Page 26 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

He drops my wrist with a muttered curse. “Whatever. Take the phone or don’t,” he growls and stalks out of the office, leaving me alone. I rub the fingers of my other hand over the spot where Alex held me and gingerly walk to the offering like it might jump up and bite me.

When I remove the phone’s box from the bag, a piece of paper flutters to the floor, and I bend to pick it up. The receipt with extended warranty, and it’s already in my name. He went out of his way to go out and buy this phone just for me. My throat closes up and tears sting the back of my eyes. I immediately blink them away, but a few escape, anyway. I’m such a weirdo, tearing up whenever people are kind to me. But it’s so rare to receive kindness without expectations.

In foster care, parents took me in because of the payout they got from the government, and they let me know it. When they bought me anything, it was usually because a social worker wascoming that day to check on me, so the gift was a bribe to keep me quiet. Not that I would have said anything. None of them were particularly cruel; I was invisible to them, a means to an end.

When I finally got to my foster mom – my current mom – I thought I finally lucked out. But to her, I was just a substitute for the daughter she lost a year before she adopted me. And when she realized I wasn’t ever going to be the same as her daughter, she more or less neglected me, only remembering me when she needed something.

Even at the peak of my relationship with Larson, when he bought things for me, it was always in his name, so he could take it back whenever I did or said something to piss him off. And now, this handsome man just basically threatened me after doing something so sweet, solely for my well-being. Just who the hell is Alexander Beaufort?

I’m still a mess when the office’s door swings open. I immediately stiffen, but relax when I hear Andrea’s voice. “I told you to lock the door after you, so what’s wrong?”

I sniffle and quickly wipe away my tears. “Nothing.”

“Am I working you too hard? You have a day off tomorrow you can use to relax and be a tourist. It would be fun and—” She had been walking as she talked, and now she trails off when she sees the paper in my hand. “What’s that?”

I hesitate, briefly wondering if I should tell her the truth. “A receipt,” I whisper and pass the paper to her.

“You bought a phone?” She frowns, not understanding why it’s making me tear up.

“No. Alex bought the phone…for me,” I explain.

Her brows relax. “He was most likely worried. You did say that he caught you in the middle of the rain while you were lost. He knew you didn’t call me because you had no phone. It’s a good thing.”

I stare at her blankly. Somehow, that wasn’t the reply I was expecting. She’s been cautious about me being close with her brothers, and she even looked suspicious while she was questioning me earlier. Now she’s just taking it for granted that her brother bought a phone worth a thousand dollars for me?

“What?” she asks when I stare at her quietly.

“The phone is really expensive and—”

“I know you have a thing about people buying things for you because of your ex, the bastard. But sweetheart, that one K is nothing to a man like Alex. He’s not going to hold it over you.”

The fact that the phone is in my name is proof enough of that. “I know but—”

“No, buts. Just take the phone and enjoy it. Now, come on.” She tucks her hand into the crook of my elbow. “We still have an hour or so before we kick everyone out of the bar and go home. We’ll talk later.”

CHAPTER 16

ALEXANDER

Flick.Flick.Flick. The quiet whoosh of a lighter igniting.

I try to concentrate on the guy – Mason, I think – tied to the chair in front of me in this godforsaken warehouse, but it’s fucking hard with that incessant sound only a foot away. I’m already on edge and terse from my interaction with Autumn last night.

Flick.

“Would you stop that?” I burst out angrily, spinning to level a glare at my insolent little brother.

He’s lounging back in the plastic chair, tipped back to its hind legs while he turns on and off the obnoxious gold lighter in his hand. Dad’s lighter I might add.

“Sorry, Alex, but I find it soothing amid all this gore.” He sounds bored as he flicks on the damn lighter again.

“If you’re going to keep doing that then get the hell out.” I point to the door. Noah and a couple of my guys are on the other side, serving as lookout. Not that the cops would bat an eye, but I like being discreet.

He rights the chair and slowly gets to his feet. A year ago, when I first introduced him to this side of thefamily business,he couldn’t bear it, now he seems almost…numbto it all. “Whatever. Can you just get it over with already? It’s too early for this shit.” And the fucker yawns.

I roll my eyes and turn to face Mason again. “Now, where were we?” But he isn’t looking at me at all. No, his frightened gaze is fixed on Ezra. I tilt my head back wondering what the hell that asshole is doing now.

He has a cigarette tucked in his mouth and is slowly raising the lighter to it. “What the hell?”

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