Page 57 of By His Rule

Just like our arrival here, he doesn’t say a single word to me as we descend through the building and climb into the waiting car.

“Where to, sir?” Jamie asks once he’s joined us.

“Callahan building, please,” Kian says, making me breathe a sigh of relief.

Sitting back, I attempt to rest, but I’m just as on edge as I have been all day. And the exhaustion and hunger are making it all that much worse.

The afternoon traffic is horrendous, and with only the rumble of the car and Kian's thumbs tapping against his cell screen as he replies to emails, there is nothing to hide my grumbling stomach.

“Sorry,” I mutter, my cheeks burning up as it gets louder.

Kian doesn’t so much as look over, let alone acknowledge that he’s dragged me around the city without feeding me.

The car continues to crawl forward at a snail’s pace. I pick at my fingers, staring out at all the food places we could be stopping at.

Something tells me that Kian isn’t a fried chicken kind of man.

I know what Kingston is like for healthy eating. I bet Kian is equally as irritating.

“Jamie, can you pull up a little down here, please?” Kian asks suddenly, his deep, commanding voice startling me.

“Of course, sir.”

Jamie pulls over, and Kian immediately slides out.

“Do you need me to?—”

“Stay there,” he barks, making my brows lift.

His attitude makes me want to do the opposite and follow him just to be a brat. But I don’t. Instead, I remain in my seat with my arms folded across my chest and a pout on my lips.

I’d even take one of Kingston’s superfood smoothies right now.

Fuck. I must be desperate.

“Where is he going?” I ask Jamie when he gets back into the car, having not been fast enough to open the door for his boss.

“I have no idea,” he says, giving me the impression that this is a regular occurrence. “With Mr. Callahan, it could be anything.”

“Wonderful.”

I swear to God, if he’s just abandoned me on the side of the road for a quick hookup then I’ll?—

My thought dries up as he climbs back into the car as fast as he left. The scent of something mouthwatering follows him and not a second later, a bag lands on my lap.

“What’s—”

“Eat, Lorelei. I can’t bear listening to your stomach any longer. In the future, you’ll eat a full, nutritious breakfast. I can’t guarantee you a regular lunch break, so you need to be prepared for anything.”

My mouth opens and closes, both in shock at his actions and in disbelief at his demands rendering me mute.

When I don’t move fast enough, he turns his mesmerizing green eyes on me.

“I said eat.”

“What if I don’t like it?” I ask, unable to stop myself.

“You will. Now eat.”

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