Page 43 of It Starts With A No

But of course he was wrong. Money. That was always involved with the Eolenfelds, and Clary was no different.

“Three years—all operating expenses paid for Safe Homes.”

The elevator door opened, and Seth marched out into a hallway in complete darkness.

Because he didn’t want to be near Clary.

He felt a desperate need to be as far away from her as possible.

Lengthening his strides, he stared at the only light—the green and white exit sign—at the end of the hallway.

Clary’s life and whatever brought her to San Francisco had nothing to do with him.

All this is just business. Seth just wanted the money from Edward Eolenfeld. Nothing else mattered. “From what you’ve said about him,” he continued forward, “I’m pretty sure he’d cut you that check if you just asked him for it.”

“He would.”

Seth stopped and clenched his fist when she hooked her hand on his arm. Having someone grab him in the dark was much worse than in broad daylight. It’s just Clary, he told himself, then consciously forced his fingers to uncurl even as she bumped into him.

“I’m sorry.” She let go of his arm, shifting to grab a fistful of his suit jacket. “But you’re walking so fast and …”

There was a slight shakiness in her voice.

“And it’s dark,” she continued.

The fear in her voice made him forget about his own discomfort, and Seth scanned the corridor.

It was dark, especially now that the elevator door had closed.

He was used to walking around the office in the dark, so he never thought too much about it. “And you’re afraid of the dark?”

“No,” she said. “Maybe …”

“Don’t you have your imaginary friend to guide you? Light in the darkness and all.”

She released her hold on his shirt. “You’re—”

Seth instinctively reached down and caught her hand. “I don’t have time to take you to the hospital if you trip and fall.”

She moved closer, pressing up against his arm. “Then just switch on the lights.”

“I don’t know where the switch is.” He started walking again, slower this time.

“You don’t know where the switch is?”

“Not for the hallway.”

“Seriously?”

“I know where my office is.” He further slowed his pace. “I don’t need the light.”

“So you always just walk in the dark?”

“Yes,” he said, refusing to think about how soft her hand felt in his. “I’ve always been able to see well in the dark.” Which had given him and his brothers so much of an advantage with one of Holly’s games. “Just keep walking straight. I won’t let you fall.”

She bumped into him when he stopped outside the door that led to the laboratories. He took out his office pass and tapped it on the scanner.

“Doesn’t anyone work overtime here?” she asked.

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