Page 16 of Papers Don't Lie

Don’t tell me she already left in the twenty minutes it took us to get here.

I knock again, this time louder.

“I’m sleeping, for fuck’s sake!” I hear her screaming from inside the apartment, and then something crashes onto the floor, followed by an impressive amount of curses. “What?!" she growls the moment she opens the door, dressed in black silky pajamas.

My eyes roam over her and the small stature of her body, which is completely hidden by her large clothes, only her toes showing under the material. The little troublemaker is no doubt beautiful, with those angry green eyes sending daggers my way.

“Who are you?” Esmeray frowns, blinking repeatedly to chase away the sleep she just woke up from. When she finally focuses on me, she freezes, her eyes rounding in fright.

EIGHT

ESMERAY

I don’t know if he didn’t hear what I just asked him, but he continues to stare at me like I’m some kind of enigma instead of replying to my question.

There are two options, and one frightens me more than the other.

One, Carter found me, and the man standing in front of my temporary home is here to take me to him.

Two, based on his outfit, he could be one of Kai Graves’s employees, and that means my monosyllabic chats with Kendrick are gone and that his replacement is here. I still don’t get why they’re still looking out for me when it’s been three weeks since the accident and my health is great… but one thing is certain. I’ll miss Kendrick.

My eyes roam over the black-haired guy, with his deep green eyes roaming all over my body and muscular arms resting in the pockets of his blue suit.

In one quick moment, a smug smile replaces the curiosity on his face. “I wanted to deliver this to you in person.”

I squint my eyes at him, not really understanding what he means until he fishes out a red envelope, just like the last one Ireceived, from his coat. I freeze in my place, staring at the paper between the man’s fingers.

Carter found me, and he sent someone to take me. It’s over now.

I had my act of rebellion, and I have to pay for it so soon, no matter how I envisioned my life moving from now on.

But this doesn’t have to be over yet. Carter isn’t here. This is another chance to run, and this time, to do it well, without leaving tracks. I have enough cash to disappear, so that won’t be a problem.

“Esmeray, you don’t have to be afraid of me,” the man says, tilting his head to take a look at me, and I can’t ignore the soft touch of genuineness crossing over his voice.

I put a brave face on, raising a brow at him. “Why would I be scared of you?”

He takes a step further, and I take one back, gulping at the closeness while keeping my chin up. “You shouldn’t. I’m not the man threatening you. I’m Kai Graves.”

The blood in my veins stops running. What? After three weeks, Mr. Graves decides to show up unannounced, knowing my personal information?

“Oh, so you’re the man that ran over me with his car and vanished into thin air?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. I step closer to him, regaining some of my confidence now that I know he’s not been sent by Carter, my naked soles touching his expensive shoes. “How’s that any better?”

When there isn’t any ounce of him willing to reply, I grab the door, ready to shut it closed into his face.

He’s not even that hot.

Mr. Graves doesn’t let that happen. He pushes it back open, entering my suite. Well, the one I paid for with his money, but that doesn’t count after themoral degradationI was part of, thanks to him.

“What do you want,Mr. Graves? To what do I owe the pleasure of finally having you here?” I ask, giving him a forced smile. “Let me guess," I cut him off when his lips move. “Was it my surprise? I knew it would work.”

A hint of a smile actually appears on his face. “Why? This isn’t your first time doing it?”

I shrug. “I guess you’ll never know since my personal life is none of your business. Now, I need to pack. Thank you for taking time out of yourbusy scheduleto come here.” I turn around to leave, but before I can, he stops me.

His palm holds tight on my arm but not forceful enough to hurt me. I gaze back at him, waiting for whatever it is that he has to say and ignoring the shiver running down my spine.

“Someone is clearly threatening you.” He says it as a fact, like it’s something I’m not aware of yet. “And you don’t have the resources to help yourself, so let me.”

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