“Okay.”
“Is everything all right?” His brows furrow as I remain there.
I debate telling him about last night. I’m only here for a few weeks. If I’m careful, then I won’t run into those men again.
But last night’s experience left me tossing and turning until three a.m. Even now, I don’t feel like myself and it took a thick layer of concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes. I can’t function in this stressed out state.
“No, it’s not.”
Chance is on his feet in an instant and he comes round the table to cup my face.
“Tell me. What’s wrong?”
I gulp. Looking at him this close, his forehead knitted and a frown pulling his lips down, I can’t help but feel he’s worried about me because it’s me. Will he hold his other employees so tenderly? Or would he look like he was ready to bulldoze through whatever the problem is?
“You can tell me anything, Maddie.” His voice is warm and hoarse and concerned.
I break. Tears well up in my eyes, but I swallow them down.
“Someone was following me yesterday,” I sound shaky, but I can’t help it. I feel shaken. “In the morning on my way to work and after when Julia and I went to shop.”
I explain how the cab driver saved me.
“Am I being paranoid?”
“No, you’re not,” Chance says firmly, thumbing my cheeks in a soothing, rhythmic way. “Why didn’t you tell me when it first happened?”
“I… I didn’t want to bother you. Maybe I was imagining things. I don’t know.”
“Never keep anything from me, okay? No matter how crazy you think it sounds.”
I nod.
He turns away and picks up his phone. “I need to get someone to watch you. Make sure no one follows you and you’re always safe.”
“Um… is that really necessary?”
He turns to me with an anguished look on his face. “Most certainly, yes.” Whoever is at the other end picks and he speaks into the phone. Almost as quickly as it started, the call ends. He places his phone back on the desk. “It’s done. By evening, you’ll have someone watching your back wherever you are.”
I swallow. “Thank you.”
He nodded firmly.
I turn to leave, but a hand on my arm stops me.
He pulls me back against his chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His arms wrap around me, firm and comforting.
I melt into his touch, burying my face in his chest. I pull a deep breath of his coffee and coconut scent. It sends relief through my limbs.
Everything will be alright. I just know it.
Chapter Eight
Chance
I’m at Maddie’s villa on Sunday evening. Seeing her every day for the past week and not yesterday has increased my craving for her. Anticipation pounds through me.
