Page 45 of Tainted

I was too busy scouring the room until Zara walked from the bathroom.

“I need to holla at you now!” I emphasized, and she immediately turned to Megan.

My face remained stoic, forcing Megan to nod because there had to be a reason I busted in here looking for Zara. I had never acted in such a way that Megan would believe my request was more personal than business.

I walked out of the dressing room, the heavy door clicking shut behind me while the other women whispered.

She just got here and is about to get fired.

You think they’re fucking?

She pissed off the wrong brother.

I reached Kross’s office and leaned against the frame while he shook his head. It didn’t take her legs long to catch up. Zara was pretty tall for a woman, but I still had the upper hand. She finally walked inside and turned around, waiting for an explanation.

“I don’t want no smoke with you today, Kenyon.” She retreated, shutting down any bantering I had in mind.

“You’re always in the mood for smoke with me.”

“Yeah, well, not today.”

“What’s so special about today?”

“Nothing I’m talking about with you.”

A deep scowl manifested at the disdain wrapped in the wordyou.

“What’s wrong with me?” I asked, sitting on the edge of Kross’s desk.

There was a brief moment of silence as her perfectly arched brows tried to reach her big ass forehead. But then she did something I didn’t expect. She answered.

“You’re invasive. Stubborn. Rude as hell,” Zara said quietly, then her eyes locked onto mine. “You want to control everything because you think you’re protecting people, but you’re smothering them half the time. Deep down, I think you’re scared that if you don’t hold everything together, it’ll fall apart,” she paused, turning the ring on her finger before she muttered the last part, “Maybe you’re scared that you’ll fall apart.”

“Aye, that was rhetorical,” I complained, tossing a pen at her, but surprisingly, she caught it and threw it back.

“You asked.” Her head dropped, and her shoulders hunched. “Are we done now? I need to get ready for work.”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”

Zara looked away to hide the slight hike in her cheek before responding, “You can’t.”

“I know you’re new here, but don’t doubt what I’m capable of.”

“I forgot you have theKeysto the city.” Her joke made me grip my neck, to mask the warmth spreading from her remembering our conversation.

“I’m waiting, Zara Nicole.”

She glanced at me, then away, as if deciding whether or not she could trust me with whatever weighed her down.

“Today is my mom’s birthday.” She sighed, crossing her arms, “You don’t let anyone see your cracks. But not everyone has that gift. Mine are showing today, but I’ll be okay. I just need a minute.”

My brows furrowed at her, assuming I couldn’t fix her problem when that was slight work.

“That’s an easy fix. You’re off the schedule tonight.”

“I can’t afford to be off tonight.”

“You can. Sit tight.”

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