Page 2 of Sacrificing Zoriah

“I’ll, uh… I’ll bring my spare keys up here on Monday,” I say, avoiding his piercing gaze as I fumble to get my badge out of my purse. I have to use it to take the elevator down to the main floor, since this floor is restricted by badge access only.

“Zoriah,” he says again, but louder. I pull the door open, but he promptly reaches around me and pushes the door shut. Instead of fighting him, I just press my forehead against the door and try to calm down before I start openly sobbing. I have horrible anxiety, and when I panic, I sob. I fucking hate that I cry so much. Maybe that’s why I avoid people. If I get stressed or anxious, I just cry.

“Zoriah, stop for a second and talk to me,” he says simply. I don’t say anything, so he carefully turns me to face him. When he sees the tears rolling down my cheeks, he softens. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I say, wiping my face. “I just want to go home.”

“Riah, I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me,” he sighs and drops his hands to my shoulders.

“I don’t need your help,” I say hatefully but then close my eyes and sigh. “I’m sorry… I’m just stressed. When I’m stressed, I’m a bitch, and I cry for no reason.”

“What can I do?” he asks sincerely.

“Nothing. I just want to go home,” I say.

“Alright,” he sighs. “I’ll see you Monday, Zoriah.”

“Monday?” I ask.

“Yes. Instead of getting an attitude, I would appreciate it if you could just tell me if you are having a hard time. You do a good job, and I am not a mind reader,” he says.

“Okay. I’m sorry, Rome,” I sigh.

“And Riah?”

“Hmm?” I ask.

“Be careful telling me to make you do something again,” he says with a smirk as he leans in closer to grab the door handle behind me. “Because I’ll do it.”

Roman opens the door with a wicked smile, and I stare at him with my mouth open, not knowing how to respond. “Uhm…” I choke out. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Have a good weekend, Ms. Kingston. Remember, we have our quarterly meetings first thing Monday morning.”

“Yeah… I mean, yes, sir. I’ll be here early,” I say.

“Yes, sir? That’s new,” he says. When I don’t move, he smirks. “Goodbye, Zoriah.”

“Right,” I say, forcing myself to look away from his smile. Fuck, he has a nice smile. My cheeks are blazing red, and I hate that I wear my interest on my face. “Have a good weekend, Mr. Tolson.”

I hurry to the elevator and completely forget my laptop. I stop and turn, but he steps out of his office and locks it. “Go home, Zoriah,” he says simply. “Finish the notes on Monday with the others.”

“I can…”

“Go home,” he says as he scans his ID badge for the elevator.

“I’m going to take the stairs,” I say when the elevator door comes open.

“It’s ten flights, and you are in heels,” he laughs. “Get in the elevator, Zoriah.”

I sigh and step in to stand beside him, and he presses the button for the ground floor. “I’m sorry I was rude,” I say after a beat.

“It’s okay,” he says. “Why did you look scared?”

“Because you fire everyone who gets an attitude,” I say bluntly.

“You threaten to quit once a week,” he says. “If I was going to fire you for being a brat, I would have done it when you were an intern.”

“I am not a brat,” I say with a frown. He looks at me, and his smile grows wide, making heat flush my cheeks again. “Dammit. Stop.”

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