Page 48 of Change
“Yes,” Titus replied.
“Does that mean we’re getting close to your office?”
Titus didn’t answer. Instead, he followed the road to the left, and as we rounded another corner, a large, gleaming building stood in front of us. This time when I pressed my face to the glass, it wasn’t to look at the trees.
It was several stories high, and where the pale white, reflective siding wasn’t shimmering in the sunlight, ran rows of wall-length windows. Despite that, it was impossible to see inside even from several yards away, which meant that the windows were prime for privacy.
Thiswas a building that a man with money should own. Not like Damen’s affinity for items and homes in various states of disrepair—although, to be honest, I’d grown rather fond of the onmyoji’s sentimental reasoning.
It was kind of cute.
Still, I was gaping as Titus pulled the SUV under a glass-covered overpass, and by the time I managed to pull myself together, he’d already jumped out of the vehicle and was opening my door.
“Do you like it?” he asked, holding my hand against his chest as he helped me down. I could feel his heart racing under my palm, and I realized that he was worried I’d disapprove.
But what I thought didn’t matter. It was his business.
However, the fact that he cared made me feel important. “Yes,” I managed, suddenly self-conscious. “It’s very…you.”
His face lit up, and he placed my hand into the crook of his arm as he walked me past the sliding glass doors and past the staring doorman.
I wanted to remind him that we were supposed to be only friends, and generally speaking, male friends didn’t lead their female friends around in such a manner. But there was acute excitement in the way he carried himself. I couldn’t stand to ruin it.
As we moved through the lobby and toward the silver elevator, his jaw softened and his shoulders relaxed from a tension I didn’t even realize he’d been carrying. His fingers twisted in mine as the elevator moved to the top floor, and he was almost smiling by the time we reached a light oak doorway.
I didn’t think I’d ever seen him thishappy, and I couldn’t bring myself to burst his bubble.
It wasn’t until Titus used one hand to throw open the door, pulling me after him into the room, that my apprehension began to kick it into gear.
Because, really,whatwas I doing? We’d been on our first official date just yesterday,andnow I was going, alone, into his private office with him.
I’d read enough boy-on-boy dark romances where the innocent happy-go-lucky office worker was seduced by the brooding, wealthy C-E-O to know how this scenario might play out. But Titus would have more morals, I was sure. He would not toss me onto his extremely study-looking, but very tidy, desk and kiss me breathless. He was far from being a dark, brooding antihero with multiple secrets.
Wasn’t he?
“Titus Ducharme!” Maria’s furious shout greeted us as we entered the room. “Where have youbeensince yesterday?How dare you just leave…” She stormed through an attached doorway, and her angry tirade trailed off as she spotted me waving stupidly at her.
“Bianca!” Her perky—but angry—face shone bright red, and she glared at Titus. The dragon was smirking and ignored her as he led me to the desk that held my fascination only seconds before. “Youass,” she told him.
But why? I slowly lowered my still-raised hand back to my side.
“Not you,” Titus told me, guiding me to the light grey leather chair. “Maria’s upset because I skipped a boring meeting yesterday afternoon.”
“Boring meeting?” The embarrassment dropped from her face, and she narrowed her blazing eyes at the dragon. “I worked forweeksto set that up. But…” her attention returned to me, and her features softened into a polite smile. “Hello, Bianca. I’m really glad to see you.”
Was she though?
My heart was breaking, though I was certain that neither shifter could tell. I was an expert in hiding these things, after all. But I’d thought we might be friends, even going so far as to ignore that lingering feeling in my gut that tried to convince me that she didn’t really like me. She wasn’t avoiding me, I’d tried to reason, she was a busy woman.
After all, Titus, while somehow productive, seemed to obey no one but himself.
But seriously, what was the point of even having a personal assistant if he wasn’t going to let her do her job?
Besides, what must really hurt her self-esteem was the fact that, despite not listening to her, he still appeared to be so successful. No wonder she was so angry.
So, clearly, she had a lot of personal issues keeping her away. Of course, she didn’t want to be friends with me. I was a basket case who came with a ton of baggage.
“I need to get to work,” Titus said, unbuttoning his suit jacket and laying it across his desk. “Maria, can you take Bianca down to the café?”
