Page 49 of Veil

“He chose Desiree,” I state.

Cannon nods. “I won’t lie. He put up a fight.”

“Because Victor doesn’t like to lose,” I claim. “He’s a man-child. Control is his toy, and if you try to take it from him, he’ll strike.”

“I agree. I feel like it’s partially my fault for what he did to you, and for that I’m sorry. I know he has some aggressive tendencies but I never imagined he would hurt you.”

I shake my head. “Victor is very good at letting people see what he wants and not who he truly is. I think he would’ve hurt me either way.”

“What did he say to you? Before I got here.”

“He said he was here for me.”

Cannon’s expression turns to stone. “Stay away from him, Makayla. The fact that he showed up here is just another example of why I don’t trust him.”

“I don’t either.” I chew on the inside of my lip. “Let’s skip past Victor for now. Explain to me how you became X.”

“The original plan was to offer you a job, maybe flirt with you in the elevator, then ask you out.”

I can’t help but smile, remembering he’d done that the other day.

“Heather and I had it all worked out. She was going to reach out to you that Monday after graduation about a job opportunity at Davis Corp. But then you called her because you’d had a fight with Victor. She asked me what she should do, and I told her to be a friend.” He gives me a look. “That wasn’t me forcing her to be your friend. Heather was worried about you, so naturally she did what friends do. Then she threw a fucking wrench into my plans by inviting you to Veil.” He laughs. “I wanted to strangle her. I told her no, because one: it wasn’t part of the plan, and two: because Heather is not allowed at Veil. But she went behind my back and got permission from Desiree like she always does.” He rolls his eyes. “Heather didn’t bring you there so I could fuck you.” I grimace, remembering the look on her face.

“I feel bad for saying that,” I admit.

“Don’t feel bad. She knows you’re upset, and truthfully, she deserves a little punishment for pulling that shit and dragging Desiree into it, too.” He blows out a breath. “She didn’t even do it to be spiteful. She wanted you to have fun in a place she knew you would be safe. Then you showed up in that dress and all my restraint went out the window. There was no way I was letting anyone else put their hands on you.”

Warmth spreads over my cheeks. “I’m still kind of pissed off, and a little hurt, but I don’t regret a single second of that night,” I admit. “You made me feel things I never knew existed.”

“That’s how I felt the first time I laid eyes on you.” He shifts on the bed to face me, bringing his knee to rest on the mattress. “Before you, I hadn’t played at Veil in years.”

Jealousy churns in my gut. Obviously Cannon has been with other women. I’d even accepted the fact that X had been with others before me. Still, it doesn’t make me feel any less stabby knowing other women have had a piece of this man.

Now who's the caveman?

“You’re so cute when you’re jealous.” He chuckles, but then his expression turns somber. “I’m sorry if you were hurt. That was never my intention. I just… wanted you. Honestly, I think everything since your graduation day has worked out for both of us. You needed a place to live, and conveniently, I’d just given her this apartment building. Though the job was my idea from day one, and Heather fully supported it, you got the job on your own. I monitored the entire interview process, and if necessary, I would’ve forced their hands, but I didn’t have to.”

“Why did you have me sign a month-long contract?”

“Because you weren’t ready for the things I wanted. I figured we were enjoying ourselves for a little while, and the anonymity took the pressure off both of us.” He eyes me. “How did you figure it out?”

“I think my body told me. You were right about the blindfold. My senses were heightened. Your voice. Your smell. Even your coffee order. I’d committed it all to memory. Then there were certain things that didn’t make sense. Like how did you have my home address? Or where I worked.” A sudden bark of laughter slips past my lips.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, though there’s a slight grin on his face.

“I can’t believe I said all that stuff, pretending to fantasize about you.”

“I’m glad it was me and not Spencer from the eighth floor.”

My mouth falls open in shock and amusement. “How did you—” I roll my eyes. “Heather. That little spy.”

“Heather didn’t tell me anything. I saw you talking to him that morning at the coffee bar, and I almost lost my fuckin’ mind. Then I almost lost my hand trying to stop the elevator.”

“Spencer and I dated in college, but I don’t have any lingering feelings for him. If that’s what you’re worried about.”

His lips pull to the side. “I’m not worried.”

I bite down on the inside of my lip. “I’ll be honest, I’m gonna miss all the mysteriousness.”

---