Page 108 of Bitter Secrets

“And?”

“I gave him some.”

“Aww.” She wrapped her arms around him as they got into the elevator. “You’re such a softy.”

“I’m not.”

She patted his chest. “No, you’re not, but sometimes you can be sweet.”

“He needs help,” he said shortly.

She hoped the driver took his advice, whatever it was. Roth looked around as the elevator opened onto her floor.

“What is it?” she asked.

He frowned. “This is where you’ve been living?”

She stiffened. “The lease was up on the other apartment. This one was cheaper.”

His brows came together. “I told you not to worry about the money.”

“I know.” She led the way to her door and pulled out her key. “I like this place.”

“The other place was nicer.”

She walked into her apartment and spread her arms wide. “But look at all this light! And my neighbors are nice. There’s nothing wrong with this building.”

“You shouldn’t be in a place like this.”

She frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You deserve better.”

“It’s fine,” she said as she whipped her gown over her head and tossed it over the second hand chair she found at a local thrift shop. “Besides, this place has served its purpose.”

“What?” he said absently as he set his bag down, still looking around with a disapproving frown.

To distract him from the apartment, she wrapped her arms around him. “I’m done with school.”

He grunted.

“Which means I get to come with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

She cocked her head at his sharp tone. “I stayed here for school. Now that I’m done, I can move to London. We don’t need to live apart anymore.”

“You’re staying here.”

“What?”

“I work around the clock.”

“I know that.”

“I don’t think you do.”

She took a step back, one hand creeping up to her neck to fiddle with her mother’s necklace she had worn today. “I grew up with Maximus as a father. I know what it takes to run an empire.” When his expression hardened, she wished she’d bitten her tongue.

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