32. Teller

32

TELLER

I stare at the numbers on the page, the accounts blurring together as I try to make sense of the figures. Jamie’s done a good job organizing everything, but there’s still so much to review. I rub my temples, fighting the headache that threatens to overtake me.

The door creaks open and I glance up, expecting to see Clay or Kip. I’m surprised to see my girlfriend’s sister instead.

“Lila?” I manage to get out, my voice hoarse with shock. “What are you doing here?”

She steps into the office, her movements graceful yet guarded. Her long hair falls around her face like a veil, partially obscuring her expression. “Hello, Teller.”

I stand up slowly, my mind racing. Why is Ayla’s sister here? It’s not like the two of us have anything to talk about – not without Ayla present anyways. I search her face for clues but find only an inscrutable mask. I didn’t like her the moment I saw her walking through the front door. But it was Ayla’s birthday so I put on a brave face and made conversation with Lila. There was something cold and calculating in her eyes so unlike Ayla’s warmth and kindness.

“Is everything alright? Is Ayla okay?” The questions tumble out, my concern for Ayla overriding my confusion at Lila’s presence.

Lila tilts her head, studying me with those enigmatic eyes of hers. “Ayla is fine. I’m here for...other reasons.”

The way she says it sends a chill down my spine. I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. I gesture for her to sit, but she remains standing, her posture tense.

“What other reasons?” I ask cautiously, trying to gauge her intent.

Lila steps closer, her gaze never leaving mine. “We need to talk, Teller. About you and my sister...and your brothers.”

Had Ayla told her the truth?

A smile plays at the corners of Lila’s lips as she moves closer, her eyes locked on mine. “I wanted to thank you, Teller. For being there for Ayla.” Her voice is smooth, almost purring.

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. The air between us feels charged, and I can’t quite read her intentions. “Of course. She’s apart of our family now.”

“Not many would have taken her in.” Lila’s smile widens, turning almost predatory. She trails a finger along the edge of my desk as she circles it, drawing nearer to me. “Ayla is…troubled. I think you deserve a reward for your kindness.”

I frown, as I try to process her words. Is she suggesting what I think she is? I stand up, taking a step back, putting some distance between us. “Lila, I don’t think?—“

But she’s already closing the gap, her hands reaching for the buttons of her blouse. “Don’t think, Teller. Just let me show you how grateful I am.”

Panic rises in my throat as she begins to undress, revealing smooth, pale skin. This can’t be happening. I hold up my hands, shaking my head vehemently. “Stop. Lila, stop.”

She pauses, confusion flickering across her face. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want me?”

“No.” The word comes out harsher than I intend, but I need to be clear. “I don’t want this. I don’t want you.”

Lila flinches as if I’ve slapped her. Hurt flashes in her eyes before it’s quickly masked. She’s not used to being denied I’m sure, but she’s not who I want. “I don’t understand. I thought...”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’m in love with Ayla.” The words feel right as they leave my lips, a truth I’ve known but never spoken aloud. “I’m not interested in anyone else.”

Silence stretches between us, taut and uncomfortable. Lila stares at me, her expression unreadable. I brace myself for her reaction, unsure what to expect. Lila’s already proven she’s a wild card.

When she finally speaks, her voice is cold, devoid of its earlier warmth. “You’re making a mistake, Teller. Ayla doesn’t really care about you. Not the way I could.”

I shake my head, resolute in my conviction. “You’re wrong. Ayla and I...we have something real. Something that matters.”

Lila scoffs, buttoning her blouse with sharp, angry movements. Her eyes narrow, a cold glint replacing the earlier seduction. “You really think Ayla cares about you? About any of you?” Her words drip with venom, each syllable a pointed barb. “To her, this is just a job. It doesn’t matter who she’s with, as long as she gets what she wants.”

I feel my jaw clench, my hands curling into fists at my sides. How dare she speak of Ayla like that? But before I can respond, Lila lunges forward, her hands grasping at my shirt, trying to pull me closer. “It doesn’t have to matter, Teller. We could have some fun, just the two of us. Ayla never has to know.”

Disgust rises in my throat as I push her away, my hands firm on her shoulders. She stumbles back, shock flashing across her features. “Enough, Lila. I’m not interested. That wouldn’t change if we were the last two people on Earth. You disgust me.”

Her expression twists, a sneer marring her delicate features. “You’re making a mistake, Teller. You’ll regret this.”

I shake my head, a mirthless chuckle escaping my lips. “The only thing I regret is letting you in here in the first place. You’re so needy, so desperate for attention that you’d try to seduce your own sister’s boyfriend.”

Frustration surges through me as I meet Lila’s disbelieving gaze. The words spill out before I can stop them. “You don’t get it, do you? It’s not just me. Clay, Kip, and I - we’re all dating Ayla. We’re all in love with her.”

Lila’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open in shock. “What? No, that’s not possible. Ayla wouldn’t... she couldn’t...”

I clench my jaw, my patience wearing thin. “It’s the truth, Lila. We’re together, all of us. And it’s not some casual fling or job, as you so crudely put it. We care about her, deeply.”

Lila shakes her head, disbelief etched into every line of her face. “No, no, this isn’t right. You’re lying. You must be forcing her, using her somehow. Ayla would never agree to this.”

Red-hot anger flashes through me, and I take a step closer, my voice low and controlled. “How dare you accuse us of something so vile? We would never force ourselves on Ayla. Never. What we have is real, and it’s built on love, trust, and respect.”

Lila’s eyes narrow, her voice dripping with venom. “Love? Trust? Respect? Don’t make me laugh. You’re just using her, taking advantage of her kindness and vulnerability. You’re all sick, twisted bastards.”

My hands ball into fists at my sides, the urge to lash out nearly overwhelming. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Lila. You don’t know us, and you clearly don’t know your own sister as well as you think you do.”

Lila scoffs, her eyes glittering with malice. “I know enough. I know that this isn’t right, that Ayla deserves better than to be passed around like some kind of toy.”

The accusation hangs in the air between us, heavy and suffocating. I feel my control slipping, my anger threatening to boil over. How can she stand there and spew such vile lies? How can she question the depth of our feelings for Ayla when she barely knows her own sister?

I take a step closer, my voice low and dangerous. “Listen to me very carefully, Lila. What we have with Ayla is the most real, most genuine thing I’ve ever experienced. We would do anything for her, give anything to keep her safe and happy which is more than what could be said for you. And if you can’t see that, if you can’t accept it, then that’s your problem, not ours.”

Lila opens her mouth to retort, but I cut her off with a sharp gesture. “I don’t want to hear any more of your poisonous words. I’m done with this conversation, and I’m done with you. When I come back, I expect you to be gone. Do you understand me?”

I turn away from her, my steps heavy as I stride towards the door. The weight of my words hangs in the air, the finality of my decision seeping into every corner of the room. I can feel Lila’s gaze burning into my back, her shock and disbelief palpable.

And with that, I push open the door and step out into the hallway, leaving Lila and her venom behind.

But beneath the turmoil, there is a sense of clarity, a certainty that I’ve never felt before. I love Ayla, and I have a feeling that Clay and Kip feel the same way.