Page 108 of By His Rule

Pulling my office chair out, I drop down into it a little heavier than intended and reach for my notebook, staring at the cover.

Things I don’t give a fuck about…

My boss screwing a supermodel over his desk.

That is something I really don’t give a fuck about.

I lose myself booking in all the meetings he’s requested, along with a host of things that were added to my endless to-do list while we were talking.

Hours pass, but neither he nor his model emerge, and as the end of the day approaches, I find myself glancing down the hallway more and more frequently.

I’ve had no emails or messages, no phone calls demanding anything.

Nothing but radio silence.

I should love the peace. But…I kinda hate it.

Deciding against going down there to say goodbye, I tidy up and shut my computer down almost ten minutes after the time I should leave for the day. If he’s expecting me to hang around while he has an afternoon-long fuck fest with Sasha, then he’s got another thing coming.

Melissa has already left to run an errand for King, so without looking back, I step into the elevator, more than ready to put the day behind me.

With plans for my evening spinning around my head, I ignore everyone else who steps into the car with me. Seeing as I came from the top floor, I end up squashed at the back, something which I’m sure never happens to Kian. I’m the last to leave—everyone else has already rushed out of the building, ready to enjoy what’s left of the sunshine.

The sight of Kian’s car sitting out front makes my stomach tighten, and it only gets worse when Jamie notices me and pushes the door open as if he’s going to come over.

Not wanting to get into an argument with him, I put my head down and hurry down the sidewalk, hoping to blend in with the crowd.

“Excuse me,” I say, when someone steps right in front of me.

I attempt to dart around him without bothering to look up and realize my mistake the second his voice hits my ears.

“Lorelei, I miss you. Please.”

Oh, for the love of fuck.

Finally, I lift my head and look Matt dead in the eyes.

“That’s a real shame. Maybe you should have thought about that before lying to me.I have somewhere I need to be. Excuse me.”

I try once again to get around him, but he isn’t having any of it. His hand darts out and he grips my upper arm tightly enough to hurt. It’s nothing like the way Kian held me Sunday night. He wasn’t gentle, but he also wasn’t vicious and angry like Matt seems to be right now.

He’s got a fire burning behind his eyes, and it’s not the good kind.

“I see you managed to make your dream come true,” he sneers. “But then I guess it’s easy now that Tate has married in.”

“I’m not listening to this,” I hiss, trying to free myself from his grip. “We’re done, Matt. I am not interested in anything that comes out of your lying mouth.”

“I just want you to reply,” he says, sounding hopeless all of a sudden. But I don’t get a chance to focus on the sudden shift in his emotions because his hand loosens on my arm a second before he stumbles back, crashing into the building. A dark shadow looms over him as he clutches his face. A face that Kian Callahan’s fist just plowed into.

26

KIAN

“Yes,” I snap the second I accept Jamie’s call.

“It’s Lorelei, sir. She’s?—”

“Where?” I bark, not needing to hear any more. If he thinks it’s important enough to call me—which he never does—then I don’t need an explanation. I just need to get there.

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