MIt has been a month since New Year’s, and the season is shifting from really cold to comfortably cold. In the past month, I have seen Lana numerous times, whether she wanted it or not. That part of my life has been blissful, but I can’t shake this feeling of unease.
I feel like I’m getting to know her, and in the same breath, she’s pulling away from me. In my line of work, I have been trained to recognize patterns of destruction and manipulation, and I hope my gut instincts are wrong, but Lana is teetering on that line.
She has been asking me questions here and there about my background, and I don’t know if that shit is usual in a relationship, but it feels odd.
And Oliver isn’t helping at all.
We are sitting in my penthouse, drinking coffee and discussing Marco’s case. While simultaneously talking about my obsession with Lana.
“So, let me get this straight. You are in a relationship with this woman?” he asks me, and I nod.
“And y’all have great, mind-blowing sex?”
“My gun isn’t far away, Oliver.” He puts his hands up in the air in defense.
“Apologies. But seriously, what’s your problem?” he questions me as he takes a sip of his coffee.
“I’m not sure what you are getting at.” And I’m being serious. This line of questioning is making my skin crawl.
“M, she is asking you questions about your family, likes, dislikes, and all that jazz, right?”
“Yes, and what’s your point?” I ask him. Oliver sighs deeply and shakes his head.
“You are a great boss, but an even greater idiot.”
“I can also stab you if that’s what you prefer.”
“Listen to me, man, shelikesyou.”
“What do you mean?” My question is genuine, as is Oliver’s facial expression. He is expressing genuine emotions of disbelief.
“Those are normal questions that are asked in a relationship, you asshole.” I know my feelings for Lana are fucking strong, and that I would move heaven and earth for her, butlikingme? I haven’t even considered that.
“I feel like you are having an aneurysm, so let me ask you this. Why are you doubting her honesty?” His question conjures up a barrage of questions. Questions I’m not sure I want the answers to.
“Oliver, I have been answering her questions as much as I can, but she is still very secretive about her life.”
“Meaning?”
“She explained how she dropped out of high school because her mom died when she was a teenager.” I light up a cigarette and continue talking. “And that her father isn’t around anymore.”
“Do you mean dead or not around?”
“Just not around. Before you ask, Hana did a background check, and everything Lana has told me is true.”
“Interesting. So, where is her dad?”
“He went to jail in Italy because of some shady business practices. He has dual citizenship, and his business there collapsed a few years back after some fraudulent cases.”
“I thought you said Lana mentioned that her father was good?”
“Good to her, not to the country of Italy.”
“How long did he get?”
“About fifteen years.”
“Did Hana try to get into their prison system?” Oliver asks. I put out my cigarette and shake my head.
