Page 110 of Always Right

She didn’t know that every day that passed, I feared someone would take her from me.

“Do you remember that day we met?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Of course I do. A ray of sunshine...that’s what you were.”

I joked, but the memory was vivid in my mind. She had been frustrated and disappointed yet I managed to steal a smile from her and that had been enough to do me in.

I wasn’t sure why the hell I had agreed to this meeting.

The restaurant was doing well and I didn’t think we needed the extra help, but if we could get more exposure, maybe I could help more people.

I walked past the busy reception area and ignored the gossipping voices that filled the air as I focused my attention on the elevator.

Letting out a breath, I glanced at the buttons, but didn’t press anything. The doors began to close until a perfectly manicured hand stopped their steady motion. A woman who looked furious stepped inside, rattling out orders into her cell phone before angrily hanging up. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders and the dress hugged every curve perfectly.

I’d committed many sins but none of them were bigger than this one because that ring on her finger couldn’t be ignored.

“What are you looking at?” she asked, the irritation on her voice palpable.

I smirked.

Feisty.

“Nothing.” The woman let out a scoff and shook her head, leaning against the wall across from me. She was beautiful, but her eyes seemed lifeless.

There was no spark.

No emotion.

She hugged the folder in her arms to her chest, sighing when her phone began to ring once again. Her finger slid across the screen and she ignored the call before meeting my gaze for the first time.

“You’re staring again,” she said, this time with furrowed brows.

I shrugged, eyeing the ring on her finger once again but thought, ‘fuck it.’ “Can’t help it. I feel like you should be used to it. I’m sure everyone’s attention is on you a lot of the time.”

Her cheeks took on a rosy color, and I couldn’t help but picture her whole body flushed with pleasure. “Comes with the territory, I suppose. It’s one of the lovely perks of running this place.”

“Ah. You’re one of the Carson’s.”

She nodded but there was no pride in her eyes. “I’m Hannah.”

Bingo!

She was younger than I thought she would be. Stunning in her beauty but it was almost like she wasn’t aware of it.

“Ugh. Why is this elevator not moving?”

I closed the distance between us, unable to help the playful smile on my lips. “We never pressed the button, love.” Her lips parted with a quiet gasp, and her eyes flitted from me to the buttons next to her, but I didn’t miss the ghost of a smile that appeared on her face. “What floor?”

“Twelve.”

I stepped back and Hannah hummed quietly. Her eyes had lit up with amusement and the tension that had been present when she walked in had left her body, even when her phone buzzed yet again.

I wanted to say more, and I had the feeling she did, too, but the elevator chimed much too soon.

Hannah looked back at me before stepping out of the elevator.

“I'll see you around, Hannah.”

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