Page 20 of The Passion

This is what I want.

Felisha needs the space to stand up and fight for her right for privacy that was taken away from her. Well, us both really, but I don’t matter here.

“Like hell you are cutting me out of this. Don’t you dare treat me like my father does!” Her voice gets louder and more forceful as she sits up. Legs drop to the floor and her hands are free, and she uses them, becoming more animated as she starts tearing me to strips.

“We don’t know how this happened, and I trust every person on my team, just like you do on yours, I assume. But just because it was my hotel doesn’t give you the right to try to be the big hero while I just sit back like the little scared, frail woman. Because that’s not me, and if you haven’t worked that out yet, then what am I even doing here?” She’s about to stand when I reach for her hand and hold her in her seat.

“Welcome back, Felisha. That’s what we need. The viper who is ready to attack. Because if you think I was going to let the world see the tortured soul that just sat here, full of self-pity while she stuffed her face full of chocolate sauce, then you don’t know me either. I think every side of you is beautiful, and I’m honored you let me see them, but I can’t help my protective tendencies right now. Someone is hurting you, and I’ll be fucked if I will sit back and let that happen, to either of us.” I can feel my heart beating in my chest like I want to go out and fight a war for her.

What the hell is going on here? I’m confused, and I’m never confused. But these emotions swirling inside me are new and foreign, and I’m not keen on them. Because I have a feeling they will lead me to trouble, and I get myself in enough trouble on a daily basis that I don’t need to drag someone else along with me.

“Right, so brief me on your thoughts on how we are going to handle it. Yes, I said we.”

Now I think she’s ready to listen.

Today has been a long day, and as much as we think we have a handle on this, we don’t. I hate to admit that to her, but I need to be honest.

Spending the next thirty minutes, we talk about what both our security teams have been telling us to do, and to be honest, even if we don’t agree with them, we probably need to follow their directives.

And then the conversation comes around the circle to her father and what happened today.

“Does he speak to you like that often?” I hope like hell the answer is no, but I have a feeling I’m about to be disappointed.

“Not often.” Her head drops slightly, and I can tell she is embarrassed.

“Why do I get a feeling that’s not true?” Placing my hand on her thigh, I try to reassure her that I’m not judging her in any way, but I’m sure as hell judging her father.

“He was just stressed over how this will affect the reputation of the hotels and our family name. I understand.” Why is she trying to defend a man who doesn’t deserve one ounce of respect from her? But I have to bite my tongue and show Felisha that I respect her stance on this, even if I can’t agree with her.

“It’s no excuse. You are his daughter. Not acceptable in my eyes.” With that, I know I need to move before I say more than I should.

“It’s late, I’ll show you to the spare room so you can crash here until morning.” I look at the time on the microwave in the kitchen, showing it’s after one am.

“No, thank you. I’m going home. I’ll message Imala, my driver. She’s the only one who knows I’m here.” Standing from the couch she is a little unsteady, probably from the emotional drain of the day. Worried she’s about to fall, I step to her quickly and put my arms around her waist, pulling her to me.

“I’ve got you.” God, I want to say that I mean more than just holding her up right now.

Her head falls into my chest in that spot she did before. It’s like it’s molded perfectly for her forehead.

Having her hands and forehead on my bare chest is making it hard to stop this from moving to more than it is.

Hearing her take a deep breath, she then slowly pushes off my body, and it breaks the connection between us.

Her sorrowful eyes look up at me, and I know we are done.

“Can we be friends?” The unease in her voice has me wondering if that’s really all she wants from me.

“Friends,” my gravelly voice slips out.

“That’s all we can be.” Her eyes are almost pleading with me because she can’t voice what she really wants.

I want to say fuck no, but instead, I give in.

“Friends it is then.” Kissing the top of her head, I wrap her in the tightest hug that I can manage because I know it will be the last one for me.

Then I step back from her just like we both need.

“But to the rest of the world, I hate you.” Brushing her shoulder against me, she heads to the elevator.

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