AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lily
I can’t focus. The words on my computer screen keep blurring into faint black lines of nothingness. Everything means nothing, and I can’t stop my knee from bouncing. I know I look crazy. I shouldn’t have come into the office today. I should’ve stayed home and waited for Stefan to– to– I don’t even know what. Give me permission to come? God, what’s happening to me? Like I need permission from a man to do anything.
The look in his eyes, his warning, his promise, his touch, everything about him stills any urge I have to disobey him. What is he doing right now? I groan and drop my head on my desk missing my keyboard by inches. I’ve never been so frustrated in my life. My fingers twitch from the effort it takes not to touch myself every time the image of the command in his eyes crosses my mind. I grab my phone for the millionth time to see if he’s texted me, even though I know he hasn’t.
A knock sounds at my open door, and there’s Liv again holding her phone.
“Can I come in?” she asks, her customary bun solidly in place. Today, she wears a gray pantsuit that would be flattering if it was a couple sizes smaller.
“Sure,” I say, trying to put some kind of pep in my voice. Why hasn’t he texted me yet? Should I text him? I can’t, can I? Will he be mad at me? Anticipation of what that could mean quickens my heart rate. Liv takes her seat in front of my desk.
“How’s the article coming along?” she asks, her eyes shifting. I sit up, alert to the fact that she’s in here for a different reason than my article.
“Great,” I reply smoothly, keeping my gaze empty and level.
“That’s awesome…” she pauses, rubbing her hands on her knees, and then she blurts, “Did you go out with Stefan again?”
Her face flushes bright red instantly. I fight to keep my own blush at bay. Just hearing his name makes my pussy throb. God.
“Why?” My tone is a little too hard. I clear my throat and force a softer expression onto my face.
“Well, there are more pictures.”
She shows me the social media page with a snippet of a video of Stefan and me walking into the restaurant from last night. Damn, they move fast. The link in the caption leads to an article that’s basically more speculation about what my relationship with Stefan Grenalds could be.
“This is bad for our brand, Lily. Of all the men, why do you have to get involved with this one?” Liv asks, her voice pleading, but her eyes are darkened with disapproval. My temper simmers as I take my time and choose my words. I can’t think of a nice way to tell her to mind her fucking business.
“How is this bad for our brand?” I ask, keeping my tone even.
“He’s a womanizer! He’s everything that we’re against! A different woman every week. It’s there in all the pictures!”
“You don’t know anything about him.” Keep it cool. Keep it cool.
“I know you. I know you’re going to get your heart broken and ruin our reputation in the process.”
“You have to hear how ridiculous you sound, Liv.” I’m losing my grip. Heat is flooding my face as I clench my jaw and grit my teeth.
“You’re the one being ridiculous. We’ve worked so hard to build what we have, and you’re ready to throw it all away because you’re hot in the pants for some man whore bachelor who’s literally just passing through town.”
My hands are balled into tight fists.
“Nothing is being thrown away. You’re being irrational. Dating Stefan does not put us at risk,” I reply slowly through gritted teeth. She scoffs, snatching her phone from me.
“Just watch. You’ll see. Don’t come crying to me when he hurts you. I don’t want to hear a word of it.” She storms out and around the corner heading for the front door.
It takes at least an hour to calm my nerves enough to admit that I can’t write anymore, and I need to head home.
**
Belle is chatting with two men and bouncing around the kitchen when I come around the corner. Her bright smile somehow lights up her face even more when she sees me.
“Lil! Come in! I’m making tacos!” She meets me to kiss my cheek before heading back to the stove. I set the bottle of wine I brought on the giant Island turning my lip up at the two men, Neal’s brothers, Jace and Luke, that are seated at two of the three bar stools stationed in front of the island.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the viper herself. Come to spew venom at us lowly men?” the older one, Jace asks, his mouth, fuller on top than the bottom, lifting in a smirk. The younger, Luke, laughs.
“If I knew tweedle dee and tweedle dum were going to be here, I would’ve declined the invite,” I say, moving around the Island to stand at the counter by the stove, preferring to be closer to my sister than them.
They both look as handsome as ever. Jace’s hair, about the same color as Neal’s, is cut into a new style, short in the back and on the sides, and longer on top. It falls strategically just above his brown eyes, eyes so like Neal’s, it’s uncanny. Luke’s hair is cut exactly the same way, but his is a sandy brown color and much curlier than both his brothers. His face is a lot younger with eyes so wide and baby blue, it gives the impression that he’s angelic. I know better.
