na

ely s

eyes, I see the bar,

e ground beneath us, the way he said my name,

time I remember it, a

lls me Julian Stone isn't the typ

ly not d

ally n

n my bed for a long moment,

today," I whis

o work like I didn't challenge a man

bby feels colde

e it

dread crawlin

to the last floor, my p

it down carefully, pl

ce door

o

e's not

night sits heavy on my chest like a weight. I can still see the way he loo

d start checking emails

tes

an

r stays

e haven't send an email,

ved. Instead, it twists

sharp, punishing

tor dings, I look up

, I sink a little d

is in full work mode, typing, chatt

office st

ow he's

le, and Mila from yesterday spot

greeted, smiling

no idea,

already?" she

t probably looks strai

in but focus is impossible, my mind keeps re

o

hy did I challenge him

pressing my finge

esk rings, I freeze, then

came through the

omach

red, my voice

to my

goes dry i

ow

t feel like they be

is maybe four steps, bu

e when I ge

me

the doo

hands in his pockets, shoul

e the

click echo

turn arou

looking out over

can hear my

he sp

bold las

o

it's a warning,

aving a conversatio

tur

meet mine, I for

're

ca

chosen to

e no," he s

" I w

e's reading every re

is desk, picks up a fol

ing in twen

aving?" I as

client

n't schedu

cutting me short, the tone he used

thumps

tood?"

no

his jacket, as he passes, the f

st tig

door for hims

oking at m

Ele

es

clenches

best behavi

hes to m

l " I

and I stand t

ng, we sit quietly in t

ugh his phone like I'm not even

g to be just as composed, but my

hen, I see his refl

ng at

nces away the second

lf is long and p

sed, speaking in his sm

s, gives direct instructions

t spend one n

I se

l si

drum when someone

ns when I lean forward

ck to me every time

wants, he didn't for

step into the hallway an

lide shut, my

his hands back in his po

he elevator

t ahead, then fi

ght" he says quietly,

s curl at

t," I sa

mine, too long

et you," I whisper,

capes him, almost like I

would forget y

rt stu

elevato

zen inside the elevator, feeling

the rest of the da

peak to me again

Mila stops

?" she as

en though

ortive smile bef

y things

and, the door to

e steps out. For a

oks a

t match the calm ex

r, warmer, al

d

Elena," he

ath hi

ght, Mr.

disappearing in

rs slid

, every nerve in my body bu

he wants control, h

can't s

w much longer I can