Page 7 of Obsessed with my Guardian

Damn it.

I go up to her room and knock on her door.

She didn’t say much after the meeting and asked for some alone time. Told me she’d get home herself, and I left the driver with her. But the entire time, I wondered how she was doing. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I figured Mrs. Trevino would be a good person to have on my side to explain things. Now I see how condescending it sounded. I feel like a dick.

“Eloise?” I call. “Can we talk?”

She opens the door, tilting her head to the side. “I don’t know. Are you sure you don’t want to have Mrs. Trevino over to join us?” she asks in a snarky voice, flashing a sassy smile to match.

“I think I can handle it.”

She gestures for me to enter her bedroom, and I follow her, disarmed and distracted. I’ve never been in her bedroom before. It’s a relaxing, aesthetic space with lots of white and a few accents in mustard yellow for a pop of color. It’s elegant, clean and spacious.

She sits on the edge of the king-sized bed. “What’s up?”

I pick the accent chair across from her, next to a floor lamp on a soft round rug. “I wanted to check on you to ensure all is good after the meeting.”

She shrugs.

I glance at her. She’s dressed in shorts and a cropped top that exposes her flat tummy and outlines her perky, medium-sized breasts. I shouldn’t have walked in here like it’s a common occurrence.

Thankfully, she’s probably mad at me.

“I’m fine,” she says in a voice that doesn’t sound like she’s fine.

I should leave now. I can’t have it both ways—I can’t do the right thing, then check on her and act like doing the right thing wasn’t my call. The way she feels about things shouldn’t matter. Yet… it does, and that bothers the fuck out of me.

“Eloise. I didn’t mean to corner you earlier. I thought Mrs. Trevino would help you to see how it’s the best decision. We’re all on the same team. We all want you to succeed.”

She shakes her head, not buying it. “You come here and say these things, but I still feel the same energy as earlier. Like you want me out of your hair as soon as possible,” she says, a touch of disappointment in her voice.

A fresh wave of regret surges through me, and I run my fingers down my face, uncomfortable. “If I did, I would’ve left already. I wouldn’t have proposed the one-month plan.”

She crosses one leg over the other, still sitting at the edge of her bed. “I guess you’re right. I should be grateful.”

“Think about what you want. Do you want to take over as the CEO or hire someone for the job?”

“I don’t know. College seems like a waste of time because I’ll learn all the stuff on the job or should already know to have that job.”

“College isn’t just about learning. You’ll make new friends, grow, experience different things. It’s a good life experience apart from academics.”

“You’re right. Sounds like you had a good time there.”

I chuckle. Memories from a fun time pop into my mind. Late nights. Study halls. Random one-night stands. “I did.”

“Maybe I’ll have a good time too.”

“I’m sure you will.” The idea of her going to college and having stupid frat boys fawn all over her sends my heart into a pumping mess. It’s selfish, I know. She has the right to go through these experiences. Her life is only starting. But the idea still rubs me the wrong way. “Please be careful whatever you do.”

“You mean with guys?”

“Yes. That too. You come from money and may attract the wrong people,” I say, forcing myself to focus on the vaguest answer I can find.

“Ouch. So I have no reason to attract a perfectly good man besides money?” She lifts an eyebrow.

I scratch my chin, hoping I didn’t open a new can of worms. “No, of course not. There are plenty of reasons.” God, don’t I know it. Any man would be happy to have her. Hell, I’d be happy to have her—if only I could. If only her deceased father hadn’t meant so much to me. I can’t betray him, even in death.

“Like what?”

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