Page 28 of As the World Falls

“Uhm…I already have a job.”

“Think of it like a spectator position. You’ll play like my personal assistant, going where I go and seeing what I see. That way, you can finally put this crazy notion to rest that I’m endangering your brother.”

She quirks a brow up, and I know I have her entire interest now. “Why would you do that?”

“Frankly, I’m tired of having to set my tasks aside to deal with your craziness. If you work for me, I won’t have to always live in fear of you popping up at random times, and you’ll get to see firsthand the kind of work we do, which is dreadfully boring and entirely safe, I might add.”

It was a flat-out lie, but she didn’t need to know that. I will obviously have to move things around and ensure she doesn’t witness anything that would prove her right, but I could make it happen. Funnily enough, I would make it happen with Tobias doing all the work behind the curtain while I show Cecilia the just-for-show parts of my industry.

“You’re being serious?” she asks curiously like she doesn’t believe me.

“As a heart attack, little owl. Can you manage it? Monday through Friday, early mornings to late evenings?”

She hesitates for only a second before nodding. “I can handle it.”

“Only one stipulation though. Your brother knows nothing about this little endeavor.”

She scrunches her face in confusion. “Then how will I know what he’s really doing?”

“I’ll make sure you see him, but he will not see you. Is that understood?” She thinks about it and then nods her head slowly in agreement.

I grin at her and revel in the way she swallows nervously. “I’ll see you at seven on the dot Monday morning.”

I’d give her a week to sort out her job at the library, and she’d also probably have to find somewhere to stay in the city, but I knew she’d figure it out. She was nothing if not determined.

I walk out of the library and get back into my car. Satisfaction and unease filling my chest at the idea of treating her like my personal assistant. For the first time ever, my impulsive decision leaves me incredibly unsettled.

Chapter Ten

Cecilia

I take a large sip of my wine as Lance fills me in on the sci-fi author he’s been messaging recently to try and get to do a reading at the library. Seeing him all excited about being in contact with him was cute, although it didn’t sound like he was making much progress getting him to come.

It was Saturday night, and I still hadn’t asked him to take over the library for the foreseeable future. I wasn’t sure why I’d been avoiding it all week…okay, I know why. It’s because he’s not going to like it at all, but I needed to see this thing through at Labyrinth for my own sanity.

“Cecilia,” he says rather loudly, and I snap my gaze from my wine glass to him.

“What?”

He chuckles lowly. “Were you listening?”

“I’m sorry,” I wince. “My head is kind of all over the place.”

He leans back in his chair and gazes at me. “What’s going on?”

“I actually have a favor to ask you,” I say slowly. “I was wondering if you could take over the library for a while. I need to take some time off.”

He leans forward now, straightening his posture. “Is everything okay? Are you sick?”

“No,” I rush out, feeling bad now. “I was just…presented with an opportunity that I can’t say no to.”

He eyes me warily. “What kind of opportunity?”

I shut my eyes, knowing I couldn’t lie to him anymore. “You know that man that was here earlier this week?”

“The real smug one with creepy eyes?” he asks, and strangely, my first instinct is to get defensive over James. Yes, he was smug, but his eyes weren’t creepy. If he weren’t such a jackass, I’d probably find his eyes incredibly dreamy even though he doesn’t like that people like them.

“His name is James Kingston and?—”

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