He still didn’t speak, and she worried he was going to end things.
“I’m not mad,” he finally said. “It scared me when I came home to a dark apartment.”
Home? He’d called her apartment home. How was she supposed to interpret that?
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” she whispered. “Darci invited me out after a long day, and I said yes because I have a lot on my plate, and it seemed like a good way to blow off steam.”
“You don’t have to justify a night out with me, Reva. But I do need to always know where you are and what you’re dong. It’s important to me. Not so I can control you, but so I can protect you. The reason it scared me so bad is that I finally found out who Parker is in debt to, and it’s not anything to be cavalier about.”
“How bad is it?”
“Russian gangsters are involved. That’s all I can say right now. Something tells me the incident with your purse the other day was them coming after you to get to Parker. They didn’t realize you had moved out and weren’t together anymore. You won’t like my next suggestion, but it might keep you safe.”
“You really think I’m in danger?”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I do.”
“I’m listening.”
“We need to make the proposal video go viral.”
Her mouth dropped open. “There’s a video?”
“I told you someone is always recording. Always. Gage and Peter found someone who had posted it on a low-traffic, public page. But it wouldn’t take much to send traffic to it and make it blow up.”
“What purpose does that serve other than to make my life hell?”
“It tells these people Parker is in deep with that you aren’t together anymore.”
“Then what happens? Reporters follow me because I’m a viral sensation for turning down a proposal, and they track me to the apartment and find out we’re involved? I would think you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about us.”
He laughed. “The only reason I would want to keep it quiet is to protect Parker. But he’s not doing himself any favors. I love showing off my toys, Reva. That includes you. There are a million events I’d love to take you to, and it would bring me great pleasure to take you on dates.”
She blinked in the car's darkness. “You would?”
“Why do you sound surprised?”
She sighed. “That sounds messy and complicated, and the contract and your quiet nature have always led me to think you do it this way for privacy.”
“Was there anything in the contract that said you couldn't talk about us? Did I have you sign an NDA?”
She shook her head. “No, Sir.”
“Then stop making assumptions and start asking questions.”
His tone was harsh, but she saw his point.
“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Let’s get you home. I need you naked.”
Reva shocked herself when she lifted the hem of her blouse and pulled it off over her head.
Chapter 18
Noah
Noahnearlywreckedthecar when Reva stripped out of her shirt.