Page 39 of Delilah In Discretion

“That’s precisely my point. So I’ll ask you again: What are you doing talking to my father? I know the type of man he is; he feeds off of trouble. And right now, it looks like you’re searching for it,” Archer accused, and I looked away from his scrutinizing gaze, finally noticing that he was still holding my arm.

“Can you let go of me?” I asked him in a hushed tone, and as if realizing it himself, he retracted his hand.

I sighed and pushed the hair out of my face. “I don’t know why I came to see him. Everyone else I know has been busy with their priorities, and the only person who came to mind just happened to be your father.”

“Just because you think you have no one to talk to doesn’t entirely justify this. You’re acting on impulse.”

“Well, you would know, wouldn’t you?” I muttered, and my eyes shot open as I said the words only meant to be said in my mind.

“Is that supposed to mean something?” Archer asked, taking a step closer.

I bit my lip and quickly shook my head. “N-no, it’s not.”

Archer continued stalking closer, and I quickly hit the elevator button that was now against my back. Again, I always found myself in these predicaments: being snarky towards Archer only to be backed into a corner after going too far. It was always like this. I always knew what would rile him, and he fell for it every time. That, however, didn’t make him any less scary.

He tilted his head. “That little ‘remark’ didn’t have anything to do with the night of the auction, did it?” he questioned, and I gulped softly as I couldn’t speak. He leaned in, and I internally shuddered at how close he was. “Well, if that was what you were referring to, I can tell you that the kiss I gave you was not out of impulse...” he muttered, and I glared up at him silently as his hand reached up slowly to brush a strand of my hair back. Archer never knew boundaries. And it was silly of me to thinkthat a guy who essentially “claimed me” as his princess ever since I was younger would know anything about personal space.

Reaching my hand up to push him away, his same hand grabbed my wrist knowingly, almost as if he expected it. Our glaring match lasted for some time; however, I was doing most of the glaring, and he looked like he was going to eat me alive.

The elevator opened with a small ring, and Archer slowly lowered his hand and nodded to the lift.

“Go home, Delilah.”

Not saying another word, I scurried into the elevator and turned to see the doors closing and Archer’s eyes staring right at me.

Omniscient

Calvin sat listening on the couch as Delilah spoke to him. He conversed with her harmlessly, though; it was evident she was troubled with more than just her father’s frequent outbursts of stress and anger. Most of the time, she would solely be allowed to visit him when Killian had been upset about something he’d done, and Brielle would send her... which was pretty frequent. Her coming to visit him was something that had shocked him, but he used it to his advantage, calling Archer to the office as well.

“So... is there anyone that has caught your interest lately?” he asked, and she didn’t say anything for a moment.

The door opened, and Archer walked in as if on cue.

“Hello, Archer. Why, isn’t this just unexpected?” Calvin asked with fake obliviousness.

“Did you not ask me to come for a meeting two hours ago?”

Calvin shook his head. “The details of why you’re here are quite unnecessary at this point. I was just wrapping up my conversation with Delilah here. Wouldn’t you agree, Kitten?” he asked her, and soon, their conversation ended with Delilah leaving and Archer escorting her out.

Calvin stood from the chair after a moment and walked to his desk.

A few minutes went by, and Archer walked back into the office.

“Well, it seems like your trip to the elevator was a bit longer than anticipated.” Calvin spoke sarcastically, but Archer didn’t say anything as he crossed his arms.

“Why was she here?” Archer asked, and Calvin smirked as he leaned back in his chair.

“I could tell you, but I’d rather not.”

Archer rolled his eyes, and Calvin chuckled. “After fifteen years, you finally decided to do something other than bothering the poor girl.”

“Father...” Archer started, and Calvin tilted his head.

“No, really, I’m impressed. You just need to make sure Crawford’s kid isn’t too much of a distraction.”

Archer scoffed. “A distraction? Please. Luca won’t get very far.”

“Not in his mind. He thinks he’s on the same playing field as you.”

---