Chapter 8
Perry
I stare around the office. My smiling face hangs on every wall.
I inhale a shaky breath. What the heck am I supposed to do now? I know Luca is right. I can’t go back into town with Bryan and his men looking for me. His home is the safest place for me right now. Still, I feel uneasy being here alone.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, looking at my pictures and weighing my options, before I finally sigh and go back to bed. I climb in, pulling the covers up to my chin, trying to go back to sleep.
But it’s no use.
The bed smells like Luca, and my mind is racing with everything he told me.
He said he fell in love with me with one look. Can I believe that? I mean, I already admitted I could feel the connection between us, but that was probably just attraction. Right? It wasn’t love. It couldn’t have been. Not yet.
I toss and turn until the sun comes up, then drag my weary body out of bed and into the kitchen to make something to eat. I open the fridge and freeze when I see that it’s filled with all my favorite foods.
That’s it. I need to get to the bottom of all this.
I grab a yogurt and go to Luca’s office. Seeing my pictures on the walls this time isn’t as much of a shock as I move to his desk and open the drawers.
His desk is neat and mostly empty, with only a few folders, pens, and sticky notes. My eyes land on his computer, and I wiggle the mouse. The login page pops up. I eat a spoonful of yogurt as I wonder what his password could be.
I glance at his phone number and debate texting him, but I don’t want to reach out. Not yet. I need to get my head on straight before I talk to Luca again.
I look around his office for a clue about his password, and my gaze lands on the framed photo of me on his desk. I’m smiling at the book in my lap, and I suddenly have an idea.
I take a deep breath and type in my name. The screen changes, opening up to his home screen.
He really is obsessed with me.
I poke around, finding some work documents, which I quickly close. It takes some digging, but I finally find the folder with my name on it. I click on it and gasp when the photos pop up.
Pictures of me in town. Photos from my private social media account. All of them going back months.
Then there are the logs.
I click on the one labeled “Likes” and scan the document. He’s been tracking me, keeping notes of everything I like. Another document is titled “Dislikes,” and another has family and medical information.
I don’t think I even want to know how he got access to my medical files.
I close out of all of them and lean back in my chair. I didn’t find anything malicious. He was stalking me, he’s for sure obsessed with me, but after reading all of it, his methods seem almost… sweet. Caring. Protective.
Oh my god, what is wrong with me? I cannot be falling for my stalker!
One final folder at the bottom catches my eye—"Perry’s Perfect Man.” My breath catches when I click on it and see what’s inside.
He’s kept track of all of the books I’ve read in the last year, all the movies and TV shows I’ve watched. He has notes about which parts I rewatched or highlighted in the books. I scan his words, squirming in my seat.
She likes strong alpha men. Protectors. I can do that.
Charming men. I’ll need to work on that. I’m not charming as fuck.
She read that damn book again. Is it insane that I’m jealous she might be fantasizing about a fictional man?
She highlighted that sex scene where the guy is pierced. Should I pierce my cock for her?
My face flushes, and my body heats as I read his notes. Is it crazy that I want to give Luca a chance after seeing all this?
Yes! He’s obsessed with you! my subconscious screams.
But… he’s a good guy. I mean, he did all this for me. He’s been watching me, trying to find a way to be what I want.
Plus, he’s never done anything to hurt me. In fact, all his decisions were based on what I needed. He left his home as soon as I made it clear that I didn’t want him here, but only after he made sure that I was safe and cared for. He left me his car, his food, his money, his phone number.
He might have gone about things completely backward, but I’m not scared of Luca.
Maybe I should be? But based on my upbringing, his behavior isn’t a massive red flag that makes me want to run.
I mean, I’ve seen men take and use women purely for their own pleasure without a thought for what they want.
I vowed never to be like that. With Luca, I wouldn’t be.
I’d be his whole world, not someone to be used or manipulated. I’d be cherished and protected.
Loved.
I grab the paper with his phone number, toying with the corner as I debate if I should call him or wait and think it over more.
I’m reaching for the phone on his desk when a knock sounds on the front door. It has to be him. He probably needs a change of clothes since he left in such a hurry last night, and he’s being respectful by knocking.
My heart swells in my chest. I know I’m crazy, but I’m in love with him.
Guess it’s time to tell him.
I stand and hurry to answer the door, smiling as I swing it open.
My smile drops when I see who’s waiting on the other side.