Page 32 of Flame
“You didn’t answer me.”
“Oh,that’s rich.”
“Answer the question, Bianca.”
“Fine.” I mimic the look he’s giving me, knowing all too well that it’s falling flat on its face. “Yes, Foxx. I have been taking care of myself. I have been doing the best I can while working twelve to fourteen-hour days, uncovering illegal and damaging deals that my father engaged in before he left and trying to minimize those. All the while, being a daughter to my mother, a sister to my brothers, and a human who takes showers and brushes her teeth.” I narrow my eyes. “I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.”
“Funny. I didn’t ask a damn thing about work.”
My brows pull together. “What are you talking about? You asked me if I’m taking care of myself, and I answered you.”
“You just gave me a laundry list of shit that you have to do, but never once did you tell me how you are taking care ofyou.”
I blink.
He takes a step toward me. “You’re putting in long hours—for whom? You’re—”
“That’s my job.”
“—fixing your dad’s fuckups—”
“To save the company, Foxx.”
“—and you’re supporting your mom and your brothers.” He takes another step my way, his chest rising and falling like he’s run a mile. “But who is taking care ofyou?”
My breath trembles as he approaches me. Every cell in my body is on high alert. I can’t process his question because the look on his face—the severity, the agitation,the anger?—demands attention.Hedemands attention.
I suck in a lungful of air and hold it. He stops moving inches in front of me.
“For two and a half years, I watched you kill yourself for everyone around you,” he says, the words filled with grit. “You’re brilliant, Bianca. Strong. You’ve never met a challenge you can’t conquer.”
“Except you.”
His blue eyes flash, melding into green. “That works both ways.”
I lean back until my back presses against the counter. Foxx matches every move, maintaining the small distance between us. My head spins as I try to make sense of his words.Of his actions.
Why is this so important to him? Why does he insist on sliding into my personal space when I thought he wanted distance?
“Your relationship with everyone in your life is based on the fact that they need you or want something from you,” he says, lowering his voice.
“Not true.”
“And you keep giving, feeding your magic to better their lives while never bettering your own.”
“That’snot true.”It’s absolutely true.
“And you’re so damn good at it that I wonder if they even realize what’s happening. You make it look so easy,” he says. “But, my God, Bianca, how long can you do that before you break?”
I lift my chin. “I’ll never break.”
“Everythingbreaks.”
There’s a lot to unpack in this conversation. There are a lot of truths that I have no interest in uncovering in front of Foxx. So I divert.
“My turn,” I say.
He smirks, knowing exactly what I’m doing. But I don’t care.
