Chapter 5

Orion

"You look like a man who could use a drink," Bennett said as I got off the elevator and entered the lobby where he had been waiting for me.

Worried that I might do something stupid? Too late. Already did that when I talked you into opening the door.

"Not going to pass one up if you're buying." Reesa might have something negative to say about me drinking in public as the Vice President, but she would have a lot more to say if she knew why I was. And one thing I knew about Bennett was that he was protective of the position, President. He wouldn't invite me if he thought it would be an issue later.

"There is a dining room that is closed, but I have the key and I know my way around a bar," he said. "I figured you might want some privacy."

Unlike what I gave Raya.

"Lead the way." I had this time booked out to discuss a few things with Raya. Now even if she wanted to, I wasn't sure I would have been able to think straight enough to talk business with her.

Even as I followed him down the hallway, there was one thing on my mind. I couldn't believe that I burst into Raya's hotel room. She had every right to be pissed at me. My reasoning made sense when I was doing it, but in hindsight I should've done things a little differently.

Like knocking loudly on the bathroom door so I didn't walk in on her naked.

The vision of her was etched in my mind. Even if I could, I didn't want to forget it. Her breast floated teasingly. Once I knew she wasn't in trouble, I knew I was. Fuck. My attraction instantly ignited into a burning need. One that I couldn't, or shouldn't, even think about. I'm not sure there is a drink strong enough to make me forget the sight I witnessed.

When we got to the bar, Bennett didn't ask what I wanted, just handed me a cold beer before sitting down. "I take it you aren't having your meeting tonight."

"We rescheduled for tomorrow." Not positive that will happen either after she has time to think about everything. Hell, she probably won't get any sleep tonight and I won't be shocked if I wake to an email with her resignation. I hoped that wasn't going to be the case, but it would be expected. Since I couldn't fix things with her tonight, I might as well do so with Bennett. I pulled him into this, unnecessarily. "I guess I owe you an apology," I said.

"I'd like to think you truly thought she was in trouble," he said. "I'd never have opened the door otherwise."

"Did I overreact? Maybe. Based on what she said, she was just resting her eyes," I said.

Bennett snorted. "No. She was asleep."

He confirmed what I had said. Not that Raya admitted it. "I know." A sigh escaped my lips. "When we got in the bathroom and I saw her laying in the tub, I thought...well, I thought the worst." That she had taken her life. I had a flashback to a time I hadn't thought about in over twenty years. I was young, and I was hanging out with my best friend. I had a crush on his older sister, who never gave me the time of day, but I had still been hopeful. But one day at his house, we heard his mother scream. We rushed inside to find her kneeling by the tub. His sister had taken her own life, and laid in the tub, lifeless. It was an image that haunted me even today. There was no need to discuss why she did it. We all knew. She couldn't live with the memories of her innocence being sold to the highest bidder. God, I hope Raya got out of Tabiq with her innocence intact. If she had, at least it seems as though she found herself someone to help her forget. ‘My Baby' was one lucky guy.

"I'm glad you were wrong," Bennett stated as though he had read my mind or had feared the same.

"So am I."

He hit me with a question I didn't know how to answer. "Why didn't you leave when I did? I mean, you had your answer," he reminded me.

Because I couldn't take my eyes off her. Not something I was about to say out loud, not to Bennett or Raya. "I needed her to know how dangerous that was. She could've drowned."

"True. But you could've discussed that when she was decent."

"You just speak your mind, don't you?" I said.

"I find it works best. She made it clear that she wanted us gone. You should've respected that. Now you have to do some damage control. Even if she says it's okay, don't worry about it, don't. She isn't going to forget this. If you're smart, then you need to find a way to fix it," he said.

I chuckled. "How do you fix walking in on someone naked?" Bennett wasn't the only one who could be blunt.

"First, by not saying those words. Focus on the reasoning behind it."

"I already told you why," I stated.

"Your reaction was...intense. You don't have to tell me what made it so. But maybe you can share with her why," he suggested.

I never spoke about that. It'd been twenty-one years, and I've kept it buried. As far as I was concerned, I'd like to keep it that way. Some things are best left unsaid. That meant I'd need to think of something else she might be able to relate to. Something...believable. Not that what I said already shouldn't have been enough.

"I'll address it tomorrow, but we still have a lot to talk about regarding her position. I heard things weren't...as smooth as usual today. I need to make sure she knows how to handle it going forward," I said.

"Or you could give her a chance to figure it out herself. I mean, she wouldn't have been offered the job if she was not capable of doing it."

"Reesa did mention you had done the background check on Raya. Is there anything that I should know that wasn't on her resume?" I asked.

He cocked a brow. "You really don't think I'm going to answer that, do you?"

I downed my beer and said, "No. But you seem to ask a lot of questions, so I figured it was time for me to ask one myself." I got up and said, "Thanks for the beer. I have a long day tomorrow, and Reesa has some things she needs me to do before then."

"Anytime, Orion. My doors always open anytime I'm in Tabiq. Especially with the changes that are coming," he said.

Reesa hadn't mentioned sharing her plan with Bennett, but I had a hard time believing that he didn't know before me. Somehow, Bennett knew more about Tabiq's secrets than I did.

I only trust you because Reesa does.

"For the record, my door is open as well if you come across any information that you feel I should be made aware of," I stated.

"Noted."

I left him sitting at the bar finishing his beer as I headed back to the lobby. Before going out to my SUV, I stopped at the front desk. "May I leave a message for Ms. Davison?"

"Yes, sir." She handed me a paper, pen, and envelope.

I wanted to see Raya again, but I think tomorrow it shouldn't be here. We needed to ensure that we kept it professional. And by we, I meant me.

CANCELING TOMORROW'S DINNER. WILL COME TO YOUR OFFICE AT ONE. WILL brING LUNCH.

I folded the paper, slipped it into the envelope, and sealed it. Jotting her name off the front, I handed it to the receptionist. "Please give this to her in the morning."

The woman nodded and said, "Have a good night, Mr. Moyer."

There were times I wished people didn't know who I was, but anyone who didn't was going to very soon. Reesa said she'd be making the announcement in a couple of days. My life was about to change, and privacy was something I wasn't ever going to have again.

I got in my SUV and headed home since I technically didn't have an office any longer. There were things I needed to prepare for tomorrow, but I knew my head wasn't in it. Reesa would easily be able to tell if I delivered something other than the quality of work she expected. That would only lead to questions that I wanted to avoid. A good night's sleep, get up early, and do my work. A more productive plan.

When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed my brother's car parked there. I wasn't expecting him, or did I forget with all the craziness that had gone on today? I honestly was so mentally fried, that I couldn't recall. I pulled up beside his car and parked. I took a quick look, but noticed his car was empty. Normally I would leave my doors unlocked. A bad habit. I have never had any unwelcome visitors yet. There was no doubt in my mind where I would find him. As many times before, he'd be sitting in the kitchen helping himself to what I was going to eat for dinner.

I grabbed my laptop bag out of the back seat and went to find him. He was sitting on my couch. "Orion, we need to talk," he said, his tone filled with concern.

"Sure, what's up?" I asked.

"What the hell happened? Why aren't you the school administrator any longer?"

Being sworn to secrecy really sucked sometimes. Lying to my kid brother wasn't something I wanted to do. "Mayson, I am changing careers, that's all. Not fired, if that's what you're worried about."

"Yeah. I was. Not that the president was going to take my call, but I was tempted to go to her office and demand she reinstate you."

"No need. Not fired," I said again.

"Well, something isn't right. I mean, you love your job. Hell, it's all you ever talk about. Helping those kids. No way would've you just walked away from that job on your own." His voice got soft, and he asked, "Are you...okay? I mean...are you...sick or something?"

Damn it.

That had never crossed my mind, but it should've. I could see the concern in Mayson's eyes now, even though he had tried hiding it from me. "No, Mayson. I'm fine. Healthy as ever. It's just time for me to think about doing something else. And we already have my replacement," I replied.

"Yeah. I found that out when I went to your office today. Granted, your replacement is smoking hot, but she looks like she barely got out of college herself. What makes you think she's going to do as good a job as you?" he questioned.

I was still stuck on his ‘smoking hot' comment. That definitely described, Raya. Even in her business attire, there was no hiding her looks. Not sure I liked knowing anyone else, even if it was my brother, noticing it too. But she wasn't Mayson's type. Not that I knew her personally, but she couldn't be his type.

This is one woman that you need to stay away from. She doesn't need you breaking her heart.

From the call Raya received while I was with her, she already was in a serious relationship and wasn't going to give Mayson the time of day anyway.

"Mayson, she's taken so don't bother."

"Damn. Figures," he let out an overly dramatic sigh.

Some things never change. No woman had ever held his attention very long. We are as different as night and day, but there seems to be one thing he and I agree on, Raya is gorgeous.

And hands off for me as well.

"Now back to your question, you know who hires for that role. President O'Connor hand-picked Ms. Davison. I have seen her resume, and it is impressive. Given the chance, I think she will do an amazing job," I said, honestly.

"And you? What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I have a plan in the works. Give me a couple of days to firm things up and I'll share it with you. Now, are you hungry, because I haven't eaten dinner yet."

"It's after eight. You never eat this late," he said.

"I've been busy," I replied.

He laughed. "You're unemployed. How busy can you be?"

Mayson had a sense of humor from a young age. The girls seemed to love it. I...I dealt with it. But after the day I had had, the lightheartedness was refreshing.

Snickering, I said, "You'd be surprised how exhausted you can get at the beach."

Mayson raised a brow. "Not that I'm calling bullshit, but no one wears a business suit to the beach."

Fuck.

This just proved how distracted my mind was. "Never been able to fool you, have I?"

"Nope. I will cut you a break. But I expect you to talk to me in a couple of days. Something is going on and I want the details," he said.

"That's fair. But for tonight, how about we see what I have in the fridge to eat instead?" I asked.

"Already beat you to it. There's not much. And also, you're going to need more beer." He shrugged and added, "I've been waiting a while."

"Guess we're going out and I'm driving," I said, holding up my keys.

"Good. And maybe while we eat, you'll change your mind and spill it."

Heading back out to my SUV I said, "All you're getting tonight is dinner."

Mayson was right. I needed to tell him something soon. Even though Reesa wanted to be the one to make the announcement, Mayson was my brother. I couldn't let him find out with the rest of the country. It was bad enough that he learned the hard way that I wasn't head of the school any longer.

Can I run an entire country if I can't even manage to keep my relationship with Raya, strictly business?