Page 39 of Filthy Rich Bosses

"What's wrong?" she asks, her tone direct.

I wave her off. "Nothing. Work stuff. None of your business."

"Bullshit," she retorts, crossing her arms. "You've got that look."

I feel a pang of regret at my snippiness, but I push it down. Better to keep her at arm's length. I don't need her getting clingy now that we've hooked up.

"What look?" I ask, feigning ignorance.

"The 'I'm drowning in my own drama but I'm too stubborn to ask for help' look," she says, her lips quirking in a half-smile.

I can't help but chuckle, despite my mood. "You've got me all figured out, huh?"

"Not even close," she replies, her smile fading. "But it's pretty obvious when something's eating at you."

I turn back to my computer, hoping she'll take the hint. "It's nothing, really. Just a long day."

I hear her sigh, followed by the soft padding of her feet as she moves closer. "Cole," she says, her voice softer now. "You don't have to tell me, but don't lie to me either."

I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of her presence behind me. It would be so easy to lean back, to let her in. But I can't. I won't.

"I appreciate the concern," I say, keeping my voice neutral. "But I've got it handled."

I turn to face her, ready to end this conversation, when her phone chirps. She glances at it, her eyes widening.

"Shit," she mutters, already moving towards the door. "There's another rescue. I've got to go."

"Wait, what?" I stand up, alarm bells ringing in my head. "Tessa, no way in hell are you doing that again. It's too dangerous."

She pauses, hand on the doorknob, and looks back at me with fire in her eyes. "Excuse me?"

I cross my arms, standing my ground. "You heard me. After what happened last time? It's not safe."

"And since when do you get to decide what I do?" she challenges, her voice rising.

I feel my frustration building. "I'm just trying to protect you!"

"I don't need your protection, Cole," she snaps. "What I need is for you to stop acting like a controlling asshole."

Her words hit me like a slap. I open my mouth to argue, but she cuts me off.

"You know what? I’m out of here. I've got animals to save."

Before I can respond, she's out the door, leaving me standing there, stunned and conflicted. Part of me wants to run after her, to make her understand. But another part knows she's right. I'm being an asshole.

I sink back into my chair, running a hand through my hair. How did I let things get so complicated?

"Damn it," I mutter, grabbing my keys and rushing out the door. There's no way I'm letting her face this alone.

I catch up to her before she pulls away. She glances over, her expression a mix of surprise and annoyance. She rolls down the window. "I'm coming with you," I shout.

She shakes her head. "Fine.”

I half expect her to pull away as I round the back of the car, but she doesn’t. She doesn’t talk to me either, though. She turns themusic up—something poppy and ridiculous that I’m pretty sure she’s just using to annoy me—and sings loudly along.

We pull up to a run-down house on the outskirts of town. The neighbors aren’t close and the house itself is set back on the property. Thank fuck I didn’t let her come here alone.

The yard is overgrown, littered with trash and old car parts. The smell hits me as soon as I step out of the car—a nauseating mix of urine, feces, and decay.

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