Page 84 of Those Who Are Bound

She forced out a sigh, “You went straight to judgment, Jonah, and stayed there.”

“What you did was wrong.”

She pointed to the other door next to him. “Through those doors, literally on the other side of this office wall is where I found it. I wasn’t snooping on purpose. That little room is in this building. I found it, and I went in. And yes, I was curious. But I was curious about him because… I saw those videos. And he was a beautiful man, but he had so much doubt for someone so strong. So, I’m curious about him. And I found what I found. I wasn’t trying to stir anything up.”

His gaze went to the door she’d pointed to; to the wall beyond her.

“He built this place. He surrounds me. I’m creating a profile on the website to include more about him. Elliott knows; she likes the idea. So yes, I wanted to know more. But I didn’t snoop. You assumed I went looking only for the sake of it.”

“Luce, you know the second you found that file, you should have left it alone.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t.” She swiveled in the chair again, a hand out to indicate their surroundings. “Jonah, this place is his. He is in everything here. And then one day he decided everything he worked so hard to build, his own sister, wasn’t enough? Aren’t you curious as to why?”

“That’s not something we get to ask.”

Lucy looked back at him in disappointment. “Someone needs to ask about it.”

“You assume she hasn’t? You don’t think it isn’t something that consumes her?” Jonah shoved his hands into his pockets as he regarded his friend. “Whatever reasons Gage Rork had, Elliott has had to deal with it. She doesn’t owe you or anyone else any explanations on how she’s handled it.”

“Ignored it.”

“You don’t know that. You don’t even know her—you work for her. You have no idea what’s going through her mind.”

“Do you?”

Jonah shook his head and looked away irritably. “Luce. A man is dead, but he has nothing to do with you. Drop it.”

Lucy reminded him, “But I read the letter.”

Jonah shook his head. “You aren’t listening to me.”

“And you aren’t listening tome.”

“You have no right to any of this. Do your job; leave her personal life alone.”

Lucy scoffed. “How is that supposed to work,bestie?”

Jonah ignored the sarcastic bent she gave to the moniker. “Drop it. You’re overreacting. This isn’t like you, obsessing over something like this. What’s gotten into you? This isn’t like us.”

She gave a little pout, then looked away.

He watched her for a few minutes before asking quietly, “Are you jealous?”

A short disbelieving laugh escaped her before she assured him, “No! Gross!”

“Not like that,” he said. “But are you jealous of the time I’m spending with her?”

Lucy paused before she shook her head. “No. No, I am happy for you. I think I’m probably more… Well, yeah, I’m a little jealous that you seem so happy. Not that I don’t want you to be, because I do.” Her gaze slipped to the picture on the wall. “But I’m, you know, hanging out still.”

Jonah tilted his head.

“I mean, I can’t even ask if she has a hot brother for me because, well…” Lucy made a face.

“You know what they say about it happening when you least expect it.”

Lucy tossed him a look of irritation.

“I certainly never expected anything to come out of taking you for a job interview.”

---