Page 61 of My Forbidden Boss

I put the dress I’m holding back on the peg and draw close to her. She steps away, but I follow her until she backs into a row of t-shirts and has nowhere to go. She bumps into the soft material. “Don’t shop by the price, love.”

“It’s not…I’m not…” She clenches her hands and twists her fingers. Looking like she wants to be anywhere else but here.

“You’re worth it and more, Adeline,” I say.

She looks up at me and her eyes go flat. “Let’s just go.”

I block her when she starts to walk away from me. I repeat myself. “You’re worth this and so much more, Adeline.”

She falters. Panics. Looks for a way to dash away from me, but I don’t let her. “I get your point. Can we go now?”

“I don’t think you do. You’re worth it, Adeline,” I say.

“No…I…Please let me pass,” she says.

“You’re worth it, love,” I say.

She’s fully panicking now, eyes darting around the shop, face pale and shining with perspiration. “Stop saying that,” she hisses.

I tuck my knuckle under her chin, tilting her face to me so she can’t look away. I repeat myself. Every argument she comes up with I say it again and again. I don’t care who's in the shop. One look from me and they scatter. The shop assistant ushers them away.

I don’t care if we miss the flight. I’ll stand here all day and repeat myself until she accepts them.

All I care about is the vault I’m opening one click at a time. I flay her with words. With meaning. These words come directly from my heart and lash me as they lash at her.

I mean every one of them because. This. Woman.

She begs me to stop, but I don’t. She has to understand. She has to realize who she really is. No more hiding. Just raw, open honesty. As hard as this is to do to her, she needs this.

She tries to blink back tears while her face crumples. She fights so hard, but I won’t give up. I hide her from the world with my body, between the racks of clothing and the sheer force of my will. I take her chin in my palm, repeating those words softly. Over and over again until the last denial falls from her lips.

Her mouth quivers. Her eyes fill and tears fall, tracking down her cheeks. Her breath stutters in and out of her throat. She shakes as I bring her against me and tuck her against my chest. She lets me. Folds against my body, raw and worn out. A sigh ripples through me. Satisfaction. Contentment.

She has no more to give. I’ve cracked her open. Now I’m going to dive in with kindness and understanding. She knows what hate and anger are, and I’ll teach her there’s so much more.

“Love, you are worth it and so much more,” I whisper.

I wait for her to answer. To accept. I want her words, but all she does is close her eyes and press her face to my chest. A shuddering sigh goes through her and, bit by bit, the tension eases from her body as she leans against me. Her hands come to my waist, slide under my jacket and clench my shirt at my back. I let her lean on me. I’ll fight with enough strength for both of us.

I keep Adeline’s face pressed against my chest and quietly order the shop assistant to pack what I choose. One day Adeline will choose for herself. Today is not it.

I pay for the clothing, ask the assistant to take it to our flight and wait until Adeline is composed; I smooth her hair, adjust her coat and walk her from the shop, using my body as the barrier she needs to lean on.

Chip. Chip. Chip.

I’ll accept her reaction. She’s given me what she can. More than she wanted to.

I won’t stop until I have it all.

Chapter 23

Adeline

You.

Are.

Worthy.

---