Page 177 of By His Rule

He calls my name in concern, but I don’t dare look back.

I can’t.

How the hell am I ever going to look him in the eyes again?

I sent my boss a picture of my boobs.

I sent my boss a picture of my fucking boobs.

42

KIAN

“Lorelei?” I shout after inviting myself into the ladies’ bathroom in the coffee shop.

She’s been gone for almost fifteen minutes.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” she calls back weakly.

“I’m worried. Are you?—”

“Fine. I’m fine. I’ll just meet you back at the office.”

I frown.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“No, I’m fine,” she repeats.

“You’re hiding in a bathroom stall. You are not fine.”

She huffs in irritation a beat before a toilet flushes.

The lock disengages and suddenly the door is ripped open.

“I am not hiding,” she states firmly, marching toward the basins with her head held high.

“Then why are you?—”

“I already told you, I wanted to have some peace, Kian,” she spits. “Is it so hard to believe that I might need five minutes away from you?”

Her words are vicious, and the look she pins me with in the mirror isn’t much better.

“Lorelei, I—” My words are cut off as the bathroom door opens and a woman walks inside.

Her eyes widen at the sight of me standing in the middle of the space, and she gives the sign on the door she’s still holding a double check.

“I’m sorry. I’m just leaving,” I say before moving toward the door. “I’ll meet you back at the office.”

Without waiting for a response, I walk out of the bathroom and then soon after, the coffee shop.

“Come in,” I call the second a knock sounds on my office door.

Lorelei stalks inside like always. There is no sign of the woman who ran and hid in the bathroom earlier.

“I have the report, sir,” she says before placing a folder on my desk.

I study it, reading the first few lines before looking back up at her.

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