Determined & Derailed (Storm Corp Book 1)

by Gracie Wilson

  “That was a whim, so think about that, why don’t you? Back to the important things…I bought a nightclub. Don’t worry, it’s mine and mine alone. Not a Storm Corp property, so you have no voice in what I do with it.” I was dismissing him on this, hoping he’d let it go. “Let me get this right. You have been hiding a secret apartment, bought a Porsche and are the brand new owner of a nightclub.” His breath was laboured and I knew my whim had affected him.

  I nodded. “Correct.” I started to tell him a bit about the nightclub and where I saw it going.

  “Well, I’m happy your getting back into music, but Tory still isn’t up for a debate. Especially now with you being at the nightclub and all.”

  I shook my head. “I will have my own security there, I want a normal life and I think I deserve it, don’t you?” He put his hand on the side of my face, rubbing the pads of his fingers against my cheek.

  “Can you just trust me with Tory being the best idea? I want you to have a normal life more than anything, but with this contract and now a nightclub. If Tory isn’t with you, then I am. Just think about it, please?”

  I nodded. “Fine, I will think about it.” He got up and placed something on my desk.

  “I was supposed to give you this last night, but we got sidetracked. I’ll leave you be and I’ll see you after work. I’d like to go for a ride in that Spyder and check out your new endeavor.”

  With that he walked out of the office, closing the door behind him. I turned back to my desk to see an envelope on it with the month and day of my birthday written on it. Maybe it was Nolan’s present? I slowly picked up the envelope and continued to stare at it. Something felt off about all this. If it was from Nolan he wouldn’t have left me alone. A shiver went down my spine as I opened the letter. As soon as I saw the writing, tears cascaded from my eyes. I was filled with happiness and dread. It was from Lucas, my brother.

  Alexis, if you’re reading this then I’m gone, but it will be all right. If I could be anywhere it would be with you both. I have given this letter to Nolan with strict instructions not to give it to you until your first birthday I’ve missed. I hate the thought of not being a part of that day. It would be great to say that he has letters for every one of your birthdays but your life can’t be about waiting for my next letter. There are others that he will surprise you with, but don’t be the giant pain in his ass I know you can be. They will come when I’ve told him to give them to you no matter how much you bitch.

  I promise one day everything will be right again and we will be a family. I know it’s hard without me there, I couldn’t imagine having to live my life with you gone. It would be torture. I hate not being a part of your life in the future, but I was lucky enough to have a part in your past. Now the future is your own, don’t screw it up. Don’t close yourself off like you did after Mom and Dad died or I will have to come back and kick your ass, Lexi. I just want you to move on as hard as that will be. Even if you cannot hear my words or see me, I’ll always be around. It’s so hard to know you’re reading this and I won’t see those eyes again. I love you and I’m sorry I can’t be there for you, but you have got to trust Nolan. I’m not asking you, Lexi, I’m telling you. That dumbass loves you, more than I’d like him to. If you’re scared, if you need anything, or if anything ever happens go to Nolan and he will take care of it. Trust him, whatever he does in his messed up way is because he’s scared you’ll get hurt.

  Nolan is the one person I could trust you with and I know he can be just as big of a pain in the ass as you. No matter what is happening between you two, you’re going to have to trust that he knows what he’s talking about. He only has your best intentions at heart, Alexis. No more crying, you know how much I hate it when you do that shit. I wish I had many more days with you, but they’d still never be enough. Never shut Nolan out, he’s my only eyes to you now. I’ll be watching you, so you better not do anything stupid. Be safe and don’t be reckless, Alexis.

  Love, Lucas.

  I was balling in my office and I knew what I had to do. I had to trust Nolan, which meant Tory stayed as my fulltime bodyguard. So I picked up my phone and dialled out to Nolan’s assistant. I asked her to have him come to my office. When I hung up the phone I just put my head down. Shocked was all I was feeling. I couldn’t believe he wrote me a letter and gave it to Nolan. Worse, I couldn’t believe he made him wait. He’d had this a year and not given it to me or told me about it. He knew what it would mean to be. I knew he was only doing what my brother asked and I was sure my brother had his reasons, but I wished I had this piece of him before. Nolan came barging in the room and stared right into me. He came around the desk, hauling me off my feet and wrapped his arms around me. He pulled me down with him as he sat in the chair and I wailed into his chest. I missed my brother more than anything.

  “Nolan, I’m sorry for everything. Did you read it or know what it says? Did he tell you anything?” He shook his head and he was so tense. “If you really want to know where I go I’ll tell you, but please just let me keep my oasis to myself.” He was stroking my hair and it was so peaceful I could have fallen asleep. I was exhausted, as I hadn’t slept since yesterday morning. “Nolan if you keep doing that, I’m going to fall asleep.”

  He pulled out his phone and called Tory. “Meet me in the parking lot, we are going back to the penthouse.” That was all he said before he hung up. “Hold all calls and cancel all appointment for Miss Storm and myself.” He must have been talking to his assistant.

  “Nolan, you don’t have to come with me. I’m sure you're busy, it’s my own fault that I didn’t sleep at all last night.” He lifted us from the seat and went to grab my coat. He put it on me and I laughed at how this was just like last night.

  “I was thinking the same thing.”

  I pulled away and started doing up my buttons. “I think it’s best if I do this part.” He smirked at me and guided me to the door. When we got in the elevator I turned to him. “Nolan, I meant what I said. I’m sorry and I will try to be more aware of your concerns. I will also keep Tory around, but I can’t promise 24/7. I’m willing to compromise if it makes you both feel better about my safety.”

  Nolan came forward and hugged me. “I don’t know what he said in that letter, but I’m glad he said it. I constantly worry about something happening to you. Thank you, Lexi.” He kissed me on the head and led us out of the office.

  Chapter Six

  Nolan stayed with me all day and during the night. In his room, mind you, but stayed just the same. I told him he didn’t have to, but he wouldn’t hear it. I promised to take him to the bar tonight and show him the place. I was so looking forward to him seeing my ideas and getting his take on everything. I could say this; he may not be a tech savvy computer geek. However when it came to business he was a genius and he knew it. He knew how to put the right people in the right places to make things incredibly successful. He was a born leader and boss. We were lucky to have him at Storm Corp and if he ever went to work for the competition, I was sure we’d be royally screwed and not in the fun way. When we pulled up to the bar, he didn’t look impressed and I knew he was not seeing its potential. “Nolan, can you just give it a chance, okay?” When we walked in, Paula was running around ordering the construction crew around. I knew I made the right choice in putting her in management.

  I headed over and she hugged me. I introduced her to Nolan, although she already knew him as I told her about him that night I bought the place. She winked at me when he was not looking and I knew she could be a vixen. Before I got a chance to tell him who was here, Cohen walked up behind him. “How do you like the renovations so far?”

  Nolan went rigid and turned to look right at Cohen. “What are you doing here? I thought we hired you for programming?”

  I walked in between them and laughed. “Storm Corp hired him for that reason. I hired him here as a very talented singer and overall helpful employee in the music business. This isn’t Storm Corp and you’re not his boss. Not t
hat you are there, either. The only person Cohen reports to is me.” I had left no room for argument. I walked off with Cohen as he showed me around and pointed out things I should take note of. When I noticed Paula giving Nolan heck, I laughed and wanted to save him, but he must have said something to piss her off. Cohen warned me right away that you wanted Paula to like you because if she didn’t, it wouldn’t be pretty. Hopefully Nolan would find a way on her right side, but judging by her stern look, she was telling him off about something. He was not happy about it.

  “So, Nolan, what do you think of “Cadenza”?” Paula clapped her hands over her mouth.

  “You’re changing the name?” Nolan was clearly confused.

  “Nolan, I’m not just going to let this run the way it was. It is going to be more of a nightclub except for certain nights when I will designate it as a band or artist night. The new DJ’s booth will have all the stops, a wide variety of lights and anything else I decide to make it have.” I looked at all three of them as Cohen made his way over to hear my announcement.

  “I love the name, Lex, it’s awesome and fitting.” Paula was over the moon with the new changes and I was so happy that I could make them with her at my side.

  “Lexi, you really are talented and not just a beautiful woman.” I laughed at Cohen, but Nolan went stiff.

  “Should you really talk to your boss that way?” I swatted Nolan and he jumped.

  “Leave him be. I asked him to call me Lexi and he’s just being funny. I will be working with Cohen a lot from now on. I don’t want him to look at me like his boss.” Just then Lissa came barrelling in the door, screaming nonstop. She was beautiful in a completely obvious way. Bleach blonde hair and curvy in all the right places; with clothing that looked like it had been painted on, but in a good way.

  “When I got your text, I came back early. I can’t believe Storm Corp owns a night club.” I laughed at her because she didn’t get the whole story about everything, but I’d just let it slide.

  “No, Alexis owns a nightclub.” Guess not...thanks, Nolan.

  “Holy, Lexi you bought this without Nolan’s help.” She turned to Nolan and I knew she was about to start flirting with him. I couldn’t watch this after everything we’d been through. I’d never told her exactly to stay away, but she knew how I felt about him.

  “Cohen, want to go over some Storm Corp stuff while I’m here? I have a few questions.” He nodded and we walked off to one of the booths that had been torn off the wall and moved to the side. Funny enough these things must have been pre assembled because they came out looking exactly like they did against the wall. “Cohen, I emailed you some code that I want you to add to the program for the Storm Corp computers and I have an idea for one of the new weapons we are looking to devise.” When I showed him the drawings, he went chalk white. “This is entirely based on computer and unable to be used without permission from Storm Corp. Yes, I’d devised an insurance policy to make sure no one can use this other than those I design it for and gave permissions too.”

  “Lexi, there’s something I have to tell you and you’re not going to like it. Let’s talk in the back office.” He got up and guided me with his hand on my lower back. I passed Nolan on our way to the office and he turned my blood to icicles with the look he was giving me right now.

  “What is it, Cohen?” He sat down on the love seat so I sat next to him.

  “I was working on a project similar to this before and I’m positive it would have worked.” I didn’t see why this was such a big problem.

  “I was working with Lucas before he died, Lexi. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t know how much Nolan had told you.” Nolan, he knew and he didn’t tell me. “Worse part is, I’m almost positive this was the reason your brother was killed.” I never believed my brother’s death was an accident. He had no reason to be in that area and was an amazing driver. He wouldn’t have lost control like that. Tears were streaming down my face and Cohen wiped them away. His touch was soothing, but not in the “I’m hot for you” kind of way. Or at least that was not what he had intended to do, but I still felt the heat beneath his touch. Cohen was definitely sexy as hell, but I saw him in a purely friendly way. I hoped. The only man I saw any other way had been lying to me about my brother.

  “What the hell did you do to make her cry?”

  I pulled back and noticed Nolan. “He didn’t, you did, Nolan, so if you can’t watch the hurt, get the fuck out of my nightclub.” Whoa. Where did that come from?

  “I’m going to go see if Paula needs help. If you need me, Lexi, just give me a shout.” I nodded and Cohen stepped around Nolan, giving him a dirty look and walked out the door.

  “Nolan, if you want me to stop lying to you, then you’d better start telling me the truth. I know my brother was involved in all this weaponry before he died and even worse I know he was doing something similar to my idea. It got him killed, but my way is even more complex than what he had planned. You should have told me. Until you start telling me the truth, I’m not telling you anything about this.”

  He shook his head and I knew he was torn. “Lexi, he didn’t want you to know, he asked me not to tell you and since it was so confidential I didn’t. He stopped the contract and then he had his accident. I didn’t want to bring all this up and I didn’t want you to go digging for answers. Now you know how serious it is that you get out of this contract.”

  I shook my head. “No, Nolan, I won’t do it. I’m sorry, but I know what I’m doing. Even if I wanted to, I can’t and I need to see this through. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got of all you on my side. I will be fine.” I dreaded the next part of this conversation. “Do you think this weaponry contract has something to do with what happened to my brother?” He nodded and I felt the sadness come over me. I was slowly spiralling and I just couldn’t handle anymore. What had I gotten myself into? He pulled me toward him and without thinking, I kissed him. His lips were cool against mine and my whole body melted against him. I felt heat spreading all over me and I knew this was going to escalate fast. I forgot about everything and only about what was going on between us at this moment. Before I got a chance to try and take this further, he pulled back.

  “Lexi, I can’t do this right now with you. I’m sorry.”

  Having gotten up, I grabbed the stapler off the desk and whirled it past his head. Damn it, I missed. “Get out.” He was completely flabbergasted by my aggression. I was not an aggressive person usually, but I’d snapped and I had no idea how far I’d take this.

  “Alexis, baby.” I went to grab something else, but he was grabbing my hands before I could even pick an item up.

  “Don’t baby me. There’s something going on between us, Nolan, and you know it. Why are you fighting it and hurting me in the process?” The look on Nolan’s face was pure pain and I almost wanted to retract my anger.

  “I’m not the settle down type and that’s what you need. It’s what you deserve and right now with everything going on, I already worry about you enough without bringing a relationship into it. That doesn’t mean I don’t care. I’m not saying no, I’m saying not right now. We both keep things to ourselves and that’s not the way to have a relationship.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m fucking done, you hear me. Done. You’ve lost the possibility of a later with your lying. I want you to move on, Nolan. Let me go. I am going to move on to...maybe to someone like Cohen who will understand that I’m not a toy to be played with when he feels like it.” With that I walked out the office and slammed the door behind me. I yelled, “Don’t follow me, Nolan.” I knew he heard me even though the door was closed. When I walked into the main area, Cohen was shuffling his feet and I was sure he heard the commotion going on back there. Hopefully he hadn’t heard me refer to him. I didn’t mean that. I wouldn’t or I guessed I couldn’t do that with Cohen. I didn’t see him that way and I was sure he didn’t see me that way either. Besides, I already had issues with one man at work.

&nb
sp; “Honey, I told his ass to either man up or let you go. I’m taking it he didn’t do either.”

  I shook my head. “But I let him go, Paula. I’m done living the way he wants. This shit stops now. Cohen, can you please drive me somewhere?” He nodded and grabbed his keys “Paula, please tell Nolan not to bother me. I have work to do with the club and my contract. I won’t be in the office this week as I have meetings outside the office and this place to get off the ground. I will email him if I need anything related to Storm Corp.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Cohen, you can’t tell anyone about this place. You’re the only one who knows I stay here or even have this place. Tomorrow after we get some work done, will you take me to work to pick up my car? I’d like you to grab anything from work you’re going to need in the next week, as we will be working from these offices. This is where I meet the new clients.” He nodded as we pulled up to my oasis, and looked wide eyed.

  “You live here. But it’s just a building with no guard or anything.” I laughed and just waved him off.

  “It has a code to get in, plus a lock with a security system. I’ll be fine, Cohen, but thanks for your concern. I meant it, Cohen, I’m not being facetious. I really do like that you’re concerned. I just want you to know I’m safe here, this is my oasis.”

  Cohen followed me up. I invited him in for some coffee and we fell into easy conversation. “Lexi, I wanted to talk to you about this program for the missile and take down weaponry designs. I get that you’re selling it as a safety measure and some might go for that. However, this could put a very large target on your back. Are you sure this is the route you really want to go?”