Page 23 of Mania

My face turns serious. “I can protect you.”

“Protect me?” she says in a bewildered tone. She falls silent, a slew of unspoken words racing through her alarmed gaze. “Too late,” she finally says.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

Standing up, she hurries out of the restaurant, but I’m quickly at her heels, following her into one of the hotel corridors.

“Just leave me alone,” she barks from over her shoulder. I ignore her request and grab her arm. Swiveling her around, I push her against the wall.

“Too late,” I say, echoing her earlier words.

Her cheeks pinken, her chest rising up and down quickly. “Is this how you treat all your employees?” There’s a small quiver in her voice andfuckdoes it sound delicious.

My smile is arrogant as I stroke her heated cheek with the back of my hand. “Only the ones that are desperate for me.”

I don’t miss her pupils dilating, but she stands her ground and keeps her face impassive. “I quit.”

I press my hips into hers, pinning her harder to the wall. “Is that supposed to upset me?” I rasp, “Whether you work for me or not, dream girl, you’re not leaving this hotel anytime soon.”

She shoves me backward with both hands to my chest. I step back, unbothered, slipping my hands into my pockets, a grin on my face.

“Watch me,” she snaps back.

I almost laugh, my behavior is so unlike how I usually carrymyself. But there’s something about Maeve that makes me want to give up all my morals and do whatever I wish with her.

“Already am,” I drawl.

Her expression falls as if confused by my response, but seems to decide not to question it before she finally storms away.

Chapter 12

Maeve

“Who the helldoes he think he is?” I grumble under my breath as I throw my clothes into my open duffel bag. “He’s just as creepy as this goddamn fucking hotel.”

My heart is pounding, adrenaline lacing my veins with false bravado after having Hazel pin me to the wall. I’m latching on to the least of my problems, too scared to focus my attention on what happened last night.

Now, in the blinding light of day, I can’t comprehend what came over me, what type of all-encompassing lust possessed me todosuch a thing.

My core throbs at the memory of the faceless man fucking me against the wall, and I let out a small angry shriek as I throw some more clothes into my bag, incensed that I can’t stop thinking about it even now.

“I need to get out of this place,” I needlessly declare into the empty room. I can no longer avoid that what’s been happening since I arrived feels much too close to insanity.

And I can’t ignore it anymore. The way he was acting earlier … it’s as if I was seeing him for the very first time. I’m not sure if I loved or hated it. There’s also the unnerving feeling that Hazel is keeping something from me, and there’s more to theseharmless ghoststhan he boldly claims.

How do I explain the inexplicable shit that I’ve experienced?

If ghosts are haunting the hotel then how can I even discern what’s real?

What about the rest of the guests? Or even the staff?

“Oh my god…”

I stop in my tracks, my fist tightening around the pair of jeans I’m holding. A sickening sense of dread washes over me like I’m being drenched in a tub of acidic vinegar.

What if the faceless man was a ghost?

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