Chapter b18 /b

Elena’s POVb: /b

I had said earlier bthat /bbI’d /bbrather /bgo to his office, but now bthat /bI was here, sitting bon /bthe plush leather couch with ban /bAd sheet spread out in front of me, I couldn’t bfocus/b.

The room was far too quiet, save for the basional /brustling bof /bpaper as Niki flipped through some document at his desk. Every few seconds, my gaze flicked toward my phone, the screen dark and stubbornly silent. My mother bhadn’t /bcalled yet. Not ba /bsingle message. Not a word.

I btried /bto concentrate, tried to lose myself in the sketch in front of me. A car. One Td been daydreaming about since the start of the semester. It was for my next university project–a concept design tailored for people bwith /bbdisabilities/b. More bthan /bba /bvehicle. A symbol. bAn /bambition. My ambition.

I know I should be focusing on my business degree coursework. Something that would help me survive in the job market, keep food on the table But designing bcars/bb? /bThat was what made my heart beat a little faster. It was bwhat made /bmy fingers twitch bin /banticipation. It bwas /bba /bworld where I felt like I could truly make something that mattered.

Still, I wasn’t getting very far. My brain was scattered, bouncing between my mother’s re, Niki’s reckless revealb, /bband /bthe awkward silence that followed. Every scribble on the page looked messy, half–formed. Like my thoughts.

sighed and pushed the pencil across the page again

Then I heard it–the soft, deliberate tapping of footsteps

I blooked /bup to see Niki rounding his desk and walking toward me, his gaze curious bas /bit bdropped /bto the sketch in bfront /bof me. My bstomach /btwisted in embarrassment

Before I could react, he bleaned /bover the back of the couch, peering at the paper.

I lunged forward and tried to cover it, heat rising in my face, “Hey That’s private

He smoothly reached around me and plucked the sheet from the table before I could grab it, “Is it?” he asked, raising a brow

“Give it back,” I hissed, scrambling to my feet.

He stood btoo/b, unfolding the bpaper /bwith bmaddening /bcalmness as I tried, and failed, to reach it

He held it just high enough to stay out of my grasp

I was five–foot–eight–uller than most women bI /bknew. But next to him? I felt like I’d shrunk three inches. My arm stretched in vain, my bnce tipping forward, and that’s when I became acutely aware of just how close we were.

“This is actually really good, he murmured.

“You’re studying mechanical and automotive engineering, right?”

I blinked. “How did you kijow that?”

He shrugged one bshoulder/b, not looking at me. “I heard.”

My frown deepened. Heard from who?”

“I have bmy /bsources.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Okayb, /bI’ve been wondering since the day I walked into your office–have you been bstalking /bbme /bor something?”

His gaze flicked to mine, a bklow /bsmirk curling on his lips. “And what if I have?”

I choked. “bYou /brealize bthat’s /bcreepy, right? bAnd /bbillegal/b”

“Nothing is illegal if you have enough money,” he replied casually.

Igaped at him. bWas /bhe flexing his wealth–now?

I crossed my arms and before I could stop myself I basked/bb, /b“Be honest with me. Do you like me!”

He blinked, visibly bcaught /boff guard.

“What?” he said slowly.

“bDo /byou like me.” I repeated, firmer now. “Because it bkind /bof feels like you bdo/b. And not just in the passing–fancy sort of bway/b.”

8:40 PM

He stood silent for a bear too long.

I shifted my weight, the realization dawning. We were standing close. Too close. There was no couch or table between us now. My body tensed, uncertain whether I should retreat or hold my ground.

“Isn’t bit /bbobvious/bb?/bb” /bhe said batst/bb. /b

His btone /bbwas /bso bcasual /bit made my heart drop.

I stared at him. “You do realize we’re only getting

married fo

? bfor /bba /byear, right?”

His eyes flicked over my face. Then he smiled. “I know, malishka. You’re not the bfirst /bbgirl /bI’ve felt interested in, it’ll go baway /bbsoon /benough.

Ool.

The words hit harder bthan /bI thought they would. A bdny/b, unwee knot twisted in my chest,

Why? Why did I feel like I’d just heard something I already knew but didn’t want confirmed? I didn’t know why, but I was suddenly breminded /bof the moment I had found Dmitri cheating on me.

He liked me. Sure. But he’d liked other women too. He’spletely fine with our marriage onlysting a year. Disgust sweeps over me for only a second before Iugh at my own stupidity. Of course this was normal.

Basically Niki wanted to have sex with me and he knows he will eventually be sick of me. That’s why he’s so nonchnt with this. He’s done it many times. It’s not a big deal for him is bit/b?

That’s what this was, wasn’t it? He wanted to fuck me. Get me out of his system.

It wasn’t loveb. /bIt wasn’t even emotional.

Just attraction. Lust

Iughed under my breath, but it sounded bitter.

“Oh, I said quietly

“Elena?” he asked, stepping forward. “Is something wrong!

I looked around the room, then back at him. bMy /bvoice came out colder than I expectedb. /b

b“/bbAre /byou free?”

He blinked. “Yeah, it’s my lunch break. We can-

“Do you want to have sex?” asked.

His entire body stilled his brows reaching the top of his forehead.

b“/bW–what?”

I raised my chin. “Do you want to fuck me?”

There was a beat of silence. Then another. bHis /bthroat bobbed as he swallowed, and I didn’t miss the way his pupils dted slightly. He did.

He absolutely did.

And for some reason, that realization didn’t make me feel empowered

It just made me feel overstimted.

Ever

My b