The Order

36

I went to the dinner a bit more drunk that I would have liked to. We ate in the dining hall, and it was the first time I saw Liam eating within the walls of his own home. I stayed quiet the entire time, watching as Liam and Olivia chatted amongst themselves on the other side of the table.

Turns out Olivia's father faked her death and sent her to an all girl boarding school in the states. She went to Harvard, studied international law, and graduated top of her class. She's been handing the legal side of things for her family's business ever since. She also runs a number of charities, mainly working towards helping homeless women and children all around the world.

But for most of the dinner, they chatted amongst themselves, laughing on their end of the table as I sat silently, drowning myself in the endless glasses of wine the servers brought over. I watched as Olivia whispered something into Liam's ear, making him smile... making him chuckle under his breath. He would occasionally look over at me, stiffening his back and tensing as we made eye contact. But most of the time, I simply took another sip of my wine and looked away, unable to look at him.

As soon as the dinner was over, I shot up from my seat, leaving the dining hall as quick as I could. Today was exhausting, and all I wanted to do was go to my room and pass out. I hard the sound of footsteps behind me, and I ignored them as I quickly turned the corner.

I slammed the door to my room, locking it before pressing my back against it. I stayed there for a moment, listening as he tried to open my door. I took a deep breath, listening to him sigh loudly before his footsteps began to echo through the hallway.

***

The next day I woke up to the sound of maids and servers scurrying through the hallways. Today was the stupid soirée James was hosting, and I scowled as I got up from my bed. I looked out my window, confused as I saw the sun setting. I guess my body finally gave into my exhaustion, and I accidentally slept the entire day. I got up, stretching my stiff and sore body before walking over to my computer, hoping that work would get my mind off of everything that was happening.

When I double checked Nadia's records, Kenji's name was on the list, but he received his payment a month before the range I was checking. Felipe said there were four on the crew that killed my sister, and Leah confirmed that Kenji was the last, but something didn't sit right with me.

Ke...Ken... Ke... Kenji...A...and...

Those were the last words she was able to mummer before she died. I wasn't sure if she was just trying to talk more shit to me in her last breath, or if she was trying to give me another name.

But I was quickly pulled from my thoughts from the sound of someone knocking on my door, and I quickly shut my laptop before walking over to open it.

Nova was standing there, in a long navy gown that caresses the floor. Her hair was put up in a tight bun, and for the first time, she was wearing makeup.

"You aren't ready?" she said as she looked at me and tilted her head.

"I just woke up." I said, my eyes still half closed. "When does this thing start?" I said as I wiped the sleep from my eyes.

"Right now, and James is looking for you so you better hurry the up." She said as she looked me up and down before walking into my room.

"Fuck." I said as I quickly walked towards the closet. I stopped for a moment, looking at the door that led to the closet that Liam bought for me. I took a deep breath before I walked over and opened the door. I turned on the light, walking through the light colored clothes before I picked a blush colored dress.

I quickly threw it on, wincing as I tried to zip up the back of it. Nova must have heard me, and she quickly walked into the room and helped me.

I looked in the mirror as Nova zipped the back of the dress, admiring how the fabric clung to my waist before cascading down to the floor. It was a simple dress, the thin straps were delicate, and the neckline was low enough to show a bit of cleavage, but not too much.