Chapter 31
Chapter thirty-one
Sage
Iclose my office door behind me and set my bag on my desk.
Pausing, I squeeze my eyes tight as I remember what Barrett made me promise.
It’s ridiculous. I don’t need to lock my office door.
I can’t. Liam stops by often and so do others.
Having my door locked will raise questions I don’t have an answer for.
Imagining what Barrett may do to me if he finds out I didn’t lock my door has my thighs clenching and sends a shiver of fear down my spine.
Sighing, I turn back to the door, peering through the long window on the left side.
This is silly. I work with these people.
I just got freaked out yesterday. This office is public and I don’t plan on going anywhere with Dorian or to start working with him.
Snick.
I glance down at my fingers still holding the small lock on the door handle.
It’s fine. I don’t plan to spend much time here anyway with only a few things to finish from yesterday when I rushed out of here and that’s it.
I won’t be back until the end of the day.
It’s still early. Not everyone is in yet.
I best get to work before someone comes knocking on my door and discovers it’s locked.
I’m solidly engrossed and focused, having forgotten about the locked door or my worries from yesterday.
With only one thing left to do, I check the time to see how long I have until my first viewing today.
I’ve been at this longer than I thought, but I’m not late.
I have time to finish and get out of here.
The knocking on the door startles me. I jump in my chair, setting my hand to my chest. I meet Dorian’s eyes through the window.
He smiles wide, his eyes sparking, until he tries to open the door.
A puzzled look at the handle, then he raises his brow at me.
I should have come up with an excuse to have the door locked. The phone. I should be on the phone.
His cocky half-smirk likely makes any woman do exactly as he says, but there’s something about him that I can’t put my finger on. He doesn’t have his desired effect on me.
I mouth a large I’m sorry, pointing to my computer. I’m very busy. Despite the apologetic look I send him, something shifts in his face. The charm ices over, turning into harsh ridges as he glares at me through narrowing eyes.
Mouthing another apology, I set my focus on my screen and start typing nonsense on my keyboard.
An uneasy fear climbs my esophagus hand over hand until it chokes me by clogging at the back of my throat.
The strength is unsettling. He hasn’t done anything other than be a little pushy, but my instincts are screaming at the top of their lungs.
I can’t understand them. They’re telling me something is wrong with this man, but nothing adds up.
Chancing a glance at the door, I sigh when I see he’s left. I forget what I’m supposed to work on now. Glancing around my desk for a reminder, I’m startled again when someone else knocks on my door.
Damn it. The phone. I should have put my phone to my ear, because my boss is glaring at me through the window.
“Open the door.” His voice is muffled through the barrier.
I point to the phone and start reciting the alphabet as if I have someone on speaker. This fear has me panicking and not thinking clearly. I have no reason not to open the door for my boss.
I hear the grind of his master key in my door and I quickly pick up the receiver of the phone.
“Of course. I look forward to meeting with you.” I pause and nod.
“I’ll call you this afternoon with more details.
Have a great day.” I hang up and smile at Liam.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been on and off the phone all morning. ”
“Why was your door locked?”
“Because I’ve had a lot of phone calls and I didn’t want interruptions. Not everyone knocks before coming in to chat.”
“You didn’t let Dorian in.”
“As I said, I’ve been busy.”
“I made it clear you were to make time for him.”
“Liam, he’s your client. It’s best if you handle everything. I don’t want to abandon my current clients and I really can’t add any more, not with my current family situation.” I hate using my sister as an excuse.
“You aren’t abandoning them, you’re passing them off to another capable agent. Dorian just became your only client.”
I stand up behind my desk and lift my chin. “No.”
Liam blinks. “Do you know what you’re doing? Who you’re dealing with?”
“Who I’m dealing with? Do you hear yourself? He manages the majority of the charity organizations in this city. That’s it.”
“You have no idea.” He shakes his head then clears his throat.
“Either he’s your only client until he says otherwise or you no longer have a job here.
Don’t leave this office until you’ve contacted all of your current clients to give them the contact information for Madeline. ” Liam spins on his heel and leaves.
That same living being of fear surges up my torso with new energy incorporated into its climb. It would be so easy to say I quit, but I can’t lose my job. I don’t have someone to fall back on. I alone pay for my bills, my home, my car, everything.
Breathing is difficult as I stare at the open space of my office door.
Until a tall figure fills the opening and my lungs stop working altogether.
Dorian grins, the emotion behind it opposite from the one in his eyes, and nods—like a bully on the playground ratting out the good kid to get them in trouble.
I fall into my chair and do nothing for the next hour before leaving the office to get through the viewings for the day, refusing to no-show on anyone, but neither will I pass them off to someone else.
I’m in a trap, convinced there must be a way out I haven’t yet seen and all I need to do is stall.