Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
His words were like a slap to the face. “Ben, please. I want to protect you.”
“I don’t want your protection.”
I’d fucked everything up. Ford had told me this would blow up in my face. I was furious with myself, but the angrier Ben got, the more my anger built. He wasn’t completely innocent. He’d been hiding things from me.
Because he’s scared. Because he’s being threatened.
“Tell me the whole story. Let me understand how you ended up here.”
“No. You don’t need to know that. I never did anything to harm you or your precious company.”
He moved toward the door again, and I stepped out of his way. I didn’t know what else to say. I’d lied to him. I’d spied on him. And he’d only done what he’d had to stay safe. “I expect you at work in the morning.”
“I can’t—”
“It’s not safe for you to quit.”
I saw the resignation on his face. “Fine. I’ll be there. I’ll do my job. But that’s all. There’s nothing between us anymore. This is strictly professional.”
“Ben, I didn’t mean—”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me, but you lied about that too.”
He walked out the door, not even slamming it behind him, just quietly closing it. I heard the elevator open. I wanted to chase after him, but what was I going to say? He was right. He shouldn’t have kept things from me, but I’d done worse.
I was going to have to do find a way to fix it. And the first thing I needed to do was find out exactly who gave him those bruises.
30
BEN
I fought back tears as I left Miles’s building, walked to my stop, and rode the train home. By the time I was back at my apartment, I was too numb to cry. What was I supposed to do now? I either had to do what my family wanted to save myself from harm or beg Miles to take care of things after all. What would I owe him then? I was furious with him, but I also already missed him terribly.
There were too many emotions to feel at once, so I locked them down inside me and felt nothing. Until a text came through and I saw it was from Miles. Tears began to fall before I even read it.
My car will pick you up at seven thirty tomorrow morning.
I’d told him I’d come to work, but there was no way I could see him and hold myself together. I could barely see through my tears to type. No. I quit.
That’s not safe for you.
As if I didn’t know that. I wasn’t physically safe with my family, but I was going to fall apart emotionally if I saw Miles again. I can’t work for you.
Yes, you can. Until you figure out an option that keeps you safe, you are my employee.
Why are you so fucking arrogant?
Why are you so stubborn?
Fuck off. I’d had it with Miles, with my family, with everything about my fucking life.
You will come into the office.
Or what, you’ll report my crimes to the police?
You haven’t committed any crimes.
But I’d been sent there to do just that. My résumé was false as hell.
That’s not a crime.
Why do you still want to protect me?
Because you matter to me.
There was no way I could believe that. Don’t do this.
The car will arrive at seven thirty, and my security guards will either stay there with you or accompany you to the office. I will not let anyone else hurt you.
Other than you, you mean?
I watched the oscillating text bubbles appear and disappear for several seconds, but no reply came.
I sighed. Was I being fair? Knowing what he knew about my background, wasn’t he right to follow me, to test me? And really, what choice did I have other than letting Miles protect me? Jesse might kill me next time. A least with Miles it was only my heart that would break.
I’ll be here. I immediately turned off my phone. I didn’t want to see any more texts. I’d already given in to going back to work, to having to spend all day with him. If he kept texting me, what else would he get out of me?
You could listen to him, or better yet, tell him your whole story.
No. I’d let myself hope our relationship could be real. I never should have done that.
I lay there, curled up on my couch, wishing there was someone I could talk to, someone who could help me through the heartbreak. I ended up spilling out all my contradictory feelings to Felix. Eventually, as I lay there stroking his soft fur, I fell asleep.
The next morning, I woke feeling hungover and my neck ached from the odd position I’d slept in. I went through the motions of getting ready without really thinking. I turned my phone back on in time to receive a text letting me know my car had arrived. I hadn’t even had a chance to make coffee.