Page 136 of His White Moonlight
Bennett’s willingness togive me space dwindled rapidly.He watched me through the office window the remainder of the afternoon and followed me to the parking garage at the end of the day.Again, it was both a comfort and an annoyance to see his car in the rearview mirror on the drive home.
Sandy had a homemade macaroni and cheese bake waiting on the table for us.As soon as we sat at the table together, he seemed to relax.He asked questions about the expenses I’d reviewed and very casually asked about my lunch with Miranda.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to make any friends at Wulf Enterprises.She might be an exception.It’s still too soon to tell, though.”
He didn’t say much after that, and I went up to my room to check in with my online class, which kept me busy for the rest of the night.
Tuesday started rough since Bennett was still in bed with me when I woke up.
I threw my pillow at him and locked myself in the bathroom until I knew he was gone.He didn’t complain that I wanted to drive separately again.However, he tried to claim my lunch hour with a required meeting.
“Am I really not allowed to make friends?I thought the whole point was to get me to like working here so that I stay.”
His face grew dangerously red.“Will you be eating lunch with her all week?”
“Unless someone tries to stop me, yes.”
He nodded and returned to his office, closing the door nicely instead of slamming it like I’d thought he would.
By the end of the day, though, he was pacing in front of his desk.Each of the women who approached me turned around and left without asking whether he was busy.Miranda stopped by to drop off an expense form for me and saw him.She shook her head and left without comment.
At five, he seemed to calm down a little and walked out of his office with a hint of his calmer self.We rode the elevator down together without incident, and he followed me home again.
When we walked in through the kitchen door together, Sandy had another dinner on the table, waiting for us.I realized then that her schedule—when she cooked for us versus when Bennett cooked for me—was solely dictated by Bennett’s agenda.Dinners were usually sit-down, and whether I sat depended on my mood and what was being offered.
Given my current avoidance of him, he’d known I would reject going out somewhere after work for a sit-down meal.And if we had picked something up, I would have eaten it in my room.Did he honestly think more manipulation would tempt me to spend more time with him?
“I have a lot of homework,” I said, picking up my plate.“I’m going to eat this as I read.”
The soft growl that echoed behind me made me want to run up the stairs, but I resisted the urge.
Wednesday morning, I woke up lying on him and dug my elbow into his diaphragm to get off instead of pummeling him with the pillow.He grunted but didn’t move to protect himself as I got out of bed.It made me wish I’d used my knee.Although considering his current mood, he might have taken that as affection.
He left me alone to get ready and opened my car door for me in the garage, seeming to be in a better mood than when he went to bed.Maybe hehadtaken that elbow as something affectionate.However, the reason for his good mood became clearer when we arrived at work and the parking space next to his was empty.He parked beside my car and opened my door for me.
I didn’t comment as we rode the elevator up together.
He went straight to his office and kept the door open.Since he wasn’t staring at me angrily through the window and wasn’t pacing, everyone took that as a sign that he was approachable.They quickly drained what little patience and humor he’d started the day with, and a few minutes before noon, I fled to meet Miranda at her desk.
Several of the women turned to look at me as I sped past like I’d lost my mind, including Milena.
“Rough morning?”Miranda asked with a grin.
“You have no idea.”
“Oh, I might.We could all hear him that last time when he yelled, ‘Get out.’”
“I think the third floor heard him,” Milena said.“You’re clearly not helping the situation.If you’re not willing to do your job, step aside so someone else can take your place.”
She stood with her purse and left.
I waited until Miranda and I were outside to ask, “Does she know?”
“Probably.She’d have to be nose blind not to know.He smelled like repressed sex and frustration before you came home, which was driving us all crazy.However, it’s slowly changed, especially after you both took the day off last Thursday.It’s less frustration and more anticipation now.”
“Less frustration?He got so red in the face yesterday that I thought he’d have a stroke.And today, he threw Olivia’s folder so hard that the corner of it embedded in the drywall.”
“Impressive.Bet he couldn’t do that again if he tried.”
