Page 53 of Beautiful Desire

“Look, I said I’m fine,” I snap back in reply.

I know he’s trying to help, but it’s just making it worse.

Standing upright, the man gives me a once-over before scowling and walking away. As he does, I hear a faint“asshole”muttered under his breath.

I quickly undo my suit tie and top shirt button, hoping I’ll be able to breathe a little easier. Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale a few long deep breaths, trying to calm my nerves at the same time.

After a few minutes, I open my eyes and take in my surroundings.

What the hell was that noise?

The sound of a car horn beeping grabs my attention from out on the street. Turning my head, I see nothing unusual. People walking along, cars waiting in traffic. The noise of a loud engine grumbling clicks in my head, and I realize it must have been the sound of a car backfiring that caused my panic attack.

Sitting in the alleyway, I stare out into the street. Too many thoughts are running through my head for any to really register.

I need to get out of here. I stand, dusting myself off, and then quickly make my way back to the office. I need to be alone and get out of my head, and the best way I know how is to throw myself into work.

* * *

I feel like I’ve made it back to the office in record time. There’s a bead of sweat trickling down my back as I exit the elevator, heading straight for my office. From my peripheral vision, I can see Elle seated at her desk working, but I don’t look at her. I know if I do, more thoughts I can’t handle are going to come rushing through my brain, and right now, that’s the last thing I need. So instead, I keep my eyes focused on my office and walk straight past without saying a word.

Slamming the door shut behind me, I make my way over to the large window and look out over the city. Boston has been my home for so long, but since I’ve come back, everything’s changed, and not in a good way. My nightmares are worse than they’ve ever been. I’m being told what to do and when to do it. I was forced to buy this company, and although that was always the plan, it was never under these circumstances.

To top it off, the woman on the other side of that door has an effect on me like no other has before. Even if she did want me, I can’t have her. Not now. Not ever.

* * *

Elle

The sound of the elevator doors in the distance pings, and I wonder if this time it’s Dom. I’ve heard it chime too many times since he went out for lunch, and each time, I’ve wondered if maybe it was him returning, but it never was.

I don’t know why I’m waiting for him to come back. I’m pissed at him. I was trying to be helpful before he snapped at me, only for him to come out minutes later, all cheery and happy.

Asshole.

I see him briskly make his way down the hallway out of the corner of my eye.

Nice of you to return.

What is wrong with me? Keeping my eyes trained on the computer screen, I pretend to type into a blank email while he hurries past, ignoring me and slamming his office door behind him.

He hasn’t been the company owner for long, but I seriously hope this isn’t how things are going to go around here. I stare at the closed door as my anger rises, and with each passing second, I fight myself about giving him a piece of my mind.

The phone on my desk rings, making me jump in my seat. I look down, expecting it to be Dom, but I see Beth’s name, so I quickly answer.

“Hey, what’s up?” I ask before she can talk.

“Did you piss in his Wheaties this morning?” Beth replies through the phone.

“What?” I ask in confusion.

“The man looked like a deer caught in headlights when he stepped off the elevator. What did you do to him?” I hear the light laughter in her voice as she talks.

“I don’t know what’s going on with him today. I asked him if he needed more files earlier, and he almost bit my head off. Then not two minutes later, he comes out saying he’s going out for lunch with a smile on his face, only to return like that,” I tell her, pissed that I’m on his shit list for no good reason.

“Oh, do you think maybe he went out for a quickie on his lunch break and then couldn’t get it up?”

Only Beth would come out with something like that.

---