Page 23 of Power
“Sometimes, it is the only way.”
“I don’t want to see her upset.”
“You’re such a pussy. This is the game.” I’m watching his reactions closely after Finn’s words earlier. I don’t know how I missed it before. Owen is completely in love with Bailey. But it’s a dangerous love. He doesn’tknowher. It’s born out of obsession; of a fantasy he has of her. I hope, for his sake, she lives up to whatever depraved desire he has in his head, or he will be shattered.
“She is more than just a game.”
“I’m aware.” My challenging stare meets his. If he thinks he has the upper hand because he is mooning over her, he has another thing coming. We areallmooning over her. She has come in here and thrown us into a whirlwind of feelings that none of us knew we had.
“I know,” he says, backing down. “I’m just protective over her. She is delicate and has a sensitive nature. She doesn’t want you to be angry with her. I know you have your skill set, and it works; I’ve seen it a thousand times, but don’t be cruel to her, please.”
I frown. The idea of being cruel to her had never crossed my mind. However, I suppose my version of cruel is a world away fromherversion of cruel. Owen is right. She is delicate and sensitive. It’s what makes her such a wonder to me. The opposite of every other woman I’ve ever been involved with, she feeds a desire in me that I wasn’t sure existed. I wasn’t being a dick when I said I want her to have cutesy names for me. It appeals to me coming from her lips. I crave to hear it. I want to be that close to her. She has bewitched me, which is saying a lot. There has only ever been one woman who had this effect on me before. But it wasn’t meant to be. Try as she might, she wasn’t Alice. She thought she was. We all did, until Bailey Chase’s origins were revealed seven years ago. Ever since the focus turned to Bailey, no other woman has lived up to the fantasy. I get where Owen is coming from. None of us really know her, despite knowing everything about her. Yet she has weaved her way under our skin, and it is impossible not to want her.
This isn’t just about her being the Society’s choice for Alice.
This is about her being my Queen.
ChapterSeventeen
Bailey
I noticeOwen’s departure from Archer’s office, knowing some time has passed. He smiles, that cute soft smile, but he doesn’t say anything as he heads toward the elevators. I glance at my watch and see it is time for me to clock off. I wonder if I should tell Archer that I’m going. I don’t want to bother him, but I also want to see him one last time before I go home alone to my empty apartment for the rest of the night.
Deciding it’s rude to just disappear, I knock once and push the door open, a big smile on my face.
“I’m leaving now unless you need anything else,” I chirp, trying to be the opposite of the needy wounded bird who was in here earlier.
He rakes his gaze over me from head to toe. It’s the only word to describe it. I canfeelit. “Have a good night, Bailey.”
“You too.”
I want to tell him that I’ll have a shit night without him in my bed, but we have already crossed the line once today, with no sign of it happening again. It was a one-off, and that disappoints me.
I close the door quietly and grab my bag, making my way to the elevators, hoping I don’t run into Trish. She is not a nice person. I try to see the best in everyone, but there is no good in her that she has shown so far.
Stabbing the button and waiting, I tap my foot until the elevator arrives, and I step on, pressing the button for the ground floor. The doors start to slide closed when a hand slaps against the metal, stopping their progress. I watch as they glide slowly open again, half hoping it’s Archer.
Okay,fullyhoping it’s Archer.
When Finn steps forward, my heart skips a beat. It’s not that I’m scared of him, exactly, but there is something about him that makes me wary. He is very calm. Too calm. I didn’t ever think that would give off an odd vibe, but with him, it does.
“Hi,” I say, giving him a dumb half-wave in an effort to convince him I’m not cautious about being in here alone with him. I don’t think it works.
One side of his mouth turns up with a sexy as fuck half-smile that beats my half-wave to the ground and stomps on it.
“Mind if I join you?” he asks.
I shake my head and move to the side as he enters, allowing the doors to slide shut behind him.
I swallow and chew the inside of my lip nervously, frantically thinking of something to say so we don’t stand here in an awkward silence.
As the elevator slowly moves down, he takes a step forward and pushes the emergency stop button, jarring the elevator to a grinding halt.
“Bailey,” he says, turning to me. “You aren’t afraid of me, are you?”
“What?” I splutter, sweat forming on my brow and upper lip. “No, of course not.” I back up until the side of the elevator is pressing against me.
He stalks me slowly, causing my heart to hammer in my chest. My blood roars in my ears when he stops in front of me and looks down at me from his several inches height advantage. I note he isn’t as tall as Archer, but he is still towering over me. He reaches out to grip my chin lightly. I turn my head, but he keeps hold of me, his cool fingers chilling me.
