Page 36 of Rule
Tamping down my fury, I smile tightly. "Absolutely. She would never harm anyone. She is the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. And that was my fault. I can’t keep my hands off her."
Trilling studies me for a moment; his lips pressed into a thin line. "Hmm. I can see why. Very well," he says finally. "But I hope you understand why I had to ask. This entire incident has been distressing."
"Of course." I nod, trying to empathize with his concerns. "But you have my word – Scarlet is not the one responsible for what happened at your house."
"Good." Trilling exhales, his expression softening slightly. "I trust you'll keep me informed of any developments in the case."
"Absolutely, Chris," I assure him.
“In the interest of transparency, I intend to keep seeing Scarlet as her client. I trust she is still working after this...” He waves his hand around.
“She is.” Every fiber of my being wants to tell him to fuck right off, but Scarlet wants to work, so who am I to destroy her business?
“Perhaps you could put a good word in for me?” he murmurs. “She is very ethical, but after what I’ve seen, I want to push those boundaries, hmm? I trust that won’t be a problem for you, knowing what she does for a living?”
Forcing myself not to clench my fist and smash his face into oblivion before I give him a bath in lye, I nod stiffly. “Of course.”
The rain lashes against the window as if trying to break through the glass and reach us as the tension level rises to a red zone. Christopher Trilling stands before me, his eyes searching mine for something. It annoys me and pisses me off that I’m unsure what he is after. He has already laid his cards on the table, as far as I can tell.
"Before I go," Trilling says. "There's something else I need to discuss with you."
"Okay." I brace myself for whatever he has to say.
"Word has reached me that my daughter has developed a certain... fondness for you, Miles." He watches me closely, gauging my reaction.
My stomach twists, and I struggle to keep my expression neutral. "I'm aware of her feelings.”
"Are you now?" Trilling raises an eyebrow, his lips curling into a knowing smirk.
"Indeed." I swallow hard, my pulse quickening. "I've taken steps to ensure that there won't be any issues. I've requested the university to assign her to another professor to avoid any potential conflict of interest."
"Good," Trilling says, nodding in approval. His eyes bore into mine as if trying to read my thoughts. "I trust you will continue to act professionally in this matter."
"Of course, Chris." My words are firm, but my mind races.
"Then we have an understanding," Trilling concludes, his gaze still locked on mine.
"Absolutely." I force a smile, willing my racing heart to slow down.
He studies my face further for a moment before continuing. "However, I must be clear with you, Miles. If you ever attempt to take advantage of my daughter's feelings or cross any boundaries, there will be severe consequences."
His warning sends a chill of disgust, not fear, down my spine. The idea of being with anyone but Scarlet now is an unsavory thought, but I keep my composure. "I understand your concern, Chris," I respond firmly. "But I assure you, I have no intention of doing anything that would compromise my professional relationship with your daughter or bring harm to her in any way."
"Good," Trilling says, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm glad we're on the same page."
“Always.”
He nods and turns to leave. As his footsteps fade down the hall, I sink into my chair, breathing heavily. The weight of our conversation presses down on me, making it difficult to focus on anything else. Scarlet needs to know that Trilling is coming for her in a seriously creepy way, and it’s my fault for not being able to restrain myself around her. My dick just looks so good in her ass; I can’t help myself around her.
One thing is clear, though, over my dead body, will Christopher Trilling ever get the chance to slide his cock into her. I will cut it off while he watches me do it and burn it before his very eyes if he even attempts to contact her again. Packing up my bag, I know Scarlet would never do anything to hurt any of us. I trust her implicitly. It’s just every other fucker who wants a piece of her that I have to watch out for. We will protect her at all costs, even if it means persuading her to stop working. Hopefully, she will come to that conclusion herself in good time. Predators like Trilling are everywhere, and it would really be a shame for the university if I had to kill him.
ChapterTwenty-One
Maxwell
The weight of the situation is heavy on my shoulders. Scarlet sits on the plush couch, her delicate hands gripping her knees tightly. Miles, Hugo, Adam, and Tristan surround her, their unwavering support is evident in their protective stance.
"Scarlet," I say, my voice deep and urgent. "We need to talk about your final test."
