Chapter Seven

As I stared at my reflection on the car mirror, a pair of baggy, green eyes stared back at me. It had been two days since I was banished from work and I still couldn't sleep at night. The horrible dream that haunted me continued to taunt me again and again. Night after night, I woke up with sweat dripping off of my body.

The guilt I was feeling was eating me alive. And honestly, I doubt there's much to eat anymore.

Gathering myself, I pushed the car door open then headed toward "Richman elderly home". As I made my way to the front desk, I realized how much I've missed him; my grandpa. I haven't seen him since I moved back to New York.

"Morning," I greeted the blonde desk clerk. "My name is Eliyanna, I would like to see Nicholas Holland, please."

"Ah, yes, Mr. Holland. Are you a relative of his?" she asked. I nodded in answer then realized she didn't see the action. "Yes, he's my grandpa."

"Which one are you?" She asked, finally looking up from the screen.

"I'm sorry?"

"Are you the kick-ass detective? The brilliant heir to his company or the Princeton graduate, prodigy?" As she grinned from ear to ear, I couldn't help but blush, even though her question failed to surprise me. This was my grandpa for you; he always bragged about us even when there was nothing to brag about.

"The Princeton graduate, prodigy," I answered with a chuckle.

The desk clerk ushered me to a living room where a lot of old people sat playing bingo. Hugging myself tight, I searched the room for my grandpa, until my eyes finally landed on the back of his head. I took sometime taking him in. He looked so relaxed staring at the outside world.

"Nicholas," he turned around at the mention of his name. "There's someone here for you." As his eyes moved from the tall blonde to me, they lit up. God, I missed his face, I missed his energy, I missed him. The man who was more of a father to me than my own. When he blessed me with a full grin, my heart leaped and I practically ran towards him. Wrapping my arms around him, I tried my best to hold back my tears. God, how long has it been since I received his big bear hugs?

I held him tighter when he tried to pull back. "I'm not ready yet, Grandpa." He chuckled and held me closer. I felt so safe in his arms. For a moment, wush, all my problems disappeared and the world around me went with it. I was more than happy that he still had that effect on me. I needed him now more than ever. I needed him to make my dreams permanently go away like he used to do when my parents got into their loud fights.

I finally pulled back from the hug and looked up at his tall figure. The corners of my lips curled up as I took in his face; even old, he still looked handsome.
"Gramps. I missed you so much it hurt," I began our usual catch phrase, hoping he didn't forget.

"Where those it hurt?" He asked like he usual did. When I pointed to my heart, he twirled his index finger around it like a magician before making a complete 360 around my hair then topped it off with a kiss on my forehead. "How about now? Does it still hurt?"

"All gone," I grinned and he laughed.

"Oh, I could never get tired of that. Four years later and it's still the cutest thing." Before I could react, he giddily wrapped his hands on my shoulders and turned my body toward the room.

Oh no.

"Hey! Everybody! Everybody," he called out. I nudged him gently on the ribs, knowing exactly what he was about to do. God this was so embarrassing. "This is Eliyanna, my youngest grandchild. She graduated top of her class in Princeton at just twenty one!" He grinned from ear to ear and I couldn't help but grin back.

His little audience smiled and clapped for me, even a few of them came over to tell me how nice it was to finally meet me.

"Aw, she is even more beautiful than you claimed Nick," said an old woman. When I saw her hands stretching towards me, I tried to dock back, dock to the side, dock down, but alas, it was no use. Her evil hands got to my delicate cheeks and pinched it. Hard. How the hell did she have all of that strength between her fingers? "She's the whole package isn't she?" she continued, after assaulting my cheeks a bit more. "Beauty and brains." I smiled at her even though I wanted to pinch her cheeks crimson. Does that make me a bad person? Probably. "You know, I think you and my grandson would be wonderful together."

"Stacy," my grandpa chuckled. "Jordan and his reptile friends need to be fifty feet away from my bunny." After embarrassingly showing me off to the rest of the staff, we headed to his side of the home.

"I love your room Gramps," I commented, studying the Moroccan-themed space.

"It's alright." Sitting on his soft bed, I grabbed the remote and switched on the television. "Apple or orange juice?" Gramps asked, hunched over his mini fridge.

"None, thank you. I'm fine."

"Apple it is then," he poured some on a tall glass and handed it to me.
When the juice finished, I pouted. Hmmm... I guess I was thirsty after all. Gramps knowingly took the glass and filled it up again. This time, I took my time savoring the delicious natural flavor as I switched through the channels.

"Are you alright sweetheart?" He asked after a while, sitting next to me.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I answered, not daring to look at him. The man always sensed when something was wrong. I loved it sometimes but at times like this, I wished he didn't.

"When you hug yourself like that," he nodded toward my arms. "You're either sad, nervous or scared. You've been hugging yourself since you walked in."

My arms instantly dropped to my lap. I looked away, trying hard to hold back my prickling tears. "I'm fine Gramps. You worry too much." When I finally gathered the strength to look at him, I forced a smile. My trembling lips, however, gave me away so I bit it hard to make it stop.

"And when you do that," he nodded towards my lips. "It's either to stop yourself from crying, you have a crush or you feel guilty for some reason."

"Ah, grandpa are a mind reader all of a sudden?" I laughed although I knew he saw past it.

"When it comes to you: yes, I am," he answered seriously. "You know you can tell me anything bunny." His voice was so shaky, my eyes instantly started to water. I didn't want him to worry himself over me. He just had a stroke six months ago. Any little thing could threaten his health. What kind of person would I be if I was responsible for compromising it? A world without my grandpa was no world for me to live.

"It's nothing I can't handle," I lied again.

"Is it that boy again? Does he know you're back?"

My heart dropped to the floor at the memory of him and I quickly shook my head. "No, grandpa. I'm keeping a low profile. It's not him."

"Eliyanna," I looked up at him instantly; he never called me by my name unless he was serious. "If it is him, don't repeat the mistake of keeping it to yourself. Remember what happened when you refused to--"

"I know Grandpa."

"It's just--,"

"No grandpa please." Tears formed in my eyes and rolled down my face. But they weren't for me; the tears I mean. They were for him. His face; it looked so sad. "I'm alright, I promise."

"You never saw the therapist I paid for. Incidents like that, just don't go away bunny you need to talk to someone," he said softly.

"I've moved past it," I answered confidently. It was the truth. I had moved past it.

Then why are tears still running down your face?

I wiped the wetness with the back of my hand and sat upright. "I'm fine," I reassured him and the clueless voice in my head.

He sighed and pulled apart my arms. God, was I hugging myself again? I moved closer to him and snuggled on his chest. As he wrapped his hand around my shoulder, I wrapped mine around his waist softly, making sure not to squeeze too tight.

"So I hope your dope of a father isn't ruining my company," he sighed after five minutes of silence.

Chuckling, I snuggled up more on his chest and hugged him tighter. "No, Grandpa. The company's doing quiet good actually." He never got along with my father even though he was his eldest son.

"Then why aren't you working there?"

My shoulders fell and I moved away from our little cuddle. How did he know? Ugh, I wanted to tell him before he heard it from someone else!

"It's Derek, isn't it? That little bitch told you, didn't he?!"

"Eliyanna, what did I tell you about calling your brother that name?"

"What an irony huh? His allergic to female dogs but the boy is one."

"Eliyanna," he warned sternly.

I sighed and hung my head in defeat.

Note to self: Buy Derek a super furry female dog and send it as a package. Let's see how he'll get the "ladies" with a super puffy face.

"Gramps, if you were there you know I wouldn't hesitate to work for you. But daddy?" I shook my head. "With him they're always strings attached. Besides, I'm happy that I fended for myself. You know, just like you. You started on your own and built a massive empire. I want to follow in your footsteps; become something rather than have it handed to me." I smiled, satisfied with my well rehearsed answer.

When he grinned, I knew I had him there. "Nice save, bunny. You always know the right thing to spill out of that smart mouth of yours."

"Phew," I rubbed off an imaginary sweat from my forehead and flung my hand in the air. At the action, my grandpa laughed even louder.

"You know, you just have to say the word and I'll transfer the whole company under your management," he proposed once our laughter died down. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, amused at his offer, mainly because he meant it. "Is that a yes," he asked slyly.

"No, Grandpa. No," I specified my words, trying and failing to hide the amusement in my voice. If I didn't make it clear to him today, tomorrow I'll probably have lawyers knocking on my door and handing me documents to the company. I glared at him then chuckled when he crooked his head to the side, "I'm serious grandpa! Don't!"

He laughed and raised up his hands in surrender, "Okay, I won't, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Shaking my head, I laughed, snuggled back into his arms and closed my eyes.

A/N

So Eliyanna has been having such a hard time lately. :( I know this chapter doesn't seem like a much, but trust me, it's very relevant to the story. I dropped some major, major bombs that are on a timer. In chapters to come, they'll start to connect together. Keep in mind some of the little, little details that might seem mediocre. Trust me they're not.

I know, I know I'm quiet the tease ain't I? *Wink wink*

So how do you cookies feel about this chapter? I wanted to focus on Eliyanna a little, so you can get to know her better. Character development and all that. Haha. But above is a very sexy photo of Gui Fedrizzi aka Roman Alexander, so hopefully that makes up for his absence.

Lastly I wanted to apologize for the delay in my updating schedule. Where I am currently (some of you know, some of you don't), the internet is kind of crap. I promise I'll try my best to avoid keeping you waiting for long.

Stay with me, cause you're all I need (Ed Sheeran voice, haha). :)

Please don't forget to vote and comment, it would mean a lot to me. You cookies and cupcakes give me energy!

Xoxo... Tima.