Page 56 of Whispers in the Dark

Deciding to try to break down this newly erected wall in a different way, I closed the distance between us, then gently grabbed both arms. Brynn uncharacteristically jerked both away, then began to rub at them.

“Did I hurt you in some way?” I asked her, meaning not just a few seconds ago, but for some other infraction altogether.

“No, I just need to take some time off this afternoon,” she told me.

Again, she was lying because I could hear it in her voice. “What for?”

“A personal issue,” is all she said.

While I wanted to get it out of her right here and now, I let out a sigh. “Will you be back?”

“Of course,” she told me, and I felt stupid for even asking the question.

“Fine,” I told her, then added as she hurried to the door. “I hope your attitude improves by the time you return.”

Brynn mumbled something I could’ve sworn was aimed at those parting words, but the sound of the door closing loudly broke me from those thoughts. Something was definitely going on, and she not only didn’t want to be in my presence, but she also didn’t even want my touch.

I returned to my desk, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Lunch came and went, and I stayed in my office the entire time. I had work to distract me, or at least it usually would. It didn’t seem to have the same effect on me today, though.

Finally, I knew what I needed to do. It was time to bring Brynn back to Lotus. A scene with her would not only reiterate my commitment to her, but it would be a safe place for her to confide in me.

When I thought about it, her keeping secrets from me wasn’t that new of a concept. She’d kept the biggest one ever from me, but me getting mad at her would be like the pot calling the kettle black. She only kept Blair’s relationship with her a secret from me, while I had ended the woman’s life keeping a future from her instead.

Brynn was way too close to the situation for my liking, but I liked her. If I was being honest, I might even love her. Just the thought of that four letter word made my mouth fill with bile. I neither deserved that type of emotion from anyone, nor did I need it from anyone either. Still, the very idea of things ending this way between Brynn and me was even far less palatable to me right now.

I had to do something, and knowing what I had to do, I picked up my cell phone, then scrolled through my general section of contacts for a specific one. When I found the lingerie store where I’ve always ordered pieces for the submissives over the years, I hit the call button.

“La Prima, this is Lisa. Will you please hold?”

“Yes,” I said, then began to wonder if this was really the best idea. I could just as easily go to her house tonight to sort things out. I then remembered her beast of a dog, and I quickly scratched that idea altogether. If she gave off even a quarter of the same energy around it, he’d tear me apart limb by limb.

“Thank you for holding. What can I do for you?”

I cleared my throat. “It’s Adrian Benedict, and I need to have a pre-selected piece delivered.”

“I can certainly help you with that, Mr. Benedict. Let me go into the back and see which selection you would like to have delivered.”

There was a slight rustle as she moved from what I assumed was the front of the store to the back. While that boutique didn’t often deliver, I was a VIP client and had certain perks that other customers did not. My name and checkbook paved the way for several different things and places in this city, and this happened to be one of them.

“Is there a particular color you had in mind. I see several selections in black, blue, – ”

“I would like to have the red set packaged up,” I told her to save her the trouble of having to go through all of them. If anything, the selection definitely fit because something had Brynn seeing red, and I would find out soon enough what that was.

“Consider it done. Where and to whom would you like this to be delivered?”

“Brynn Davis, and have it sent here to Benedict Technologies.”

“It should be there within the hour. Will there be anything else today?”

“That will be all, Lisa. Please put that on my account with a twenty five percent gratuity,” I told her before disconnecting the call.

Brynn hadn’t returned and I now realized it might’ve been better to have just followed her to wherever she’d gone, but I hadn’t because I knew she had nowhere to go. She just didn’t want to be near me. If I had to guess, she’d gone home for lunch, and was likely sitting there at her place stewing over what I would soon drag out of her.

When the courier arrived, Brynn had not yet returned. The package was set on her desk, and after signing for it, I stared atit for several long minutes. Finally, I returned to my office, then sent a text message to Brynn.

I’m going to be in a meeting for the remainder of the afternoon. I left something on your desk that needs your attention. Please have it handled when you return to the office.

She didn’t respond back to me, but I’d gotten her read receipt, so I knew she had gotten it. After, I pulled out a sticky pad, then quickly scribbled a short message to her.

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