Page 18 of City of Wind and Lies

Trey's head snaps to the side, eyeing up Ethan’s bulky frame, then back to me. "Jesus Wren. Security? Really?" His hand falls to his side.

"Let's not cause a fuss, mister," Ethan admonishes, leading Trey toward the elevator.

Trey gives me one last pleading look, and the way it tugs at my heartstrings is annoying. I may not be in love with him anymore, but I'm so tired of always being at odds with him.

Having to be constantly in fight-or-flight mode is exhausting. Being a kid in the system, I always operated from that mindset, and in college, I'd finally started to learn to relax a bit. Lately, though, whenever he’s around I find myself slipping back into it, and it's just not who I want to be.

"If you promise not to come back here or give Ethan trouble," I tip my head in the burly security guard's direction, "I'll unblock your number."

My willingness to open a line of communication seems to diffuse Trey's anger. He nods and walks peacefully into the elevator.

Crisis averted.

"Wren-"

My stomach drops as I spin around to see a stone-faced Bowie standing in the doorway of his office.

"Come in here. Now."

Ugh, for fucks sake, this day is killing me.

Cami shoots me a sympathetic look as I pass her desk and stride into our boss’ office. He's standing behind his own desk with his back to me, his hands in his pockets, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Lake Michigan.

"Close the door," he calls out, turning around the moment I cross the threshold.

I can't get a good read on this man. I don't know if he's pissed about Trey showing up- I'd thought we'd kept our voices low enough to not cause a huge disruption- or if it's about last month's report not getting completed.

I press the frosted glass door shut behind me, taking a few calming breaths as my timid steps bring me closer to his desk.

He gestures for me to take a seat, so I slide into the tan leather chair in front of his desk. Funny, the last time I was here, my core knotted in excitement and lust at the recognition of my sexy mystery man. Now, it's a knotted mess of nerves.

I roll my lip between my teeth, trying to stifle the tears pricking behind my eyes.

My eyes meet Bowie's expressionless gaze and I swear the silence is too much. My body orchestrates a cacophony of anxious rhythms, heart thumping loudly in my chest, blood whooshing through my ears, and shoes tapping against each other.

I can't take it any longer.

"I'm sorry," I blurt. "For the report. I'll make sure August's is in your email by the end of next week. I don't care how late I have to work to make it happen. I know it's a huge-"

"Wren," he interrupts my projectile word vomiting. The corner of his mouth quirks up in the barest of smirks. "Or should I say, Rachel?"

My chest constricts, my body set ablaze by tingles of adrenaline coursing through my system.

I was ready to be reprimanded, but I wasn't prepared for this. Suddenly, I'm at a loss for words. My mouth hangs agape and my eyes widen as I stare dumbfoundedly at his stupidly handsome face.

With a full-blown smirk on his lips, he moves to stand in front of me, leaning back against his desk and curling his fingers around the edge.

I draw in a deep breath, trying to slow my frantic heart, but with his body just inches from mine, my senses are flooded with his heady scent.

Damnit, why does he smell so good?

"How?" I finally manage to ask.

He lifts his chin toward the door. "The guy from the lobby is the one from the alley, no?"

Of course, he recognized Trey…

"Yeah," I sigh. "Trey… my ex."

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