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Because I know, no matter how much I tell myself to stay away, I will take what I want.
And right now, I want the girl with the striking blue eyes and blonde hair.
Chapter 8
Ocean
“Nico wants to see you in his office.”
Those eight words have all the air leaving my lungs, and my stomach churning with anxiety. Leo appears in my mirror, a grim, sympathetic look on his face. My heart pounds in my chest. Fuck. This can’t be good. Is it because I was fifteen minutes late for my shift tonight? It was a one-off. I have never been late once since I started here, so surely, he won’t fire me over that.
I knew I shouldn’t have gone out, but today is my eighteenth birthday, so I decided as a treat, I would take myself out and do normal things girls my age do. Like shop. Eat at a nice restaurant. Get my hair and nails done. Though I am trying to save money, I decided one day of splurging for my birthday wouldn’t hurt. Maybe I was wrong. I was so caught up in the freedom of being able to do what I wanted; I was late to work. Now I might lose my job over it. Panic surges through me at the thought. I can’t get fired. I would never earn even a fraction of the money I make in a night here, anywhere else.
Pushing out of the chair, I turn to face Leo with frantic, apology-filled eyes. “Leo, please. I’m sorry I was late. It won’t happen again. Don’t fire me over this. I need this job.” I rush outmy plea, hoping with everything inside me, he will fight in my corner on this. I don’t care what I have to do, I am keeping this job. I will get on my knees and beg if I have to. Even in front of all the other girls. Even in front of… Nico.
Leos’ brows furrow, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Fire you?” he repeats.
I glance around, my cheeks heating when I find all the other girls’ attention on me. Ignoring them, I turn back to Leo. “Isn’t that whyhewants to see me?” I whisper, suddenly confused. Maybe I got this wrong. But what else could he possibly want?
Leo shrugs. “No. Well, I don’t think that’s what it is. Honestly, I’m not sure why Nico wants to see you.” He jerks his head towards the hallway. “Come on. Nico doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Nodding, I start toward the door on unsteady legs, my mind racing with a million different questions. What does Nico want? And why do I get the feeling that I’ve caught his attention? Unintentionally, but still. Our paths keep crossing, like some twisted fate. Maybe this is my karma for running… I shake the thought away before it can form. I am a good person and if Karma should come to anyone, it should be the people I ran from.
“Relax, Ocean. I’m sure it’s just some problem with your paperwork or something.” Leo’s voice, though light, startles me from my thoughts. He strokes a hand down my back. It’s a move meant to soothe me, but I can’t help but tense at his touch. Leo frowns down at me, a hurt look in his chocolate eyes and I almost feel guilty. But why should I? It’s my body. My choice of who I allow to put their hands on me.
Shifting away, I’m relieved when Leo’s hand drops away, and he doesn’t mention it further. He is quiet as we move up the back stairs, then down the hallway to the ominous door that leads to Nico’s office. My feet stop moving on their own volition, mybreaths coming out fast. I feel dizzy. Like I might faint. I don’t want to go in there.
Noticing I have stopped, Leo pauses, his sympathetic eyes searching my face. He sighs, wrapping a hand around my bicep, and giving it a gentle squeeze. This time I don’t push him away. In fact, I think his hold is the only thing keeping me standing right now.
“He won’t hurt you. I won’t let him,” he murmurs, determination in his voice even though I know he is only trying to placate me. I know if push came to shove, Leo would do Nico’s bidding. He sighs. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
Nodding robotically, I suck in a calming breath before exhaling. “He doesn’t have the power to hurt me,” I whisper with a confidence I don’t feel. I am sure that if Nico ever wanted to hurt me, he would do it before I could blink.
Leo chuckles under his breath, his eyes softening as he watches me. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but not showing weakness is key when dealing with someone like Nico. If you show him fear, he will use it against you. Be confident when you go in there. Hold your head high.”
I nod, trying to take Leo’s advice on how to handle Nico. Straightening my spine, I keep my face a blank mask of indifference. Though I may look cool on the outside, that doesn’t mean my body isn’t trembling with fear when Leo knocks on the door and pushes it open. I follow him inside, staying hidden behind his broad back as if he is my shield. As if he can protect me. He can’t. I know it. He knows it.
The air turns frigid. Thick with tension. I suck air into my lungs, preparing myself to face Nico. And then I hear it. His deep masculine drawl sends a shiver down my spine. “Leave us.” He demands.
My body stiffens and I wish he would be more precise. Does he want me or Leo to leave? My question is answered when Leogrips my wrist, pulling me in front of him to face the handsome devil sitting at his desk like a king. I swallow at the sight of him. All man and so handsome, it should be illegal. With his pale blue eyes, sharp jaw, perfect nose, and dark hair, surely he is every woman’s dream man come to life.
“Sorry. You’re on your own, girl.” Leo whispers for only me to hear, startling me from my perusal. Nico’s eyes darken, narrowing in on Leo’s face.
“Go.” Nico growls, low and deadly, making me nearly jump out of my skin. Glancing at Leo, I watch in absolute horror as he literally runs out of the room without another look in my direction. The door closes behind him, latch clicking into place with a finality that feels ominous. A forewarning of what is about to happen. “Sit,” he commands, the silky, smooth tone of his voice making me turn to face him. My eyes lock onto his, heart skipping a beat at the intensity staring back at me. My stomach tightens, with fear or desire I’m not sure. His head cocks, as he studies me with a hint of… something I can’t quite decipher in his pale blue orbs.
Swallowing down my fear, and despite the tension in my body, I exhale before moving toward the chair in front of his desk. Rounding the expensive, wingback executive chair, I drop down into the buttery soft leather. Nico tracks my every move, his jaw ticking with annoyance, but I see the flash of desire in his gaze. I’m only thankful that I didn’t get changed into my lacy dance lingerie already and am still wearing leggings with a baggy sweater. The minutes tick by and Nico doesn’t say anything, which only increases my anxiety. He watches me as if I am some mythical creature he has never encountered before, making me squirm and fidget.
The silence is putting me on edge. Not able to stand it any longer and wanting to get out of here, I blurt out. “You wanted to see me?”
A hint of a smirk crosses his face, but he just leans back in his leather chair, getting comfortable. With his eyes locked on mine, he runs his thumb across that full bottom lip of his. I briefly wonder what it would feel like to have that plump flesh pressed against mine before I quickly shake the thought away. I need to stop thinking about Nico in that way. It will not do me any good fantasizing about his perfect lips. Just looking at this man, I know he could destroy me if I allowed him to, and in more ways than one.
“Why are you living in a hostel?” the deep baritone of his voice breaks the silence.
My eyes widen at his question, my pulse kicking up to an unnatural speed. How the hell does he know where I live? And why have I been called up to his office to discuss my living arrangements? I may work for him, but where I live is none of his business. He is out of line thinking he can call me in here to ask me questions that don’t concern him.
Pushing my fear down, I jump up out of my chair, shooting him a deadly glare. I am playing with fire, and shouldn’t be acting this way toward him, but how dare he invade my private life like that. How. Fucking. Dare. He. Outside of The Executive Club, my life has nothing to do with him. And I am about to tell him just that.
“How dare you? Where I live is none of your concern. None. I may work for you but that does not give you the right to look into my private life.” I spit, my heart jumping with every word out of my mouth. I should stop. I should not be antagonizing this man, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Spinning around, I move to get the hell out of here but don’t even make it a step before he growls.
