Page 29 of As the World Falls

“James Kingston? The jewelry guy?”

“Yup, that’s the one,” I chime, trying to finish, but he interrupts me again.

“What were you doing with him? Isn’t he like some gazillionaire?”

“Can you let me tell you?” I bite out harshly. He looks annoyed now, too, but gestures for me to finish. “So yes, James is a multi-millionaire from his crystal jewelry business, and my brother works for him. I was worried about my brother's actions because I hadn’t seen him in so long, and he made so much money now. So, James offered me a job as his assistant so I could get a lay of the land and keep an eye on my brother,” I finish. I don’t tell him much about my suspicions that they’re involved with the mafia because that would probably freak him out even more.

“You want to be James Kingston’s assistant?” he asks in disbelief.

“Wantis kind of a stretch, but I really need to see this through. I can’t keep worrying about my brother.”

“I just don’t see how this will help, Lia. Your brother has an addiction. You’ll probably always worry about him. It was honestly better when he stayed away. Now that he’s back, you’re already acting all crazy.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is true. You’re trying to work for some asshole in a suit so that you can keep an eye on your older brother. You have a life here, Lia. One that you’re throwing away to maintain your brothers.”

“You’re looking at it in the worst way,” I say, becoming emotional. Part of me thinks he’s right, and I hate it, but the other half of me thinks he’s being a judgmental dick and that this is what you do for the family that you love. Then there’s this weird, minuscule part of me that actually wants to see the world through the eyes of James. I didn’t particularly like him, but spending time with him and all the dangers that he promises will come out of it intrigues me more than anything ever has before.

“I’m sorry,” Lance says, his voice softening. “I just don’t want you to get hurt or tied up in his problems again.”

“I know. I won’t. I’m going to check things out and come straight home.”

“Well…I guess I could take over the library for a little while if that will bring you peace.”

I smile and cover his hand with mine. “It would. Thank you.”

He smiled back, and we continued eating our dinner. Shortly after, I returned home and pounced on my bed, staring up at the ceiling as I contemplated my life’s drastic turn of events.

Tomorrow, I would head out to the city and start a job that was technically a job to spy on my brother’s life. I was nervous about doing all of this behind my brother’s back, but I kind of liked the idea of James and I sharing a secret. It felt forbiddenand wicked of me to share secrets with my brother's boss. The whole thing would make for a sexy romance if James weren’t such a pain in the ass.

Although…he was pretty hot…if I was merely focusing on his looks alone. I wouldn’t even try to deny it because doing so would be a blatant lie. He was so obviously good-looking. His hair and eyes, his chiseled cheekbones, and his squared jaw. The way he’s always wearing all black and his muscular arms.

I snap out of my trance of thinking about James. I was not going down that road.

I walked into Labyrinth headquarters on Monday morning, feeling utterly tired. The library didn’t open until eleven, so being here at seven was a little much for me. I walked through security, who clearly didn’t seem to have a problem with me today, and I took the elevator up to the thirteenth floor, where James’s office is.

I step off the elevator, and the woman at the front desk’s eyes snap to mine. I feel like I did something wrong as she burns a hole through me with her stare. I walk towards the desk and smile as best as I can. “Hi, I’m Cecilia Bowen. I’m here to see?—”

“Cecilia!” I hear his harsh tone calling my name and look over to see James standing outside a nearby door. I smile sweetly at the woman again before walking towards him.

“Good morning,” I say brightly.

“Follow me,” he says as he turns around and walks back into what I’m assuming is his office. I follow him inside, and he shuts the door behind us. I feel uneasy being confined alone in another space with him.

“Fancy,” I note, looking at his very bacheloresque... is that a word? If not, it is now because that’s how I’m describing his office. The floor was marbled tile, and he sat behind a chunky black desk with a big chair, like a king on his throne. He had a small bar cart off to the side of the room because, of course, who doesn’t need a drink in the middle of a workday? There were some black filing cabinets against the wall I walked through and one piece of art on the wall. It was a shadow box-type frame, and inside were different shards of what looked to be raw crystals, all of which were plastered in various colors to the frame like a beautiful, shattered masterpiece.

“Sit down, please,” he says, and I go to the only chair opposite his desk.

“So, what’s on the agenda today? Going to make some deals with scummy drug lords who want some fake crystals or something?” I quip. I knew it would get on his nerves, but I couldn’t help myself. I liked bantering with him for some reason. I didn’t get much squaller in my day-to-day life, and once James came around and did nothing but indulge me, I found it pretty irresistible. Surely, he isn’t too miffed by it either, or I doubt he’d offer me the chance to spend his days with him at work.

I watch, satisfied, as his mouth twitches, but he turns quickly into his chair as if to hide it from me. “No little owl. Today, we have a meeting with our marketing team, and then we will visit my storefront in Buffalo to see how things have been operating in recent weeks. I have to keep up appearances at my close locations.”

“Makes sense.” I nod. “But then after comes the drug lords, right?”

He leans on the desk, his eyes narrowing on me, and he’s wearing a smile like he’s amused and perplexed at the same time. Like he couldn’t quite figure me out. “I’m starting to think you want to find trouble.”

“Maybe, if only to protect my brother from it. Because if I do find trouble, Mr. Kingston, I will do everything I can to take you down without taking him down with you.”

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