Chapter 8 Who's Orion

"Lyra, are you okay?" Elsa asked a zoned out Lyra, who sat staring into space, when she returned to the ward.

"Lyra!" she called again, shaking her, when she didn't get a response from her the first time. Lyra jolted and turned to look at Elsa, her eyes really sad and misty.

"Elsa," she started, her voice breaking.

Elsa moved in closer and engulfed her in a warm embrace. "Hey... talk to me. Is everything okay?"

"I don't know, El. I don't think everything's alright," Lyra replied in a muffled voice, trying to control the tears that were threatening to spill in torrents.

"Alright, take a deep breath and try to explain to me how you got here."

"I really don't know."

"How did you meet Orion?"

"Who's Orion?"

"Lyra, the man that was just here some minutes ago."

"I told you, I don't know him."

"You've got to remember, Lyra," Elsa chided patiently. "Orion is a decent man, to a good extent. I know what he's capable of, and what he's not. So you've got to remember how you met him."

"I'll try," Lyra said, leaning away from Elsa's arms. "How do you know him though?" she added, narrowing her eyes on Elsa suspiciously.

Elsa waved her hand in dismissal. "Let's not talk about him. I want to talk about you."

Lyra shrugged and looked down at her fingers, fidgeting with them.

"What's really going on with you, Lyra? Alcohol? I know how much you hate it. So, spill."

Lyra sighed and sat up straighter, tucking her hair behind her ears. "It's about my husband," she started.

"What about Zander?"

"He left for a business trip, El. But that's not even my problem."

"What then is the problem? Zander goes on business trips so frequently...?"

"He left me divorce papers, El. According to the letter he left alongside the papers, he's been cheating on me with some girl," Lyra narrated dryly, the cloak of sadness hanging over her eyes now thicker.

"Oh my God," Elsa gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "I'm so sorry, love," she whispered, moving closer to hug Lyra. "I'm sorry about this, baby."

"What do I do? I'm so confused."

"Have you been able to speak to Zander since he left for the trip?"

"That's the problem, El. He's not taking my calls, he's not answering my texts either. My calls keep getting directed to voicemail."

"That's bad," Elsa muttered, a frown on her face. "He should at least take your calls, to pacify you, if he cheated. I believe that's the least he can do."

"I don't think he went on a business trip, El. He's left. I checked and most of his stuff is no longer in our house. Makes me wonder how long he's been planning this."

Elsa shook her head in disbelief. "So, Zander is really going through with the divorce?"

"Apparently."

Elsa bit her lips, racking her brain. She knew Zander, really well, and this didn't sound like what he'd do. "Something's off, Lyra. I can feel it strongly."

"What do you mean? Of course something's off, Zander has disappeared!"

.

.

Orion stood rooted to the marble ground, his surprised gaze fixed on the man that had now stood up to welcome him. The corners of the man's mouth were turned up in a smug grin, and Orion wished he could wipe the smile away with a slap.

"Orion," Noah Garcia started, the smug grin never leaving his face. "It's good to see you man," he added, opening up his arms to Orion.

Orion didn't move from where he stood, he just glared at Noah, seething. He'd actually gathered the guts to show up at his father's house?

Drew Blackwood cleared his throat when he noticed the tension in the room. "Have a seat, Orion." He took a seat and nodded to Noah, who seemed disappointed at Orion's cold reception, signaling him to sit back down.

"Noah, meet my son, Orion. He got back from Europe about a month ago," Drew introduced him, then turned to his son. "Orion, Noah Garcia, the director of Garcia Crown, the largest resort in Texas."

"You both might have crossed paths. I'm not so sure," Drew added, a proud smile on his face.

"It's nice to officially meet you, Orion. I've heard so much about you," Noah said, extending his hand for a handshake.

Orion was reluctant to take it, but he saw his father shoot lasers at him from the corner of his eyes. 'Don't you dare embarrass me.' That was the look Drew was giving his son.

He eventually gave in and took Noah's hands, who clasped them in a firm handshake. "It's nice to meet you too, Noah Garcia."

He broke off the handshake and leaned back on the couch, wiping his hand on his Jean. "So, how long were you in Europe?"

Orion knew it was a lame effort to strike a conversation with him, but he was going to engage Noah, just for the sake of his father.

"I don't know," Orion replied, shrugging. "Ten years, maybe?" he added, looking over at his father, who was still watching him like a hawk.

"Wow. That's a really long time."

"Yep."

The silence that followed comforted Orion. He was glad he wasn't hearing Noah speak anymore.

The silence was short-lived, though.

"So, uhm, without wasting much of our time, let's dive into why we're here right now," Drew started, sitting forward on the couch.

Orion looked away, wondering what it was this time.

"Orion?"

"Yes, father."

"I would like you to work with Noah on an upcoming affiliation project."

Orion's eyes turned into a pair of blazing hot coals at the announcement. He sat rigidly, his back ramrod straight, brooding for what seemed like forever.

"Orion?"

"Yes, father."

"Did you hear what I said just now?"

"Yes, father. It's just.. I don't understand why." He paused, staring pointedly at his father, who urged him to continue with a nod.

"Why do I need to work with Noah Garcia? I'm working already, remember? You appointed me as the director of one of our hotels."

"I'm right here, you know?" Noah chipped in, a little offended that Orion spoke about him like he wasn't there with them.

"I'm reassigning you to our newest hotel, as the general manager. Noah would be the director, as we needed to get in his limelight to boost our new hotel. Do you understand?" Drew explained.

"No father. I don't understand."

"Well, I don't need you to. If you insist on understanding, do that in your own private time. We have work to do," Drew said, standing up.

"The launching party for the hotel should be held as soon as possible, and it should be in collaboration with the affiliation ceremony. I'm counting on you two," Drew added, then left the study.

Noah was the first to break the silence that followed Drew's exit. "So, what's up mate?"

"Mate? Noah, are you kidding me?"

Noah opened his mouth to say something, but Orion interrupted him before he could say anything.

"You know what, let's not waste any more time. Just go straight to the point. What do you want?"

"Nothing, Orion. Stop being so uptight. I just wanna help."

Orion knew as those words left Noah's mouth, that there was about to be a major disaster.

Because Noah never did anything that wouldn't benefit him. Even if it had to be at the detriment of another.