Page 123 of Tempt Me (Dark Odyssey 4)

Oh God. This isn’t happening.

“I learned it at school. I… speak five languages.”

He takes my hand and holds it. “Ava… the men at the party, you know them. You recognized them. You looked freaked, baby.”

“Vincent, please. I wasn’t feeling well.” I try to get off the bed, but he reaches for me and holds me in place.

“How do you know them?”

“I don’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“I need to go to work. Please let me go to work.”

“I’m calling your father.”

Christ… this is the last thing I want Dad worrying about. It would send him over the edge.

“No, please, Vincent. Can’t you just leave it?”

“Oh, so there is something to leave?”

“Vincent… I get migraines,” I lie, and I can see that he knows I’m lying. I just need to let this spell blow over. I can’t be around him though. He sees too much when he looks at me. I don’t want him to see the truth. “This is what happens. Can I just go to work? I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t know if you should be going to work.”

“I missed yesterday, and I have a lot of stuff I have to do.”

He stares at me for a little while then sighs. “I’ll take you.”

“Okay.” I’ll just have to endure a car ride with him and hope that I’ll be better later.

* * *

I distracted myself with work I didn’t need to do. Filing and all kinds of shit the office assistants tend to get done for me.

Freddie took me off a lot of the projects I was scheduled to work on so I could spend this week and next week closing off everything I had outstanding. That was all done by morning, and I’m now here in my office organizing the bookshelf. One more time. This time, I have the reference books on the top shelf and everything else in alphabetical order.

“You know, I don’t think those books could be more organized,” Freddie says.

I turn to see him standing by my office door looking at the shelf with a bright smile on his face.

“Oh, I just couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with everything.”

He laughs. “Ava, are you nervous?”

I wish it were just nerves. “Yes, a little. What gave me away?” I smile a smile I don’t feel.

“There’s nothing to be nervous of. I spoke to Coral yesterday, and she’s really excited to meet you. She’s got a host of things planned for the two of you to enjoy. I think you’re going to have the time of your life.”

That sounds amazing, and it gives me hope. “Oh, wow, thanks so much, and thanks again for such an wonderful opportunity. I’m really happy.”

Happy? Today I’m far from it. Days ago, I felt the happiness of my stupid imagination and my heart reaching out to love. Today, I can’t even think about that. I’m taking one hour at a time.

“You deserve it, Ava. Nobody works harder than you. And that’s why I’m giving you the rest of the week off.”

“What?” I ask with a quiver in my voice. I should sound happier than that to get such a treat from Freddie. He doesn’t offer that to everyone.

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