“There won’t be anything.” She lets out a long, shuddering breath. “All right.”
I cross to her, not caring for the sudden tension that grips her as I draw near.
“Thank you.”
She meets my gaze head-on, some of the fire from before flickering in the green depths. “If New Field wasn’t a part of this, I wouldn’t agree.”
“If New Field wasn’t a part of this, I wouldn’t be asking.”
Her brows draw together. “I’ve never understood why it’s so important to you.” Before I can think of an answer, she looks away. “But it’s none of my business.”
One of the things that I’ve always appreciated about her is her adherence to protocol, her dedication to professionalism. Strangely enough, though, part of me wants to share. I told her I learned of New Field’s abuse through a trusted confidant. She doesn’t know David, my biological brother, exists, let alone that he stole a car, crossed state lines during the pursuit, and crashed into a semitruck. A horrible choice, and one he had to pay the price for.
Just not the price Hale and his demons exacted when David was sent to New Field Penitentiary. The fact that David even survived his time in isolation is a miracle.
“What do we do next?”
I refocus on Seraphina and can’t help but smirk. “Your executive assistant persona is showing.”
She arches a brow. “I do best when I have a plan.”
“As do I.” My eyes roam over her apartment. “How quickly can you pack?”
“Pack? You mean move in today?”
“Yes. The press are swarming and…” My voice trails off as my phone buzzes. I read the text and smile. “We’ll need to do some shopping. Clothes, shoes, an engagement ring. We have a photo shoot tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Photo shoot?”
Her voice pitches up as her arms tighten over her chest, pushing her incredible breasts even higher.
“Dylan Greene withGilded Magazine. She’s agreed to come to the penthouse tomorrow for a photo shoot and interview that will be featured in next month’s editorial.”
“And when,” Seraphina hisses, “did you make that call?”
“On my way here.”
“What if I’d said no?”
“You didn’t.”
If looks could kill, I’d be lying dead on her rainbow rug.
My smile disappears. “I may not know the Seraphina who dances with fire or the one who lives in a teeny apartment,” I say as I walk closer, “but I do know Seraphina the executive assistant. I’ve seen how much you’ve poured into this. I know how much it means to you. There’s no way you’d let it fall apart.”
Her mouth tightens. “I’ll start packing. But I think, Mr. Hawke—”
“Aiden.”
“I think,Aiden, you’re the most calculating person I’ve ever met.”
She turns before I can retort, and heads for the staircase. Her movements are quick, graceful. Movements I recognized last night before I finally accepted who the fire dancer was.
She disappears from view. Moments later I hear drawers being pulled out then slammed back into place, the faint rustle of fabric, the loud zipper of a suitcase.
Not the best start to our engagement. But I know Seraphina will hold up her end of our deal. She’ll see this through to the end. And then we can go back to how things were. Boss and secretary, a team.
And nothing more.
