Page 24 of The Jealous Boss

I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. “Jesus Christ, this isn’t how this is supposed to go. It’s all wrong.”

“You aren’t making sense.”

I open my eyes and stare into hers. “That’s because I’m afraid I’m losing you, Anna, and I can’t think straight becausenothingmakes sense without you,” I say, chest tight.

When she doesn’t reply, I decide to lay my heart at her feet. If she tramples on it, so be it. I have no use for a heart without her, anyway.

“Anna… do you remember the day I took you away from Sarah’s house? I do. I remember holding you in my arms for the first time, inhaling your innocent scent, your soft curves molding against me. God, you were so young. I swear I only meant to comfort you. But it’s like I lived in a world without color up until that moment. Loving you has made me a better man, a better father, just fuckingbetter. What I’m saying is, you’ve changed me, Anna. And Ican’tlose you.”

“You love me?”

“Do I love you? Are you really asking me that? Of course I love you! I’m fuckingobsessedwith you, Anna. And I can prove it.”

Sliding an arm under her legs, I stand and carry her over to the entrance to the safe room. I have to set her down in order to pull the painting that conceals the keypad away from the wall. I enter the code, and she gasps as the bookshelf next to the painting slides to the side, revealing the monster’s lair.

“Well? Do you need any more proof than that, angel? You’re the fucking center of my world, and you have been—for three goddamn years.”

She doesn’t answer, just takes a few tentative steps into the room. Her eyes widen as she takes it all in. The wall of camera monitors, each set to record. The bulletin board with her weekly schedule, down to the minute, mapped out on it. The other wall filled with photos of her.

Seeing the room through her eyes, I realize for the first time how obsessed I am. And the terrible part is that there’s even more in the drawers and boxes and filing cabinets, which she hasn’t opened yet. Heart in my throat, I wait for her to pass judgment, to tell me how sick I am. Or worse—to run away and never look back.

ChapterEleven

Anna

Everything falls into place.What Drew meant about my class schedule. How he knew I’d changed my clothes. How he knew that it would turn me on to call him Daddy…

Turning away from the secret room, I return to the main office and sink down onto the couch, unsure that my legs will continue to support me. Because I suddenly have no doubt that for three years he’s seeneverything.

He follows me, kneeling at my feet. “Anna, baby, say something, anything, please.”

“You’ve been stalking me.”

He nods. “Yes.”

“Some of those cameras are in my room, aren’t they? You’ve seen me… God, how humiliating.”

He shakes his head. “No, I mean—yes, some of those camerasarein your room, and yes, I’ve seen… a lot. But there’s nothing for you to be ashamed about, baby. You’re fucking perfect. Ineveryway.”

I struggle to process this. Drew seems to have thought that showing me that room would alleviate my fears when, really, it’s only left me with questions. So many questions.

“But why, Drew? I’m trying to understand. Is this some sort of fetish of yours? Voyeurism?”

At this, he actually laughs, but I can tell he’s still on edge. “God no. I’d much rather participate than watch. Keeping a professional distance from you was torture.”

“It seems a stretch to call that ‘keeping a professional distance.’” My gaze drifts toward the secret room. “But help me understand, why have you been watching me, then?”

“It’s not obvious?” he asks, incredulity lacing his words. “After what happened with George, I had to know you were safe, and I could never besureof that if I couldn’t see you, if I couldn’t visually verify at all times that you were okay. If I could have, I’d have placed cameras all over campus, too. That bastard, he nearly—”

“But he didn’t, Drew. Because ofyou. You saved me.” I grab his hand, unsure if I’m offering or seeking reassurance. “And you’ve been keeping me safe ever since…” I take a deep breath. “Like a good daddy should.”

Because now that my initial shock has subsided, I realize that’s exactly what he’s been all along. My hero, my protector, my… daddy. I just didn’t know it.

And that’s a problem. Drew talked a good game last night about honesty, but he’s been lying to me—about so many things. Maybe he had good reasons, but…

“Except a good daddy wouldn’t have lied to me this morning, and he wouldn’t fire me for trying to please him.”

Drew frowns. “What lie?”

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