by Sarah Clay
“Coop, it’s about time,” I mumble.
I felt like I’d just gotten him back in my life before he had to pick up and go again. I wasn’t naive, it was business and it was necessary, but I still missed my big brother. I feel him laugh against me but I don’t let go, he moves over to the guys, giving Tony a handshake and awkward back bump.
“Hey Man, good to have you back” I hear Tony’s amused voice.
I’m still wrapped around my brother, so glad to be seeing his familiar face.
He steps towards Jackson and offers the same hand greeting.
“Alright babe, time to let go now” Jackson suggests, I relent.
Pulling away from Coop but smiling into his face.
“I missed you Coop; did you get everything sorted?” I manage to ask before Jackson grabs my hand and pulls me into him.
My back to his front, wrapping his arms around me casually while waiting for Coop's answer.
“Coop?” I call out to him when he doesn’t speak. He’d been distracted by Jacksons manhandling, everyone else in the office had gotten used to it pretty quickly.
It was easy to forget that Cooper hadn’t seen us together like this before.
“Oh right, yeah, sorted out; the new contract is in play and I was able to snag a couple of other investors while I was there” he summarises. Still not taking his eyes off of us.
“Good work man, bet you’re pretty fucking tired?” Tony concludes and I nod along, Coop must be exhausted.
“Yeah, I thought I’d stop by here and see Livvie, see how it was all going before I went back to the apartment and crashed.”
At that, I pull out of Jackson's arm and make quick work of showing all three of them the work I’d done for the project. I’d just finished it up this morning and I think it looked pretty good.
But I was still nervous about their opinions.
Spinning around to them when I finish showing the pieces and explaining it all.
I begin chewing on my bottom lip, waiting for someone to talk. Looking to Tony first, he’s shuffling through the papers but looks up when I call his name.
“Olivia, you’ve nailed it”
I keep chewing on my bottom lip as I swing my gaze to Cooper. He smirks at me before pulling me in for another hug.
“Knew you could do it Livvie, they are perfect” it feels good to make him proud.
But I have one more set of eyes to meet.
I pull away from Coop to look over to Jackson, still nervously gnawing on my lip while meeting his gaze; I notice he’s sporting a huge smile on his face.
He opens his arms for me and I immediately walk into him, letting him wrap me up in his embrace.
“You’re amazing” he whispers before he leans down and kisses me softly.
I pull away when I hear Coop groaning, “Guess I’m going to have to get used to this then.”
Tony bursts out laughing as I bury my face in Jackson's chest. I feel his arms tighten around me.
“Yep, get used to it man. Lucky you’re her brother if she had of hugged anyone else how she did you; Jackson might have had a coronary.” Tony chuckles at his own joke.
I wait for Jackson to disagree but instead he grunts out his response, “damn right, she better not be wrapped around anyone else except me.”
Both Coop and I let out an exasperated groan.
∞
I’d ended up staying at Jackson's house again last night, I’d originally planned on going back to Cooper's apartment now that he was back. I’d even gone back out to Jackson's house to pack up my things, but Jacks had argued that all Coop would be doing was catching up on sleep anyway.
When I still wasn’t sure about it and continued packing my things, he decided to persuade me with his mouth and hands instead.
My half packed bags were deserted and he’d spent the night eliciting orgasms from me.
Of course, I’d returned the favor. It was only fair.
But now I was on my way into the office to meet up with Coop for brunch, he’d wanted to catch up properly. And afterward, I’d be taking myself and my things back to his apartment. Jackson was trailing behind me in his car and I was sure if I looked hard enough in the rear-view mirror I would see his brooding face.
The jerk hadn’t even helped me this morning when Charlie had taken off with my keys. He’d sat back with his coffee and smirked while I tried bribing his dog with food and all sorts to try and get them back.
Jackson’s happiness with Coopers re-arrival quickly evaporated when he realised that it meant I would be leaving his place.
But I’d simply reminded him I was leaving his house, not him.
∞
“A few bits and pieces were delivered for you earlier, I sat them over there” Coop motions over to a small pile of envelopes and a parcel.
I’d had some mail redirected here last week. I’d needed to set up a new bank account after Jacks had emphasized the need for bank details in order to pay me for my time.
I didn’t want to accept the money, I was just trying to help them out, but seeing as how my dad had cut off my funds; I couldn’t really say no.
Jackson knew it too. He’d had me set it up over the phone in his office, all while he distracted me with his devious mouth.
I assumed one of the envelopes would be holding my new bank card.
“Oh awesome, thanks” I smile over at him from the other side of his desk where he was sat.
I pick up the pile and carry it over to the seats opposite him, opening them up one at a time.
A new bank card, a new pin code, my normal shampoo, and conditioner that I’d ordered from the U.S.
The last one was marked ‘Care of Olivia Matthews, Level 12 Anperson Ent – Omega Buildings.” I flipped the thick yellow envelope over and opened it up. Pulling out some folded pieces of paper.
I unfold them, I feel my eyes grow wide, my grip wavering. They were photos, photos of me. Me waiting in the lobby, me at the deli on the corner block, me laughing with Tony, even me walking along the street by myself.
On a small white piece of card, there was a typed out note.
“You don’t belong here. Leave before I make you.”
I don’t know how many times I read and re-read it. It feels like only seconds had passed but when I hear my name I look up into Coopers worried face.
He’s leaning down beside me now and taking the pages from my hand.
“Livvie, are you okay? You look really pale…” he trails off when he looks down at what’s now in his hand. “What the fuck” he yells into the room.
Everything happened pretty quickly after that, Coop had continued yelling and throwing things around the room. He’d made a few calls; to whom I have no idea.
But Tony was now sitting beside me; looking over the photos.
Coop hadn’t stopped pacing the length of his office and I hadn’t moved from the exact spot I’d been when I’d first opened the parcel.
I could feel eyes on me every couple of minutes but I felt frozen to the core.
I hear Coop's door slam open and bounce back off of the wall before I hear his voice.
“What the fuck?” he demands.
He must spot me because two seconds later he’s in front of me, reaching up and gripping my chin, turning me to face him.
“Liv… Liv, baby; look at me.”
Blinking away the fog, I focus on the sound of Jackson’s voice, his smell, his handsome albeit concerned face.
“There she is” he forces a smile, but I can see the creases around his eyes; the same ones he gets when he’s stressed out about a deadline or a client.
I nod towards him before sealing my eyes shut, hearing him let out a heavy sigh before picking me up in one swift motion. He settles back down in the chair and rests me on his lap; wrapping his arms around me tightly.
Chapter Fourteen
Jackson
I was trying to stay calm, but inside I was raging.
When Coop had gotten a hold
of me after my meeting had finished up, he hadn’t even finished explaining what had happened before I’d raced down to his office as quick as I could.
The sight of Olivia’s pale, frozen body had caused something in me to splinter. When I’d gotten closer and seen her face. The worry and confusion I caught sight of had cracked that splinter right open.
I’d finally gotten through to her and when she realized I was standing in front of her she’d acknowledged me, before closing her eyes and blocking everything out.
I knew exactly what she was doing, I’d done it myself when I was in one of the crappier boys homes I’d grown up in. Closing my eyes and blocking out reality to focus on other, happier things.
I settled her on top of me, locking my arms around her; wanting to make this all go away.
“Who the fuck is it from?” I grit out.
Coop was pacing back and forth, stopping every few steps to look over at his sister.
Tony held the photos up so I could look over them. There were photos of her taken over the course of a few weeks.
Whoever took them had been tracking her. He holds up a little white card to me and I read the note.
“Who the fuck sent them” I growl at anyone who will answer the damn question.
“It must have been our father, who else would be doing this?” Coop stops and turns towards us, he’s running his hands through his hair, he was looking all sorts of angry now.
“We don’t know that Liv’s been here for a couple of months now,” Tony chimes in.
“Liv, is there anyone else you could think of that could have done this?”
I lean down and look at her, she’s gnawing on her lip but when she meets my gaze I can see she’s got something to say.
I wait for her to speak, trying to stay patient.
“I don’t know, I’ve gotten a few texts from a private number, maybe it’s the same person?”
I groan, dropping my head back to stare up at the roof.
Trying to calm my breathing before I look back at her.
When I do she’s looking at me with unshed tears in her eyes. I start rubbing my hand up and down her back, wanting to offer any sort of comfort I can.
“Why didn’t you tell me, how long has this been going on?”
She sniffs before leaning her head back against my chest.
“Not long, a few weeks maybe, I just figured it was Dad in a mood maybe, or Alec angry he didn’t get what he wanted, but they wouldn’t do this… send the photos and that card” She motions to the pieces in Tony’s hands.
“We need to call the police, that’s a threat; plain and simple” Cooper summarises before walking behind his desk and picking up his phone.
While Coop calls it in, Tony sits sifting through the photos and I continue to rub Olivia’s back.
She had relaxed some and her color was coming back to her by the time Cooper had finished on the phone.
∞
They had dispatched two officers out to us, Officer Shaw bagged the photos, letter, and envelope. Officer Russo checked out the messages Olivia had mentioned.
Whoever had sent them was not happy at all.
The officers asked us all some basic questions. When did it come, was there anyone we suspected, how does the mail get transitioned through the building. He had made a list of the people whom Olivia had interacted with since her time in town.
An hour had passed before they informed us they would continue to look into it further, however it was entirely possible it was just someone playing a practical joke.
Before leaving they had instructed Olivia to continue on with her routine as normal, but to be vigilant of her surroundings just in case.
Olivia had moved off of my lap when the police had left, accepting a business card and shaking their hands.
“I’m sorry about this Coop” Olivia’s soft voice drifts across the room.
“Livvie, don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault. I should have called dad back when I got his voicemail, but I didn’t want to speak to him. I still don’t, but I am going to kill him.” Coop spits out.
I see the confusion on Olivia’s face before he speaks again.
“Don’t worry, I informed Officer Shaw while you were talking to the other officer. Dad called while I was away, demanded I call him and have you call him too. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…” he waits for her reaction, but my sweet girl just nods at her brother.
“It’s okay.”
She walks over to where her bag is sat and pulls her phone back out.
I jump up, stalking towards her, “What are you doing Liv?”
She raises her perfectly arched brow in my direction.
“Calling him, this wasn’t him Jacks.”
I move into her more, pressing my body up against hers.
“Babe, you don’t know that. You can’t call him, not right now. Not until we hear back from the police, just give it a day.”
When she doesn’t respond I reach up to her jaw, stroking my fingers along it.
“Please Liv, just give them some time to look into it further.”
She hesitantly relents.
∞
Olivia had gotten sick of me hovering after a couple of hours and had sent me back to my office. Threatening to leave if I didn’t get back to work.
She’d made it known that nothing was going to happen, especially while she was with her brother. I knew she was right so I’d reluctantly left her with Coop.
I had a meeting with Tony and an old client in an hour and I had to get some reports finalized for it.
Once in the meeting though, I’d been too distracted to be of any use. Thankfully Tony stepped up to the plate and handled most of the dealings. When we’d farewelled the client, Tony pulled me back down into the chairs.
“I don’t think it was her dad Jackson” I’d barely taken a sip of my now cold coffee before he’d started talking.
I look over to him, noting the straight set of his brows, his creased eyes, and strained grimace.
“Just listen. Why would he take photos and send a note like that? He has her number; he’s called Cooper so he obviously knows where she is. Why go to all this extra effort after weeks of being content with just calling?”
I see where he’s going with it, but honestly; it had to be him.
“She wouldn’t answer his calls; Coop didn’t return his calls. She ignored the messages from the private number. He’s desperate.”
Tony sighs but nods, “yeah maybe, but I’m not sold. What about this Alec guy?”
Pushing my coffee back across the table I sigh out in frustration, “Could be him, by the sounds of it he’s a daddy’s boy, might be pissed someone finally said no to him?”
∞
After my conversation with Tony, I just wanted to see her.
I’d taken the lift to Coops floor, but when I headed in the direction of his office; I spotted him stepping outside of it and closing the door gently.
“What are you doing? Where’s Liv?”
Coop spins around at my questions, gesturing for me to follow him; away from his office.
“She just fell asleep, she’s been on the phone to her friends from back home all afternoon, filling them in on everything.”
I can tell by his tone that there’s something he’s not saying.
“She’s been a bit upset, they all want her to go home.” I shake my head immediately.
“I know; I don’t want her to go either. But what if it’s safer for her to go?” I glare at my best friend.
“If it’s your father or even Alec behind this then you’re sending her right back to them. No. She’s not going back.”
Coop sighs but he doesn’t persist.
“Did she drop her things off at your apartment yet?” I ask, not taking my eyes off of his office door.
“Nah, she was going to after we had something to eat.” Finally, something is going my way.
“Ok good, I’ll need to switch them out into my car.
” I see Cooper stand a little taller, but I’m willing to go head to head with him over this. I need to know she’s safe.
“You can come with her if you want, but she’s staying at my place.” I don’t leave any room for barter.
“You really like her huh?” It’s a stupid question on his part, but I counter it anyway.
“I look forward to seeing her every day. She makes me laugh, she makes me smile. And when she asks about my day, or if I need anything; She’s not just asking. She genuinely cares enough to want to know the answer. She’s pretty fucking amazing Coop.”
He smiles, obviously thinking about his sister. Before his face falls a little, “It’s fast Jack.”
I know Liv and I haven’t known each other long; but I’ve shared more of my life, more of me, with her than I have anyone else.
I nod in agreeance with him, because regardless of how I feel; he’s right.
∞
“I am more than capable of looking after myself you know that right Jacks?” Liv’s voice calls out from the kitchen where she was putting away our dishes from breakfast. I was currently sat at the dining table with my laptop and paperwork spread out across it. I’d worked from home for the past couple of days, opting to keep Olivia here and close by. She’d given me a hard time about working out here in the dining room instead of my home office, but I wanted to be near her.
Olivia had finished up on the project she was working on for us and hadn’t decided whether she was going to take up another one yet. Well, she had, but I’d told her there was no rush. I’d wanted her here where I knew she was safe and no one could be watching or taking photos of her. But, I think she was starting to get cabin fever.