Page 197 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1
"I don't want you to get fired."
"Yeah, me either. I know you're worried about what will happen. I told you it's not explicitly against the rules. And I don't think that anyone's complained."
"So you think nothing will happen?"
"I hope nothing happens. But I don't want you to worry about it." He kissed my forehead and climbed out of bed. He pulled on a pair of plaid pajama bottoms.
"Where are you going?"
"Get some sleep. I need to make a phone call."
"To who?" It was late.Who could he possibly want to call at this hour?
"My lawyer." He looked down at my naked body. "I won't let anything happen to you. We'll figure this out."
***
When I woke up the bed was empty beside me. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It was 3 a.m. I climbed out of bed and grabbed one of his shirts out of his closet. It didn't matter what he had just told me. He was clearly different now. I didn't know if it was because of me or what, but I didn't care. He was strong. And I loved him more than ever. If it was going to be a problem, it would be something we'd get through together. Life without him was not a life I was interested in.
He wasn't in the kitchen or living room, so I made my way through the hallway toward his office. The door was open so I walked in. His hands were in his hair and he was staring down at his cell phone on his desk. All he was wearing were his plaid pajama bottoms and his glasses. He looked sexier than ever.
"James?"
He looked up at me. He looked so tired. And upset.
"Why didn't you come to bed?"
"I did," he sighed. "I couldn't sleep."
I walked over to him. "We'll figure it out. Just like you said." I leaned against his desk.
He shook his head. "I was so busy thinking about my feelings for you that I didn't think about all the repercussions..."
"You did think everything through. We talked about that on our first date."
He shook his head again. "I never thought that the dean would find out before I talked to him, though."
"Has he?"
James stood up and walked over to the window. He pulled the curtains to the side and looked down at the street.
I walked over to the window and looked down.Shit.There were three news trucks parked outside of the apartment building. "Maybe it's for something else?"
James shook his head. "No. The story is being printed in the Delaware Post in the morning. I've tried everything." He let go of the curtain. He put his hand through his hair again. "I fucked up, Penny. I should have thought about what Isabella would do if..."
I grabbed his arm so that his hand fell from his hair. "James, you couldn't possibly know what Isabella would do."
"I should have. It's my job to protect you."
"It isn't. I made my own choices. I knew I was breaking the rules. I kept pursuing you. I wanted to be with you. I knew there might be consequences. I can face them."
"It is my job to protect you." He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on top of my head.
I sighed and leaned into his chest. "The worst that can happen is that you get fired and I get expelled."
"I don't care if I get fired. I just don't want you to get expelled."
"I have good grades. I can get into a different school."
