Say You’re Mine (Falling in Love #2)

Chapter 7

7

LEV

I groan, rolling over and searching for my phone as the alarm goes off. It takes me a minute to untangle it from my bedding. I double-check to see how much time I have to get ready and make it to the bus stop on time.

Then I click out and check my texts, which is stupid because I blocked Eros. I feel terrible about it, but I didn’t have a choice. He’s too dangerous. Not in a bad way but a good one. He’s someone I could see myself falling for, and when it ended, which it would eventually, I’d be crushed. So cutting him off was my only option.

After the most intense orgasm of my life, we’d finally gotten back to Scooby Doo-ing using our phones as flashlights. The only scary thing we found down there was wine, and Eros’s telling me one bottle cost a grand. That was terrifying.

We ended up back in his room. I hadn’t planned to stay after the reception, so I didn’t ask Gabriella for a room. Staying wasn’t even my intention when I went back with him. It didn't take him long to persuade me otherwise. The promise of minibar snacks and scary movies had won me over. That mixed with the thought of not having to spend a night at home really sealed it for me. I’m not sure at what point I’d fallen asleep, but I woke up with me plastered to him. It was the most restful night of my life.

I scrambled out of the bed so quickly I almost fell on my ass. I was going to make a run for it, but again Eros caught me, talking me into breakfast. That breakfast led to a stroll in the park, and at some point, he put his number into my phone and called his with mine.

Thankfully, my mom intervened by calling in a semi-panic about a strange smell in the house. Eros pushed to give me a ride home, but I pushed right back. I ended up letting him at least wave down a cab for me that he paid for, giving the man a couple hundred bucks.

The car had barely pulled away and Eros was texting me. I texted him all the way home. Until I came face to face with my father.

He was back. Lovely. He’d gotten Mom to lie so that I would come home after she’d told him I hadn’t the night before. I got the third degree. I could smell the whiskey on his breath, and it was only early afternoon.

I spent the rest of my day in my room texting with Eros. The texts were fun and flirty, but they started to really freak me out. In a moment of panic, I blocked him.

I stretch, getting out of bed to get ready. I was told the office was casual, but I’m not too sure what that means. I go with a pair of black jeans I can wear my boots with and a plain black shirt that has rips in the bottom of it that I’d done myself. Then I get to work on my hair and makeup. I may not have the fanciest clothes, but I can make anything look good with hair and makeup.

Throughout the entire process, my thoughts constantly wander to Eros. How can I miss him so much? I hate thinking of him texting someone else. It’s stupid because we aren’t anything, but he’d been so easy to talk to.

I give myself one last glance. Doubt creeps in, and I freaking hate it. That people are going to judge me and turn their noses up. I should give a flying fuck, but I don't. I’m going to be working there. This might be a launching point to bigger things. It might not be a dream job, but if I can make good money, then I can do other things on the side.

“Fuck it.” I grab my bag off my bed before heading out. When you leave this early, you don’t have to worry about running into anyone. I go to snag a s'mores Pop-Tart out of the cupboard, but when I grab the box, it’s empty. I toss it into the trash.

“Where are you going?” I let out a small scream and spin around to see my father standing there in nothing but a pair of boxers.

“To work.”

“Be home at a decent hour.”

“I’m an adult,” I remind him. He is a total control freak. What happens in my life doesn't affect him, but that’s not the point, I have learned.

“My house. My rules.” I knew that was going to be his comeback.

“I pay rent too.” It’s pointless to say because I have said it a million times before. Hopefully I won’t have to live here much longer.

“Your name on the lease?”

“Whatever.” I want to say so much more, but I know he’s not worth it. I go to walk past him. His hand comes out, grabbing me by the arm. “What the fuck?” I shout. His fingers are digging into me. He hasn’t laid hands on me since I was a kid and got ass beatings. The scent of whiskey still lingers on him. His eyes are bloodshot.

“Be home at a decent time or I’ll throw your shit out.”

“Tom.” My mom's hand comes down on his shoulder. “She needs to get to work.” Mom gives me a smile. I don't return it. She didn't really save me. This is her mess, after all.

“You heard me,” my father says before he lets his hold on me go. The second he does, I’m out the door. I bypass the elevator and take the stairs down and out of my building. Our neighborhood isn’t terrible, but it’s not the best either.

“Lev Valentina?” a man leaning up against a black SUV asks, pushing off it.

“Maybe. Depends on who’s asking.” I hold my bag tightly. My arm is beginning to throb. I can’t believe my father did that. I push the thought away because I’m already on the verge of tears, and I don’t cry. Ever.

“You start work for Mr. Cupid today. I was sent to retrieve you.”

“Really?”

“That’s why I’m here.” He’s in an all-black suit. I’d think of him as more of a security guard than a driver.

“All right,” I agree. Gabriella's husband is putting in a lot of effort. She married him, so he’s out of the doghouse. I’m not going to turn down the ride, though, if it’s here already.

The man opens the back door for me, waiting for me to climb in before closing it. The inside is fancy.

“The coffee in the cup holder is for you,” the driver says as he pulls out into traffic. Like I said, this is super fancy. I reach down and grab the cup. “The bag too.” At this rate, I'm going to have to send a thank you card. “Is there anything else you might need before we head to the office?”

“Oh, no. Thank you,” I get out my egg and cheese sandwich. This day might take a turn for the better. I finish my sandwich, realizing I haven’t eaten since breakfast yesterday. Then I sip on my coffee. I fight a moan because it is how I would make it. It's the ideal ratio of sugar to cream.

The driver pulls up outside of a building. It is white, entirely made of glass, and spans approximately five stories. It has an edgy feel to it. I’ve seen it before and have always wondered what it was. There's no signage outside, but based on the windows, I assume the first two stories are offices. This is a less busy part of town sitting near the river. I bet from inside you can see it.

“I didn’t catch your name,” I say, slipping out of the SUV when the driver opens the door for me.

“Royce.”

“Thank you, Royce.”

“It was my pleasure, ma’am.”

“Lev is good,” I tell him, not that it matters. “Wish me luck?”

He gives me a smile. “I think you’re going to be more than all right.”

“I’ll take it, Royce. You have a good one.” I head toward the glass doors. When I reach for the handle, I hear a buzz, and it opens when I pull. I didn’t realize it would be locked.

Oh fuck , I think as I enter. I see a woman with a high ponytail in a very nice suit skirt. That is not casual. She even has heels on. I glance back over my shoulder to see Royce’s SUV still parked out front. I could make a run for it. I’m sure he would take me back home if I asked.

“You must be Ms. Valentina.”

“Lev is good.” I walk over, offering her my hand. “I thought it was casual.”

"If that's the information you received, then I don't understand the issue." She meets my gaze with a polite smile. That helps me relax because I judged her, thinking she was going to be a stickler because she is so put together. Shame on me. I should know better.

“Your name?”

“Kate.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Kate.”

“Are you ready to see the place?”

“Yeah, I didn't get a whole lot of details.”

“I could see that. I think you’re going to be doing a lot of odds and ends. Boss man often wants to get a feel for new employees so he can better place them. We perform a variety of tasks here, and if we are unable to handle them, we will subcontract them out.”

“Boss man?”

Kate smirks. “He hates when we call him that. So I do it often.”

Is that a positive sign? Either the office is lighthearted, or she's hooking up with the boss man so she can poke fun.

“Let’s head up. He’s been impatiently waiting. He was going to come down but got pulled into a call.”

“Waiting for me?” I follow Kate past the elevator to the open stairs.

“Yeah, oh, here you go.” Kate gives me a badge after we climb the first set of stairs.

“Oh wow,” I say when we walk in. The room is a massive square with glass offices all around it. In the center are more desks. There are people standing around them working together. A few glance toward us. Others are engrossed in whatever they are working on.

“New girl,” Kate tells them. A few say hi, and I get a few chin nods. “Boss man's office is right there.” She points to what looks like an entire side of this floor. The windows are shaded out for privacy.

“Aren’t you coming with me?” I don’t know why, but I don’t want to go in alone.

“He’s asked to meet with you alone.” What the heck? First she said he was impatiently waiting for me, and now he wants to be alone with me. Something is off here. “You have nothing to worry about. Go on in. He has a no-knock policy.” I guess she can sense my hesitation. She’s right. I’m overthinking things. “I’ll catch up with you after your meeting and show you around some more.”

I watch her go, leaving me standing there. All right then. I raise my hand to knock because it feels strange not to. As I do, the door opens.

Eros snags me by the wrist, my arm still in the air ready to knock, pulling me into the office, the door closing behind us.

“What the hell?” I get out before his mouth is on mine.