Page 41 of The Forbidden
I blink, then force a smile, my voice breezy when I speak. “Oh, hey Eli. I’m fine. How are you?”
He slips his hands into his pockets, staring at me skeptically. Clearly, I’m not doing a very good job of hiding my fear. “I’m good,” he says slowly. “I was just wondering why you’ve been standing in the lobby for ten minutes, glaringat the elevator like it killed your puppy.” He raises a brow in silent question.
Heat blooms in my cheeks. I shift on my feet, chuckling nervously, as I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “No reason. Just mentally preparing for the day ahead.” It’s a lie, but I’m not about to tell him the truth, admit that I’m scared of the elevator.
“And you thought this would be a good place to do that? In the middle of a packed lobby?” he cocks his head, his gaze intent on me.
“Apparently, I did.” I snip, annoyed at his interrogation. What does it have to do with Eli anyway? “I–”
I’m cut off by a rumbling male voice. Butterflies take flight in my stomach. And when his long fingers wrap around my elbow, my breath hitches. “Shouldn’t you be in your office, working on figures,Elijah?”
Eli’s eyes drop to where Evan holds me. His gaze narrows slightly. “I was just checking Anais was okay, Mr. Maxwell.”
“She’s fine. Now leave.” Evan growls, his voice lethal.
Eli swallows. Then with one last look in my direction, he turns and walks toward the elevator.
I glance up at Evan, my heart flipping at the look he’s giving me. He scans my face, then with a sigh, he tugs me toward the couches and out of the way of all the people rushing around the busy lobby.
“What’re you doing?” I hiss, yanking my arm out of his grip.
Evan runs a hand through his dark hair, visibly exasperated. My eyes drop to his lips on their own accord, my body warming when I recall how they felt pressed against mine.
“You’re scared.” He states simply and my gaze snaps to his.
I’m recoiling, because he is right on the mark. I am scared, but I don’t want Evan to know that. I straighten my spine, my eyes narrowing. “I’m not scared,” I say, indignant. “I was just thinking about my workload, and how many files I’d have to photoco–”
“Bullshit, Anais.” He cuts me off. “You’re scared and that’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Easy for him to say. Big bad Evan Maxwell, the American God whom people fawn all over, isn’t scared of anything. He would never understand how uncomfortable I am knowing he, of all people, is now aware of my weakness. “Now, we’re getting in that elevator, together. And you’re going to be fine. Got it?”
His tone leaves no room for argument. I swallow down my anxiety, and nod slowly. “Okay,” I whisper.
One side of his mouth tugs up into a smile, and if getting in that damn elevator and facing my fear earns that smile, then I’ll do it without hesitation. “Good girl.” Those two words send a pulse of heat straight between my thighs. He jerks his head toward the elevator bank. “Come on, let’s go.”
He strides across the lobby, confident and in control like the god he is, while I follow obediently behind him. A small crowd waits as the elevator arrives. When the doors slide open, I’m shocked when, without hesitation, Evan laces his fingers with mine and drags me inside. He turns, staring down at the others still waiting, his voice cold when he orders. “Wait for the next one.”
My face burns as the doors close, concealing their stunned expressions.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I mumble, petulantly.
“Yeah, I did.” He clips out, pressing the button to our floor.
I glance at him, but he’s paying no attention to me, he’s staring down at his phone. I look away, trying to concentrateon my breathing as we ascend. Evan has given me no reason to feel humiliated, but I still feel that way. It’s stupid, a person of my age being scared of such an inanimate object, but that doesn’t stop the fear. No matter how much I tell myself differently.
“You good?” Evans deep rumble snaps me out of my reverie.
I glance up at him, my heart fluttering in my chest when I see the concern on his face. I shouldn’t read into it, but this is Evan, and I am me. It’s expected at this point.
“I’m good,” I whisper.
He nods, then looks away, focusing back on whatever is so interesting on his phone. The elevator stops, and my pulse kicks up. My eyes dart to the panel, and when I see we’ve reached the thirty-eighth floor, I exhale in relief. When the doors open, I hurry out, scurrying down the hall to my desk where Janice is already settled for the day.
I greet her with a smile, “Morning, Janice,”
“Morning, honey,” she returns, smiling.
I pull out my chair, ready to sit and get started on today’s workload when Evan’s voice stops me. “I’ll see you in my office, Anais.”
Squeezing my eyes closed, I take a couple minutes, mentally preparing myself to enter the lion’s den. Of course, he’d want to see me. Summoning all the strength I can, I open my eyes and follow him inside.
