Page 24 of As the World Falls

“Seriously? A cockroach? That’s probably the grossest thing you could call a woman,” she grimaces.

“I assure you, little owl, there are worse things I could call you,” I say, turning back towards the door.

“You’re right. I forgot about your dreadful nickname for me.” She followed me out of the shop, and my driver opened the car door for us. I wait for her to get in, but she stands still on the sidewalk.

“For heaven’s sake, what now?” I grumble.

“I’m not sitting in a car with you for over three hours.”

“You won’t.”

“It takes…”

“I know how long it takes, Cecilia. We’ll be taking my jet. We’ll be there in an hour.”

Her eyes widened, and I felt that flipping feeling in my stomach as the blues became more vibrant. “I’m not getting in a jet,” she replies sternly.

I tilt my head in frustration as I look at her. “Don’t tell me for all the gull you put up around me that you fear flying?”

“It’s not a fear…” she sputters. “It’s just a…heavy dislike that makes me have little panic attacks.”

“So…it’s a fear.”

“I don’t have time for this. I’m just going to catch a train.” I chuckle, and she scrunches her face at me. “What?”

“You say you don’t have time, and yet you’d rather sit on a dirty public train for over three hours to get back home.”

“It’s better than being confined in an aircraft with the likes of you.”

I grin, moving closer to stand in front of her once more because, for some reason, I couldn’t seem to help but get close during our little sparring matches. “I don’t know about that, little owl. Lots of women particularly enjoy being in confined spaces with me.”

She swallows harshly and quite audibly. “I’m sorry, I think I just threw up a little bit.”

“Has anyone ever told you how impolite of a woman you are?”

“Mostly men, yes, and I find quite the pleasure in it.”

I look down at her particularly feminine outfit and back at the ill-mannered mouth she speaks from. “You’re quite the enigma, little owl.”

“Please quit with the nickname,” she groans.

“Get in the car, and maybe I will.”

“That doesn’t feel like a stable offer.”

“Get in the damn car Cecilia,” I snap.

“Not with that attitu—” I move to her side, place my hand against her back, forcibly shove her into the car, and then get in behind her, slamming the door shut. “I cannot believe you just shoved me in here,” she shouts. “This is…this is kidnapping.”

“Not if I’m returning you home, which, trust me, I am counting down the seconds.”

“I don’t know why my brother likes you so much,” she grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re despicable.”

“Keep talking dirty to me, little owl. It makes being in enclosed spaces with you so much more bearable.”

“You’re just…” she huffs in a craze, and I chuckle as she tries to find words but keeps coming up empty. Eventually, she thinks better of it, slumps in her seat, and stares silently out the window until we get to my jet.

Once we’re there, I have to physically pull her from the car again when she sees the jet, but I’m not as bothered by it this time. I can feel her hand shaking in mine, and despite everything I go against, my hand tightens around hers, if only to calm her down. Although I wasn’t sure how calming my touch would be to her, she didn’t pull away.