Page 81 of Alex

Kate gasps as she continues to take in the damage. “What do you think happened?”

Shit. Now I have to lie to her.

I look at the outlet where the fire had started. “Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the fire started because this apartment is so shitty.”

Kate laughs, but she clamps her hand over her mouth as if she offended me.

“No, seriously, Kate, if I had to blame someone or something, it would be the apartment. They never do upgrades and this is a really old building, so I can only assume the wiring was faulty.”

It’s kind of true.

Alex seems relieved, and he even chimes in. “The firefighters said it started from the electrical outlet by the window, and nothing was plugged into the outlet, so it’s not your fault.”

‘Or yours.’ I mouth to Alex while Kate’s back is to us.

She spins around. “Where are you going to live now? What are you going to do?”

“Well, Alex said I can stay in one of his guest bedrooms. I’ve been working there anyway since the office was trashed. And as far as what I’m goingto do- well, nothing. I can’t do anything except save up and get a place when I can afford it.”

I’ll probably have to save up for another mattress, or at the very least, an air mattress, so I don’t have to sleep on the ground.

Kate eyes Alex as if I just told her Alex proposed and wants to move in with him.

She glances from Alex to me. “Isn’t that illegal?”

“What?” Alex and I ask at the same time.

She rolls her eyes dramatically as the corner of her lips curl up into a small smile. “Dating your boss’s son. Isn’t that like fraternization or something?”

I shrug. “I guess in other companies it might be viewed that way, but as far as I’m concerned, Mr. Strickland doesn’t have any policies against staff dating each other. Besides, Alex and I aren’t dating, and I’ll be staying in a guest bedroom- not his.”

Alex’s eyes darken as he glares at me. There’s a promise in his deep blue depths that tells me exactly where he wants me to stay, and it’s not the guest room.

I lick my lips as I imagine all the ways he can pleasure me in his large room.

It’s probably a good thing that his room is so far away from all the other ones.

Kate closes her eyes and hmms as she rubs her temples. I’ve seen her like this before. This is her thinking pose.

Alex stifles a laugh as he mimics Kate.

‘Stop.’ I mouth at him.

He grins and gives me a wink before tapping his watch.

Yeah, I want to get out of here, too, but there’s no rushing Kate while she’s in her thinking mode.

Kate’s eyes fly open, causing Alex to jump back and clench at his heart. “Oh. My. God. Elise.”

“What?” I ask, worried about what she could have just thought up.

She throws her hands up like she just cured all the illnesses in the world. “It all fits.”

“What does? Clue me in a little.”

Alex gently shakes his head so I can see him, but Kate can’t.

What is he trying to say? What is she trying to say?

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