GET UP LAZARUS , EVERYTHING'S CRUMBLING CHAPTER 48 - GET UP LAZARUS , EVERYTHING'S CRUMBLING I froze mid - step , my heart lurching like someone had just yanked it out of my chest . I turned quickly , already asking myself who on earth had the nerve to startle me here of all places . I caught a man leaned by the window . Tall , dark suit , standing there like the whole room had been reserved for him . The light slid across his jaw , and his eyes ... God , those eyes ... cold and calculating like I was some file on his desk . But there was something in his stance that made my stomach twist . I hadn't noticed him before . The curtain of my exhaustion and worry had been so thick , I hadn't even seen that someone was here , just ... watching . " I - uh ... Can I help you ? " He didn't even bother talking to me , just walked straight up to Marvin's bed and stared at him . I hated the way he looked at him ... it wasn't care , it wasn't concern . No , it was worse . It was pity , like Marvin was some broken thing on display , and I swear it made my skin crawl . I was about to scorch him with my tongue , when he finally opened his mouth ... 7 " He's improving better than last time . His heart rate has accelerated a good percent . His blood pressure is more stable . His body is responding well to the fluids . His getting better . For a second , I narrowed my eyes at him . I was confused ... clueless , honestly , about what he even meant . But the way he said it ? Like he'd been on Marvin - watch long before I showed up . What was he , the doctor now ? But doctors wore white coats , not expensive suits and polished shoes " Oh ... are you the doctor ? " I asked , almost suspicious . He didn't answer immediately . His gaze stayed on Marvin's pale face before he finally said , " No , I'm not . " Then he slipped something from his pocket and handed it to me ... it was a card . I turned it over , and there it was : Marvin's company logo staring right back at me . I didn't know why , but my heart tripped over itself . Marvin had mentioned this man before ... his PA . The one he called calculated , cold , and a strategist . What was his name again ... uhm ... " Damian . Damian Verano , " he supplied smoothly , almost as if he'd read my thoughts . " I came to check on him . " " Oh . Thanks for coming , " I murmured , unsure what else to say . " No problem . He's my responsibility too , " he said simply , as if it was fact . I didn't reply to that . I turned back to Marvin and just wished he could rise like Lazarus ... Oops ... scratch that . He's not dead , just pulling the world's most dramatic nap . ' Get up , idiot , ' I muttered under my breath . ' You're not dead , and I still need someone to annoy . " " How are you feeling , by the way ? " Damian asked suddenly . I snapped my head toward him , annoyed to my bones . But really , what good would it do , taking it all out on him ? " How I'm feeling ? What does it matter ? " " It does , " he said , calm but firm . " I'm always in charge of Marvin's priorities ... and you were always at the peak . " Always at the peak ? God ... Marvin used to say that . Over and over , like it was a fact written in stone . " You come first , Maya . No one else before you . " He'd tease me when I rolled my eyes , but he meant it . He always meant it . " Are you serious ? " I managed to choke out , as tears pricked my eyes before I could stop them . " Yeah . He left me in charge of everything while he chased Larry and Brandy , " Damian replied . For a moment , I'd almost let myself get fond of him . But the second those names rolled off his tongue , everything inside me 1/3 GET UP LAZARUS EVERYTHING'S CRUMBLING +25 BONUS soured . " You know about Larry and Brandy ? " " Marvin literally tells me everything . " A humorless laugh slipped out before I could stop it . " Yeah ... he has this silly habit of over - trusting people . Drives me crazy sometimes . " Damian's lips quirked . " Ouch . So basically , you're saying you can't trust me ? " I rolled my eyes . " I mean , let's be real ...I barely know you . Sure , Marvin dropped your name here and there , but you ? You're basically a stranger . " " Yeah , you have a point . " He nodded , so måddeningly calm , like nothing I said could ruffle him . And that right there ... that cool , unbothered composure ... irked me more than it should . Like , could he at least pretend to get defensive ? Or was I just doomed to bounce sass off his brick wall of serenity ? I turned back to Marvin , brushing a strand of hair from his forehead . " Please ... just wake up . For me . " " Yeah , he should , " Damian said softly . " Everyone needs him ... especially the company . " The company ! How could I have almost forgotten that enormous burden . " The company has been .... under strain . There are internal disputes , stockholders growing restless , and the board ... pressing harder than ever , " Damian trailed off . I frowned . " But you've been handling it all this time . Why can't you just ... keep doing that ? " Damian let out a short , humorless chuckle . " That would be ideal , wouldn't it ? But the board doesn't think so . Their exact words were : ' He either returns to take charge , or his next of kin does . Otherwise , the company will be handed off to the highest bidder ' . " Wait ... did he just say handed off ? As in ... sold off like it's nothing ? That company was Marvin's sweat , his damn blood , his years of breaking his back . And now they want to hand it over like it's some pawnshop deal ? My stomach knotted . " Who is his next of kin ? " Damian's lips curved into a slow , knowing smile before he laughed . It wasn't loud , but it was sharp ... mocking , even . It made my skin prickle . " What's so funny ? " I snapped ... but shortly after it clicked . The thought hit me so hard I almost swayed . " No ... no , no way . " " You are , " he said simply , his eyes locking onto mine . " You're Marvin's next of kin . " For a moment the room tilted . My knees felt weak , and I gripped the side of the bed as if it could anchor me . Me ? Next of kin ? I wasn't some polished CEO or boardroom shark . I was just Maya - his sister , barely holding herself together , drowning in guilt over the accident . I came here to beg my brother to wake up , not ... inherit his empire . " This is a joke , " I whispered , shaking my head . " It has to be a joke . " But Damian didn't look like a man who joked . " And when I looked into you , " he said , steadier now , " I realized you're far more capable than you think . You have a degree in Business Administration from the University of Brightwood ... " I froze , staring at him . " How the hell do you know that ? " He smirked faintly . " I make it my business to know things . And I also know you managed a florist shop for years . Mrs. Frump herself vouched for your management skills . She said you were organized , decisive ... fair . " 2/3 GET UP LAZARUS EVERYTHING'S CRUMBLING +25 BONUS My mouth fell open . Mrs. Frump ? He'd gone that far back ? He'd actually dug into my past like I was under investigation . " You'd be great for the company , " he continued , each word deliberate , like he was trying to hypnotize me " I can't , " I blurted , cutting him off . The words ripped out of me , raw and obviously panicked . " I can't do it , Damian . I'm not built for that world . " He leaned forward , as his eyes narrowed . " But the company needs you , Maya . More than you realize . And Marvin .. " he gestured toward my unconscious brother , " ... he trusted you more than anyone . You're his blood . His sister . Don't you understand ? You're the only one who can hold his legacy together until he wakes up . " I shook my head furiously , tears slipping free , burning down my cheeks . " No ... no , no . This isn't fair . I didn't come here for this . I came here to see my brother ... not to be thrown into some battlefield I can't win . " Damian's jaw tightened , but when he spoke , his tone stayed calm . " Sometimes , the only way to protect the people we love is to step into the fire for them . " The words sank into me like shards of glass . My hands trembled against Marvin's sheet , clutching it as if it could hold me together . I wanted to scream at him , to tell him he didn't know me , didn't know what I'd lost or how much of me was already burning in that fire . But the truth was ... a small , aching part of me feared he was right . " You feel overwhelmed . Scared . Angry . Maybe even resentful , " he said , calmly . I froze , eyes narrowing . " Wow . That was ... accurate . " He gave a faint smile . " I'm observant . " I groaned , burying my face in my hands for a moment . " I hate that I'm listening to a stranger analyze my feelings . This is so ridiculous . " " Maybe , " Damian admitted . " But I'm also telling you the truth . You matter to him . And right now ... maybe the most important thing is keeping the company afloat until he wakes up . " I blinked at him . " And if I say no ? " I asked . " Then I'll respect that . I'll be here if you change your mind . No pressure . No judgment . " I stared at him , and just when I was about to speak ... my phone buzzed in my pocket . I literally died , resurrected , rolled my eyes at my own ghost , and died again the second I saw that caller ID . 3/3