ELIZABETH'S POV

I shoveled pasta into my mouth while glancing around the table. We all sat in silence eating our food. In a way it was kind of awkward but also we were eating. My eyes kept falling back to Tristan who sat across from me. It was kind of hard not to look at him because he was right there but everything about him, just... I can't even explain it. 

Avery set her phone on the table and swallowed the food in her mouth, "My mom texted."

"Anything good?"

She shrugged her shoulders and shifted around her spaghetti, "She's been trying to get a hold of that Norman guy."

I saw Tristan tense in the corner of my eye and that's when it clicked. Brandon and him said something about a guy named Norman, "Any luck?"

"I don't know," her eyebrows furrowed causing a crease to form on her forehead, "she's working with my dads business partner and he says he can get a hold of him. I don't have all the details so I'm going to call her later."

I hummed and looked at Tristan. His face was serious and his jaw clenched. Brandon looked intrigued but unsure how to react. He scratched his chin and studied Avery for a second, "Who's your father?" 

"Benjamin Cale, why?" 

Brandon's movement stilled and his face paled. He cleared his throat and looked down, "Just wondering. Is everything okay?"

He asked the question but seemed like he already knew. I narrowed my eyes at him and glanced at Tristan who looked like he wanted to punch something. This man only knows how to get angry. 

"Um," Avery's voice sounded skeptical, "he's missing."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Yeah," she dropped her head and let out a sigh.

After dinner Avery and Brandon left. The house filled with silence but my mind was filled many thoughts. I had to talk to Tristan. There was no doubt he knew something, and Brandon too. Their tensing at the dinner table said it all. 

I walked slowly towards Tristan's office with my head down. My feet slid against the floor gently and my hair fell down the sides of my face. The rate of my heart picked up slightly, thumping inside of it's enclosure. 

I reached the tall red wood door and stared at it for a moment before bringing my hand up. The knocks sounded loudly in my ears. I stilled and waited for some sort of acceptance from the man inside. A muffled, "Come in," sounded and I opened the door. 

It creaked on it's hinges as I slowly stepped in and shut it behind me. I turned and looked at Tristan who sat at his over sized desk that had papers scattered all over it. He held a pen in his hand and his forehead wore multiple creases. His thick brows were furrowed as he stared down at the paper in front of him. My lips dried and I found them seeking moisture as my tongue ran over them. 

Tristan's eyes met mine and he held his usual glare, "Is there something I can help you with?"

My breath caught in my throat along with my words, "I, uh," I cleared my throat and continued, "actually yes there is."

He hummed and looked back down, "That is?" He was obviously not in the mood and distracted. His words held little attention towards me. Still I kept my voice strong, "I want you to tell me what you know about Isaac Norman."

His hand tightened around the pencil but he continued to stare down, "Elizabeth-"

"No. Tristan I know you know something. You and Brandon spoke of him once. And at dinner you both seemed so tense."

Tristan set down the pencil and leaned back in his chair rubbing his tired eyes, "This is nothing that concerns you. We're not having this conversation."

Anger bubbled up in me and I glared at him. I marched around his desk and stood beside his chair. He turned it to face me holding my glare, "Doesn't concern me? This is Avery's father we're talking about!"

He slowly rose from him seat. His height increased until he was staring down at my small figure. His presence made me feel so vulnerable and intimidated but I would never let him know that. I could see the resistance he held in his eyes and knew this wouldn't be easy, "I have no concern for Avery's father and know nothing of it. Now I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have work to do."

He was about to sit back down when I felt my outburst surfacing, "No! You know something and you're just going to let it happen?! I'm not going to sit here and do nothing! He has a family you know."

"I don't care."

Of course he didn't. I scoffed And hardened my gaze, "You only care about yourself. As long as you get your money you're happy, is that it? You're a heartless bastard!"

I went to push him and he growled grabbing my writs. He yanked my body flush against his and all the air left my lungs. His eyes stared deeply into mine and his hot breath fanned my face, "I will not have you get involved. These are dangerous waters, Eliza. I won't have you get hurt."

He mumbled the last part. I felt my heart stutter and my lips parted. I wanted to speak but nothing came out. We just stared at each other. My heart pounded violently in my chest from the anger and excitement. Did he really care? 

He sighed and let go of my hands but didn't back up and neither did I, "I'll handle it, alright? Just promise me you'll stay out of it?"

"I-I," how was I supposed to stay out of it. It involved people I was close to; it was almost impossible for me to sit by. "Promise me, Eliza. This isn't some game."

I shivered at the nickname, too visibly is you ask me. He tensed at the action and I swallowed the lump in my throat, "I promise."

That was a flat out lie. There was no way I'd just sit back. But staring into his icy gaze had my entranced and intimidated. He narrowed his eyes at me and I knew he knew I wasn't being honest. He didn't speak of it though, "Good. I have work."

I watched his lips moved as he spoke, hinting for me to leave. I looked back up at him and almost melted into his blue eyes. He kept his face hard showing no reaction but his eyes shown. As masked as they were it was like I could almost see some sort of emotion. 

I nodded my head slowly and took a step back. He followed my movements as I turned to leave the room. Before I closed the door I glanced back and furrowed my brows, "Please try to figure this out, Tristan. I-I, I'm worried."

He just nodded slowly and I sighed. I shut the large door and leaned back against it. My heart still moved rapidly in my chest. I hated that I didn't understand my own feelings towards the man. All the lust, hatred, and now something else. Something that genuinely scared me. 

I took a long deep breath and pushed myself off the door.

_________________________________________________________

BadaBing BadaBoooooom

lemme know if you have any ideas!

<3