Page 175 of By His Rule

When the doors open and I step inside, he follows.

The second we’re trapped, the tension amps up.

I thought I was on edge in his office earlier, but it was nothing compared to this.

Not a word is spoken, and he doesn’t make a move to touch me, but it doesn’t matter. My body is on full alert. My skin is tingling, and my blood is burning.

Something has shifted with him. But I’ve no idea what it is.

The moment I can escape, I dash from the elevator and toward the doors that will grant me some freedom.

“Good afternoon,” Kian says behind me as I assume he greets the doormen I grinned at as I ran past them.

I take off in the direction of the closest coffee shop in the hope that he will let me go.

Wishful thinking.

“Where are we going?” Kian rasps beside me.

“I’ve no idea where you’re going, but I’m going for a sandwich and some peace.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“It wasn’t an invitation,” I hiss quietly.

“I don’t need an invitation, Lorelei.”

“Oh yeah, how could I forget? You do what you want.”

I don’t need to look over to know he's smirking.

With a sigh, I keep walking with my head held high.

He wants to follow me. Fine. But I will not give him the satisfaction of unnerving me.

He does not hold that kind of power over me.

My stomach growls loudly the second I see the coffee shop up ahead.

I join the line to order and he falls into place behind me.

Thankfully, the line moves fast, and in only a few minutes, I’m sitting at a small table at the back.

With my food and drink on one side and my iPad propped up on the other, I set about the task at hand.

I read a paragraph and swallow one mouthful before a shadow looms over me.

My stomach knots and my heart rate increases, but I don’t look up.

His glare burns into the top of my head as I keep my eyes locked on the screen.

“Lorelei,” he warns.

I let out a frustrated sigh before finally glancing up, making sure my face shows just how irritated I am by his mere presence.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“Can I sit?”

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