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“What about him?” I ask.

“He asked for a favor, and he wants you to help him.”

“Me? Why?”

“Apparently, your reputation precedes you. Wempton had an incident. He wants to increase the security of his company, and he asked me to get you on the job.”

“I’m not interested.”

Elijah laughs. “Don’t play dumb, cuz. I know it was you who hacked into the system. How’s your little obsession?”

Fuck. Of course, he knows. I shouldn’t have taken him with me.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.

“This is an opportunity.”

“For what?”

“To get what you want.” There’s a pause, and I can practically hear the grin in his voice. “Unless you’d rather stay holed up in that sad excuse for a living space, pining over a girl who doesn’t even know you exist.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. He’s right, of course. As usual.

“Fuck you, Eli.” The insult lacks any real venom.

“I know you care about her. But do you really think avoiding her will make things better? Take this job. Show her family what you’re capable of.”

“Yeah.” I scoff. “They wouldn’t want someone like me anywhere near their precious daughter.”

“You should let them decide that. Besides, you won’t get another favor from me unless you give me more about Gemma.”

“Like you said, she doesn’t even know I exist.”

“This is your chance. In a normal way, this time.”

Getting close to Mary is all I’ve wanted since the moment I first saw her.

“You’re asking me to fix the very thing I broke in the first place. You know how risky that is?”

“I’m not asking. I’m telling you.” Elijah’s voice takes on that commanding tone he uses when he’s done playing games. “You’re gonna do this job for Wempton, and you’re gonna do it well. And in return, I’ll keep my mouth shut about your extracurricular activities. Wouldn’t want word getting out about your little obsession.”

“Fine.” The words come out through gritted teeth. “But I’m doing this my way.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, cuz.” He ends the call.

I miss her. She’s the only thing that matters.

But Mary can never know the truth. About Chris, about that night... about me. It would break her.

I open the camera feed to the Wempton building.

It’s the only way to temper my need for her, a twisted way to feel close to her when I can’t be there in person. Watching her through the cameras allows me to admire her beauty, cataloging every gesture and expression. How her brow furrows slightly when she’s deep in thought, tapping her chin with a pen. The way she tosses her hair over one shoulder when frustrated or her radiant smile whenever she lifts her eyes from her work as if remembering something beautiful.

No one else sees these moments. They belong only to me. I soak them in like a man dying of thirst. But it will never be enough to quench my longing. I could watch her forever and still need more. Crave more.

It only takes a moment to find her. She’s in her office, hunched over her desk, hair in a bun with two loose strands.

My throat tightens as I zoom in, taking in her delicate features, the furrow between her brows. She’s working too hard, as always. Never cutting herself some slack.

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