Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“You think I’m doing this on purpose?” I asked incredulously. “It’s completely out of my control. I can’t even be in the same room as her without all this shit happening. I can’t stop staring at her. I can’t stop thinking about her. I just… It’s out of my control.”
Sofia was unsympathetic. “Then you need to stop being in the same room as her. But first, apologize.”
“I’ve been trying. She won’t talk to me. And I want her to know that’s not what I’m doing. That I’m not playing games. That I genuinely care about her. That…it’s hard for me.” I sank into my chair and was swallowed by the self-loathing.
“I’ll talk to her,” Sofia said. “Apologize and move on.”
Hades stared at me. “Did she tell Liam?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea. But I doubt it…because we’d know by now.”
7
Annabella
Sofia stepped into my office. “You got a minute?”
“You’re my boss. I have more than a minute.” I shut my laptop so she could have my full attention.
She chuckled. “Good answer.” She sat at the edge of my desk and took a deep breath before she continued. “So, Damien told me everything that happened…”
He did?
“And he would really like the opportunity to apologize.”
Now I know why he told her. “I can’t believe he asked you to help him…”
“I saw how red his face was. You hit him pretty damn hard.”
It felt good in the moment, but I’d quickly regretted it.
“That could only mean you’re really upset about the whole thing…and I doubt it’s all because of the kiss.”
I dropped my gaze.
“Will you talk to him?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice, Anna.” She slid off the desk. “I think it’s good that you both clear the air. Maybe it’ll allow both of you to move on…on good terms. I know it’s hard for you to be around each other, but for as long as you continue to work here, it’s gonna happen. He’s my husband’s best friend. He’s gonna show his face from time to time. You could never speak ever again, but I don’t think that’s the best choice for either of you.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
It’d been over a week since that crazy night. My anger had dipped after I hit him, but the pain was still there.
“So?”
“I have to decide right now?”
“He’s standing outside…so that would help.”
My heart started to race, my pulse quick in my neck and my wrists. A distinctive pain rushed through my chest, a drop of adrenaline and anxiety at the same time. I sighed as I got to my feet, not prepared for this at all. “Fine.”
“Alright.” Sofia opened the door and walked out. Her whispers were audible down the hallway, probably telling Damien he had my full attention.
I came around the desk with my arms crossed over my chest, feeling my heart beat strong in my body. I was nervous when I shouldn’t be, weak when I should be strong. This man had no power over me anymore, so I shouldn’t feel anything at all.
Then he walked inside, in a leather jacket and jeans. The shirt underneath his jacket was olive green, and the watch on his wrist was black instead of shiny and silver. His eyes grabbed mine, and he closed the door behind him.
Now my heart was racing like a Bugatti on the Autobahn.
I leaned against the desk and stared at him coldly, waiting for an apology that wouldn’t make me feel better. This was something we could never bury, something we would never be mature enough to forget. We were both irrational when we had to deal with the other.
He stepped closer to me and slid his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, as if he needed some time to think of what to say…even though he’d been chasing me down for almost two weeks. “Annabella.” He took a breath after he said my name, like that single word was too much for him. “I want to apologize for what I did, but I also want to explain why I did what I did. It’s not because I’m playing you, keeping you on my hook and taking advantage of your feelings. This isn’t a game to me. You’ve never been a game to me.”
I wanted to believe him, but I couldn’t.
As if he could read my thoughts, he said, “You don’t believe me.”
My arms tightened over my chest.
“Anytime we’re close to each other, I feel this…” With a closed fist, he pressed his hand against his chest, right in the center. “I can’t even explain it. It’s this need to get close to you, to touch you like you’re mine. When I ended things, I thought it would be easy for me to walk away. But I’ve never really been able to walk away. When I see you with Liam, I don’t like it…and not just because he’s not good enough for you. I’m jealous. I’m hurt.”