“And I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Choi—”
I frown as his jaw tightens, eyes flashing. His hands clenching, white-knuckled, at his sides.
“—but my research vertical is merely delayed by three months. It’s nothing really… in the grand scheme of things.”
Then just as quickly, she sweeps past Cece and walks toward the door, almost bumping into Taewon.
I wonder what this is all about. The only time I’ve seen Taewon this restlessly heated was when he was talking to Iris at the anniversary party. And also when his older brother dropped by unannounced—crashing on his couch for a month last year.
But this is different.
I step closer to Cece again, her body still frozen with what I believe to be faux strength.
And then I hear it. A soft rumble containing undeniable fury that even Cece looks over her shoulder in disbelief.
“Oh and Mr. Choi,” Iris grits out, her hands trembling over the door knob. “Thank you for your utmostcivility.”
Taewon’s swallows—hard. But Iris ignores his reaction, nose flaring as she continues. “It’s good to know that youdokeep your promises and…meanyour apologies.”
I hear his shoes scrape the floor as he takes a frantic step toward her. “Iris—”
Her hand shoots up, stopping him in his meager attempt to approach. But I’m so thoroughly confused at what’s happening. Almost like they’re having an entirely different conversation between the lines.
“Ah-ah! Better not, Mr. Choi. I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
And then she’s gone. Leaving a sputtering mess of Taewon who’s breathing too damn hard for someone who was completely in control of his voice a few minutes ago.
“Tae—”
“I’ll… I’ll catch you both later.” He cuts me off, practically sprinting out the door.
I don’t dwell on what just happened. Instead I watch Cece warring with something in her head, brows furrowed in concentration.
A few silent moments later, I turn Cece in my arms, running lazy circles on her back. But her hands don’t move from her sides. I can feel the aching distance that’s somehow cracked between us since last night.
I sigh, summoning my quietest voice. “I’ll take us home. The security has been informed of the… situation.”
“Space. You said you’d give me that,” she says softly.
God, I did say that. And I firmly believed it then. But I don’t know how to leave her by herself, given the circumstances.
“I know, baby, but…” I gulp hard, my heart frenziedly pounding against my rib cage. “Please? We can—”
“That’s not what our publicists said just now. I was already planning to lay low. We should wait until thisblows over.”
“Okay, um—okay.” I exhale, trying desperately to find a way to have her by my side through the next week. “Consider this. In a few days—maybe a week—RCMP will make a move. The public eye will shift to… well, my parents. And the scandal. It’ll get much worse and I just… I don’t want us to be apart for that. It… it would be better if we’re together through it. Right?”
Her brows furrow, gaze pinned somewhere near my throat. “Yeah. You’re right. But my condo building doesn’t have the private entrance to—”
“We’ll stay at mine,” I cut in gently, cupping her cheek. Hoping desperately that she’d give me her eyes. She hasn’t in hours. It’s almost as if she’s avoiding whatever she thinks she’ll see written on my face. “Let’s go. I’ll have Amanda grab your stuff from your place, okay?”
She nods dazedly, turning toward the door. And I quickly realize she’s so lost in her own mind that she barely cares about her purse sitting on the chair she’d occupied before—wholly forgotten.
So I grab it, following her out the door and walking to the basement lot in silence. Her phone’s been vibrating in her purse, constantly—my hands tightening around the leather every time I feel it whirring against my palm.
Fuck.I can only imagine what kind of notifications she must be getting bombarded with. I, for one, put my phone on airplane mode when the incessant calls from my parents and Uncle Gareth became intolerable.
Thirty minutes later, we’re at my building’s private basement that’s only accessible to me. Thankfully, wedidn’t encounter any reporters or photographers during the short drive.
