Page 167 of Time Stops With You

Immediately, my employees disperse. Dr. Young and Asad continue to maneuver the robot.

I stop Nardi before she can join the rest of them. “I thought you disapproved of them coming here?”

“They’re the victims in this situation. It’s not their fault they have a crazy boss.” She pokes a finger in my chest.

I narrow my eyes.

She tries to brush past me and I step in her way. She moves in the other direction. I block her there too.

Nardi tilts her head up to meet my eyes. “Can you step aside?”

“Where are you going?”

“To the spa.” She rolls her eyes. “Obviously, I’m going to work along with everyone else.”

“No, you’re not,” I say calmly.

Sparks of fire flash from her eyes. “Excuseme?”

“You heard what the doctor said. You’re not to do anything with that wrist until it’s healed.”

“I’m supposed to take off the wrist brace today, Cullen. I’ll be fine.” She moves to the right.

I calmly step in her way.

She moves to the left.

I block her there too.

She does a quick step, running around me. In response, I make a pained sound and clutch my chest.

“Cullen?” Nardi flies to my side. “Are you okay? Is your chest hurting? Do you need your pills?”

“I’m fine,” I mumble feebly. “I just… need…”

“What? Tell me,” she says earnestly.

“… you to sit down.”

Nardi’s expression shifts in an instant and she gives me an annoyed look. “You’re messing with me.”

“I feel much better today than I did yesterday and I made sure to take my pills before I drove out here.” I usher her to the bleachers. “Stay there. Tell me what you want done, and I’ll do it for you.”

“You’re… going to do my work?”

I jut my chin at the booth nearby. “You were heading toward this one, right? What did you want to start with?”

Nardi hesitates.

“The clock is ticking, boss.”

She rolls her eyes. “I wanted to wipe the boards and lay out the wallpaper.”

“Alright,” I say. My fingers expertly undo my smart watch and I offer it to Nardi. “Hold this for me?”

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she accepts it. The way she’s looking at me, I can’t help but turn back toward the bleachers. In three quick strides, I climb to a step below where Nardi is sitting.

Her brows curve in surprise.

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