Page 9 of Seeds of Sorrow

While she had grown accustomed to the beautiful but stern-faced Hadina being around the house, a silent presence that she found weirdly comforting, Peyton had yet to meet Don’s other two daughters. From what she could infer, Zellie and Piper were almost as successful as Hadina, which really didn’t help lessen the knot of anxiety in her stomach.

“I’m really looking forward to my daughters meeting you, Peyton. You’ve already been such a huge support for me and I know they’re going to love you!”

She chewed nervously on her lip, the sight of the melting cheese souring her stomach. “What are they like?”

Don smiled, his pride in his daughters clear for Peyton to see. It was hard for her to imagine either of her parents looking prideful as they spoke about her—they barely even smiled when they spoketoher. “Zellie is a force to be reckoned with. She is driven and extremely fierce, something she shares with Hadi, even if neither of them will admit it. She was always the tough one growing up. I think she felt like she had to take charge.”

Pouring herself another cup of coffee and topping up Don’s mug, Peyton listened intently. She was nervous to meet the other Adis siblings and she would take all the information she could get if it would help her prepare for the dinner. Making an awkward fool of herself had become her new normal with Hadina, but Peyton was loath to embarrass herself in front of Zellie or Piper.

“What about Piper?”

“Ah, my darling little angel. Piper is a total sweetheart and so unlike her sisters,” Don said with a smirk, shaking his head slightly as he added, “She’s forever arguing with her siblings about their attitudes. The girl is the kindest one of us all. She’s still fearless and an incredible asset to the company—Hadina and Zellie wouldn’t have had it any other way, of course—but she really is an angel. You actually remind me of her.”

“Oh, Don,” Peyton said, trying not to show how emotional the comparison made her. “That’s so sweet. Thank you.”

Leaving her to her lunch, Don went to read in his office while Peyton sat alone in the dining room with her head spinning. It wasn’t just the nerves of meeting new people, but rather the change it brought with it. Don’s words were sweet, but Peyton wasn’t entirely convinced that Hadina’s sisters would welcome her into their family. She knew that she was a paid employee, and she was fine with that, but it was difficult enough with Hadina, never mind her siblings too.

Hadina was a cruel mystery that Peyton couldn’t fathom. No matter how hard she tried, she struggled to break through the woman’s steely exterior. It was doubly frustrating when she was hot as hell, creating a whole new level of confusion that Peyton wasn’t eager to understand.

She dropped her grilled cheese back onto her plate with a sigh. After throwing the remainder of the sandwich in the trash, she rinsed her plate and made her way out to the garden. Don had planted so many different types of flowers across the grounds, the blossoming buds creating a cascade of bright colors that led to a peaceful sitting area situated beneath an oak gazebo. Four handcrafted chairs were positioned around a bricked fire pit, gray blankets slung across the backs of each one. Peyton had stumbled upon it on her first exploration of the grounds and, after checking it was all right with Don, found herself visiting the spot when she needed a moment to breathe.

She was surprised to find someone else sitting there when she approached, her heart rate already spiking at the idea of her peaceful moment being disturbed. Peyton’s anxiety was only heightened by the fact that the visitor perched in one of the seats was Hadina.

“Hadina, are you okay?”

Breaking from her trance, Hadina blinked and shook her head slightly. “Miss Dimitri. Hello.”

Peyton claimed the chair opposite her boss, pulling the blanket around her shoulders even though it wasn’t cold. She waited for Hadina to say more, or to answer her question. While Hadina still looked powerful as hell—the deep V of her blouse causing Peyton’s heart rate to spike tremendously—it seemed as though the woman was not quite herself. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, a strand tucked behind her right ear, which was incongruous with her character.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Hadina furrowed her sculpted brows. “Hm?”

“I asked if you were okay. You don’t seem like your usual self.”

Hadina scoffed, sitting back in her chair. “And you know me well enough to make assumptions like that?”

“Now that seems much more like the Hadina Adis I’ve come to know.” Peyton cursed herself for being unable to stop talking. She hated awkward silences and did whatever she could to ensure that they didn’t happen often; but Hadina didn’t seem like the type of person who would appreciate that.

“Maybe you’re right,” Hadina said with a sigh while running a slender hand through her hair. It made Peyton uneasy to see Hadina so agitated. “There’s no need for concern, though. I’m just overthinking this family dinner.”

“You’re not looking forward to seeing your sisters?”

Hadina shook her head. She kicked off her heels and propped her feet up on the edge of the fire pit. “My relationship with my family is complicated and slightly strained.”

“We should have a fucked-up family club or something then,” Peyton said with a sardonic laugh. “Complicated family matters are something I’m well acquainted with.”

Her surprise admission caused Hadina to pause, her gaze boring into Peyton’s like she was trying to see exactly what she was talking about. Peyton didn’t like to discuss her family, the memories too painful for her to manage most of the time. But somehow, sitting under a garden gazebo with Hadina Adis made her want to tell her life story to the relative stranger before her.

“My sister died a few years ago and everything went kind of crazy after that. We were puzzle pieces trying to fit together, only each of us was from a different box. No matter how hard we tried, our grief seemed to separate us instead of bringing us together.”

Hadina gave Peyton a weighted look, pursing her lips. “I’m sorry you lost your sister, Peyton.”

Peyton’s eyes shot up. Hadina had used her name, and the sincerity of her words brought tears to Peyton’s eyes but she blinked them away, forcing a smile onto her face. “I appreciate that. Now, tell me why you aren’t looking forward to this evening.”

“Put it this way: if you think I’m a cold bitch, you haven’t met Zellie.”

Chapter8

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