Page 33 of As the World Falls

I nod. “Some of the most damaged people can become the most loyal,” I say, feeling that truth deep in my chest. “He started as a security guard and went up from there.”

She slumps in her chair, processing what I’ve told her. “I didn’t realize that you knew of his past.”

“I know of a lot of things. I just didn’t know of you,” I tell her honestly. “I reckon it’s because you’re the most important thing to him.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think everything he has accomplished has been only for him?”

“Well, of course. He’s only just started coming around again and?—”

“Babe,” I gently interrupt her. “He didn’t come back to you until he was someone you could be proud of and count on again. He didn’t return until he was healthy enough for you to love. It wasn’t just for him.”

She swallows hard and rubs her shaky hands down her skirt. “Even if that’s true, I still think something is off. I feel it in my gut.”

I smirk at her. “Do you think something is off with him, or do you think something is off with me?”

Her aqua eyes lock with mine, and despite their softness, they’re unrelenting in a way that actually makes me feel seen. I didn’t like it at all.

“Will your feelings be hurt if I tell you the truth?” she asks.

“What feelings?” I retort.

She cocks a brow at that. “I think you’re hiding something. I don’t trust you.”

“Good,” I grin. “You shouldn’t. Now get me that coffee for me.”

She scoffs, stands from her chair rather aggressively, and stalks out of my office. I can’t help but watch her go the entire way as she does.

Later, once we’re halfway through the day, I feel like I’m going crazy. I’ve been shut in my office with Cecilia, and the room has never felt smaller. She is chewing on her pen, wrapping her peachy lips around it, as she plays in a word search book as I catch up on my emails.

I stare at her mouth, observing how her top lip is round and puffed over the pen. It presses in on her bottom lip, her teeth grazing the tip of it, and every now and then, her tongue rubs against the edge of her top teeth, simultaneously licking the pen. It was fucking distracting and irrationally erotic.

I didn’t understand why I kept suddenly getting these thoughts about her. I didn’t like her whatsoever, but here and there, I caught myself admiring the way she thought or spoke or liking the way she controlled that lioness hair of hers or the damn way that I couldn’t not look at her tall slim figure that looked so delicate and soft making me wonder what touching it would feel like. The minute Tobias told me to stay away from her, I couldn’t stop thinking about her and wanting to indulge in this little cat-and-mouse game she played with me. I was some kind of masochist for even looking her way even after being warned off. But then again, she wasn’t exactly staying away either.

“Must you chew on your pen like an animal?” I finally snap.

Her eyes only flick up to mine, never moving the pen from her mouth. “Must you always talk like an uncontrollable beast?”

“I’m beginning to regret taking you under my wing.”

“I am, too, because I haven’t witnessed a single thing,” she grumbles, slamming her book shut.

“That was the point, babe. There is nothing to witness.” Just as I finish speaking, my phone rings, and I answer it with a little more bite than I intend to, but what I hear on the other line has me getting an instant migraine. “Fine, fine. We’re on our way,” I bark, slamming the phone down. “Come on,” I grumble to her.

She perks up, shooting from her seat. “Where are we going?”

“There’s an issue at our warehouse.”

“Your warehouse? Where’s that?” she asks, following me from my office to the elevator.

“So many questions,” I complain, rubbing my temples. We leave the elevator and walk outside, waiting for my driver to pull the car around. It’s a grey, rainy day, and I find a little comfort in it. I have always preferred cloudy days.

I glance over to Cecilia, who has her arms locked around herself. She rubs gently at her arms as her gaze roams around the street. I sigh as I watch her bounce on her heels.

“Cold?”

“I’m fine,” she answers quickly.

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