She holds my gaze for a minute before she frowns, glancing away from me and out at the night sky.
“I’ll stay.”
I don’t know what finally changed her mind, but I’m glad she’s staying.
I don’t want to see her get hurt staying in a rough neighborhood.
And I don’t want her to have to struggle more than she already has to take care of her debt.
I’m in a position to give her the kind of life she deserves, and that's exactly what I’m going to do.
Chapter eleven
Cora
The elevator music has never been more annoying than it is the following Friday morning. I’ve lived with Griffin for the last few days, but I may as well be living with a ghost.
I don’t know what I expected when I agreed to stay with him, but I certainly didn’t anticipate feeling so… lonely.
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open as I reach the top floor. I step out and glance toward Griffin’s office.
He’s already sitting behind his desk with a highlighter in hand.
It's the same thing he’s been doing for the whole week while he avoids me.
Kaleigh appears in the doorway of her office, her jacket half-on and papers spilling from her hands. “I’m going to be late to court one of these days. I need a new assistant. Mine forgot to put the latest case on the calendar.”
I hand her the coffee I'd bought on my way here. “Take this and try not to rush too much. It’s pouring out, and the roads are slick.”
“Thanks. I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get through the day. At least it’s Friday. I will go home after court and work the rest of the day there with a large glass of wine.”
Laughing, I nod and shift my purse higher on my shoulder. “I know what you mean. I have some unpacking to do, and then I have to think about what to do with the first full weekend I’ve had off for a while.”
“One of these days, you’re going to have to show me this new place you moved into. We can have a housewarming party or something.”
“One of these days.” I will put off telling her the truth about where I live for as long as possible.
It was bad enough telling Sophie where I’m living now. I don’t need someone at work to know what’s going on between Griffin and me.
I hold her papers long enough for her to pull her jacket on and flip up her hood. She takes the papers and the coffee, striding for the elevator.
“You are a lifesaver, Cora!”
Chuckling, I head for my desk and drop off my purse.
Griffin doesn’t bother to look up, even as I step into the doorway of his office. He is glued to the work in front of him, but his tense shoulders suggest he knows I’m in his room.
“So, is this how it’s going to be?” I shut the office door behind me, not wanting the rest of the law office to hear our conversation.
He sighs and reaches for his coffee, not looking up to meet my eyes. “Is this how what's going to be?”
“You force me to move in with you and then spend the rest of your time avoiding me. You’re gone before I wake up, and you don’t come home until you’re sure I’m asleep.”
He puts the cap back on the highlighter and looks up. “Is there something wrong with that? I have work to do and a deadline to meet.”
“Oh please, Griffin, don’t be ridiculous. This has nothing to do with work and everything to do with avoiding me.”
I cross the office and round his desk, perching myself on the edge of the desk beside him. My pencil skirt climbs slightly higher up, revealing my thighs.