them the whole time as the dark shadow figure turned and walked away.