AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I come out, she’s still snoring lightly and I grab my phone to check the time.
“Fuck!” I curse when I realize I’m late for work. Pretty sure Rosa must have turned off my alarm before I could hear because I never sleep through the ringing.
I curse my luck twice when there’s an email stating I have a meeting in an hour with none other than Dash at his office. I just know I’m not going to be there on time because the location is almost two hours away from my apartment.
He’s going to think I’m tardy—something I despise—because I’m showing up late. Again. Why can’t I ever have the upper hand when it comes to him?
Just the vision of his arrogant smirk is making me see red. A small part of me is still not prepared to face him after his rejection. I hate that it stings when I expect nothing else. He may have had a soft heart at one point, but now it’s made of stone and ice.
Uncaring.
Frigid.
Impenetrable.
Could it be true that he had a hand in the death of his rival? The man I knew was immoral and vicious when he wanted to be, but never with violent tendencies. Although, seven years is a long time for people to change.
Dash may look the same but he’s still a complete stranger to me. An enigma. A hardened version of his younger self.
If my experience has taught me anything growing up in my world, it’s that everyone is capable of the worst crimes. The wealthier you become, the darker your secrets.
Yet I can’t help but hope I’m wrong about Dash.
Even more frustrating is that I don’t understand why I’m hoping to be wrong. Who cares if he’s morally corrupt or has a touch that sears my skin? The only kind of relationship that can exist between us is one of a professional nature.
I promise myself I’ll behave like he’s a potential client.
No more getting myself tangled in his mind games.
Most importantly, no touching.
Half an hour later, I’m dressed and out the door of my apartment after taking the fastest shower in history. I leave a note on my bedside table so Rosa knows I didn’t get kidnapped or anything. If the traffic is light, I just might make it on time.
In the case that I don’t, I pray he gets stuck in some other meeting.
My car purrs smoothly as I key in the ignition and switching to first gear, I drive out of my building. The morning light shines down on me and it lightens up my mood a little. The whole ride, my thoughts are consumed by my impending lunch with my parents.
They’re going to be freaking ecstatic when I tell them I’m ready for marriage.
My mom is going to act like her prayers were finally answered.
Another half hour later, I’m nervous about another reason entirely. And yes, I’m ten minutes late as I park my car at the office of Stern Defense Securities. The building is at least forty floors tall and, as per my research, they all belong to Dash’s company. The architecture is sleek and modern and eye-catching.
Since it was recently finished, I know the office is not officially opened yet. It explains the lack of cars parked in the front. I carry my bag, holding my notebook, pen, and tablet as I rush to enter, not wanting to delay the meeting any longer.
My earlier prayer is quashed when I meet the lady at the reception who impolitely tells me that Mr. Stern is waiting for me in his office on the thirtieth floor. The woman is so rude that she leaves me to find the elevator myself by pretending to be on another call.
If I wasn’t late, I would give her a piece of my mind.
It takes me another full ten minutes to reach his floor and when the elevator door opens, I collide into a wall of muscle.
“We have to stop meeting like this, beautiful.”
Every. Single. Time.
“Justin,” I whisper before righting myself and narrowing my gaze. “I’m beginning to think you run into me on purpose.”
“Can you blame me?” he flirts, and a smile tilts my lips despite wanting to stay annoyed.
