Chapter 16B
Cain
I came back early, couldn't focus. Couldn't stop thinking about him. About the way he looked this morning, soft, vulnerable and mine. I needed to see him. To touch him. To make sure he's still here.
The apartment is too quiet.
"Grey?"
I walk through the living room. The kitchen. The bedroom. He's standing by the window. Back to me. Phone in his hand.
"Grey?"
He turns, his face is pale. His eyes are wide. His hands are shaking. "What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
He looks at me, and something in his eyes cracks. "Rose texted me." How does she have his number.
"What did she say?"
"She said," he stops, swallows. "She said you told her about us. About the bathroom. She said I was entertainment. A game."
She what?
"Grey..."
"She said to stay away from you. Or else." His knuckles are white around the phone.
"It's not the first time," he continues, voice thin. "She cornered me at the office. In one of the empty rooms. She listed things. Things that are supposed to be private, I thought she was joking. She said she could take it all to the board and end me, end you."
I walk toward him. "Let me see the phone."
He hands it to me. I read the messages. I know what you are. Entertainment. A game. Nothing more. Stay away from him, Grey. My blood turns cold.
"She's lying," I say. "I never told her anything. I don't even know how she knows,"
"Then how?"
I stop. How does she know?
"Grey, what does me mean about a bad past?" I ask quietly. "What is she trying to use against you?"
"It’s nothing," he says too fast. "Old things, before all of this. It doesn’t matter." His eyes are wide, breath shallow. Whatever Grey did to have his records sealed, still terrifies him and Rose knows exactly what it is.
"Grey," I soften my voice. "Look at me."
He does, but it’s like he is bracing for impact.
"I’m not going to walk away because you weren’t perfect before you walked into my building," I say "I don’t care what she things she knows. I care that she’s threatening you."
I pull out my phone to text the other person who knows about the cameras.
Me: Leo. Check the security feed. Someone who shouldn't have access has been accessing it.
Leo: What do you mean?
Me: I mean Rose Sophie has been watching Grey. She's threatening him. I need to know how she got in.
Leo: On it.
I put my phone away. Look at Grey. He's still pale. Still shaking. Still looking at me like I might be the enemy.
"I didn't tell her," I say.
He doesn't answer. "Grey. Look at me."
"I didn't tell her anything. You're not a game to me. You're not entertainment,"
I stop. I look at him. The man who broke into my office. Who collected my things. Who followed me for months. The man who stayed in my bed. Who held my hand. Who looked at me like I was the only thing in the world.
"You're mine," I say.
He blinks. "I know I said that before. I know it sounded like a threat. But it's not." I reach for him. "It's a promise."
He steps toward me. Into my arms. His body is shaking against mine.
"She's going to try to hurt you," he says.
"She can try."
"She could ruin you. Your career."
"Let her try."
"Cain."
I pull back. Look at him. "I’m rich darling, I don’t care about my career," I say. "I don't care about the board. I don't care about Rose or anyone else other than you."
"Stay with me," I continue.
"I'm right here."
"No. I mean," I take a breath. "Stay with me. Move in. Make this real."
He stares at me. Is it too much. Too fast.
"I can't lose you," I say. "Not now. Not after I just found you."
He doesn't speak for a long moment. And then, slowly, he nods. "Okay."
"Okay?"
A small smile. The first one since the text. "I'll stay."
I pull him close, holding him. She won't touch you. I won't let her. I'll destroy her and anyone else who tries to take you away from me.