Page 112 of The Assignment: Room 3

“What? No.”

“It wasn’t a question. I’m not having you vulnerable to some idiot who has a vendetta against me.”

“But…” The words die on my lips.

“But what, pet? I need to know that you, Gracie, and your mom are safe. So, which is it? Come to live with me until this is sorted out or have a twenty-four-seven security detail.”

Shit. He’s going to be mad when I tell him.

“Don’t get upset.”

His expression darkens as his brow furrows, and his eyes seem to morph into a storm. “No promises. Spill.”

“I… I’ve been working a second job at night.”

“You’ve what?” he growls.

“When you didn’t want me to ride the subway anymore, Ifigured I could put off saving for a car for a little while, but I thought it would be good if I could speed up the process and save for a house in a better area.”

“Where have you been working, and what the fuck have you been doing?”

“I took a bartending job… at Viper.”

“You work for Carter! I am going to fucking kill him.” He stands and paces the room.

“Please don’t take it out on him. I begged him not to tell you.”

“Why? You’ve been lying to me.”

“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you.”

“Semantics. How could you put yourself in danger like that? Russell would have told me if he was driving you home. What time are you getting on the subway? One, two, three in the morning? Jesus Christ, Celest.”

“I haven’t been riding the subway. In exchange for keeping my employment from you, Carter insisted that his driver take me home after every shift.”

He breathes an audible sigh of relief. “Don’t ever lie to me again. Do you understand?”

“You don’t own me, Flex.”

“If you didn’t want this kind of reaction, you shouldn’t have signed the goddamn contract. You are mine. I couldn’t lose you, Celest. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you. Or Gracie.”

“You’re not going to lose me. We’re right here.”

“How can I protect you when you don’t tell me something like this? I’ve been sitting at home like a fucking idiot while you’re working a club and no doubt being accosted by drunk morons. If anyone lays a hand on you…” I cut him off before his head explodes.

“Nothing has happened. Carter has security at every turn. I serve drinks. That’s it. I leave at closing time, and his driver brings me home.”

“You no longer work there,” he says with such finality.

“Hold up a minute. You don’t get to decide that for me. I needthe money, and the tips are great. I’m not quitting because I bruised your ego.”

“You want a car… I’ll buy you one tomorrow. Need to move away from here… come home with me now.”

“Like it’s that easy. You think you’ll enjoy having a girlfriend, a kid, and your girlfriend’s mother move into your bachelor pad? Our lives don’t look anything alike, Flex. We don’t belong in your world.”

“Then what the fuck are we doing here, Celest. If you don’t think our lives are compatible, then I may as well walk out the fucking door now and call it quits. If this is how you really feel, then why the hell did you sign the contract?”

“Because I love you, and that trumps any reservations I have, but I’m not going to make decisions about my life and our relationship based on fear.”

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