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Heather tugs at his arm. “Let’s not do this—"
He shakes her off. “No. I want to know what Rufus means.”
My boss meets his business partner’s glare head-on. “When I point out that you have forced my hand at more than one turn, shovingourbusiness in a direction I don’t like, and objected to me having side projects?”
Andrew sneers. “The ones your assistant helps you with, you mean?”
I stiffen.
Time slows, and for a long, painful beat, I think Andrew is about to put two and two together.
And then Rufus sweeps his chair back, curves his hand around my shoulder, and helps me up in what feels like one swift movement. “We’re leaving,” he says tightly.
I’m glad I wore heels tonight. It helps me keep pace with his long stride as he herds me toward the door, his arm tight around my waist.
“Don’t look back,” he orders under his breath, and no, I would never.
What Mr. Newton Smith says, goes.
An elevator car is waiting for us, and he pushes me inside, then jams the door closed button first, the ground floor button second.
The doors whisper shut, and we’re alone.
I open my mouth but whatever I was going to say dies on my lips because Rufus reaches for me, cupping my face in his big hand.
And then he goes still, too.
We stare at each other.
My heart stops, then restarts, suddenly going too fast. Pounding against my ribcage.
He smiles slightly, his brow furrowing, and he leans in. “Clover…”
“Yes, Rufus,” I breathe.
“Where are your glasses?”
Chapter4
Rufus
That wasn’t evenwhat I meant to say, but I’ve never seen her eyes like this. They’re missing the cute frames.
Focus, Rufus.The grass wall. She can’t come to your—
But it’s too late. Confusion falls over Clover’s face and she blanches beneath her fancy makeup before jerking away from me.
I grasp at empty air as she thuds her back against the far side of the elevator.
“Hang on,” I say, hating how desperate my voice sounds. “Come back.”
“I thought they’d make me too recognizable. Don’t worry, I will be wearing my glasses on Monday morning,” she says smoothly, with more confidence than I’ve ever heard her say anything, but she isn’t looking at me, isn’t meeting my gaze.
She doesn’t need to add,and we will pretend this never happened.
I can’t let that stand.
“I need to go home,” she says.
