Page 48 of His to Possess
We stood there, locked in a tense standoff. I could feel my heart racing, a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite name. The silence stretched endlessly, and it was clear neither of us had any intention of backing down. Good. I had told him everything I wanted to. I moved toward the door again, attempting to open it once more, but it wouldn't budge.
"Open the door," I told him.
He didn't move. "No."
I ground my teeth, planting myself firmly in front of him. "You're supposed to help my career, not hinder it," I snapped, my frustration boiling over.
He remained unfazed by my confrontation, even taking a step closer. His proximity scared me a little, but I refused to back down.
"Look at yourself," he said, his voice low and controlled. "You're still incredibly pale, which tells me you're still experiencing some sort of migraine. You haven't eaten a decent meal since Saturday night, and even then, you were so hyped about going to the vernissage that you barely touched it." I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued, "You've slept on and off in pain for more than twenty-four hours. Even now, I can see you swaying from fatigue and lack of food."
His words hit home, and I realized he was right. I was exhausted, and the thought of food made my stomach churn.
"As for your accusation that I changed the lock," — Rex gently pulled me toward the keypad — "let me show you something."
He dialed my code, and instantly, the door unlocked. I blinked in surprise, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment wash over me.
"I'm not a monster." His tone was softer now. "If you want to leave for work, go ahead. But I'd be worried if you can't even dial your own code to unlock the front door."
Stunned, I sighed in defeat. "Let me try," I muttered, carefully inputting my code. To my relief, it was accepted.
Rex explained, "When you miss the code two times in a row, it locks and sends me a message. That's why I came to check on you."
"I… I didn't realize." Suddenly, I felt very foolish for my outburst. My cheeks reddened, probably even more prominently than usual since he had mentioned I was paler today. I fought the urge to look away, but somehow, I managed to keep my eyes on his.
"I understand your frustration. But my concern is genuine. You need to take care of yourself."
I nodded, the fight draining out of me. "You're right. I guess I'm not as recovered as I thought."
His shoulders relaxed slightly at my words, and he nodded. The tension in the air dissipated, but his earlier comments about August lingered in my mind. I couldn't help but recall August's own warnings about Rex. Who was telling the truth? And more importantly, who wasn't using me?
"What would you like to eat?" Rex asked, breaking my train of thought.
I shook my head, my stomach still uneasy. "I'm not hungry."
Ignoring my protest, he took my bag and set it by the door before guiding me to the kitchen. He helped me onto a stool at the kitchen island, his touch surprisingly gentle. I wasn't used to it. I briefly recalled him touching me gently like this after I had met with the ghost from my past and lied to him, but I thought that was one singular incident. That it wouldn't happen again. Was Rex truly capable of such softness?
I watched as he opened the fridge, looking decidedly out of place in the pristine kitchen. "We have some leftover grilled chicken, a Greek salad, or I could heat up some soup," he listed, peering into various containers.
"Really, I'm fine," I insisted, but I couldn't help but be amused by the sight of Rex Compton, powerful businessman, fumbling around in a kitchen.
He turned to me, a slight frown on his face. "You need to eat something."
I cocked my head to the side, curiosity getting the better of me. "Do you ever cook?"
His frown deepened. "No," he replied curtly.
"Why not?" I pressed, enjoying this glimpse of him out of his element.
He sighed, closing the fridge door. "I don't like the mess it creates. That's why I cater and use a private chef when necessary."
I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the lingering discomfort right above my eyes. "So the great Rex Compton is afraid of a little kitchen mess?"
His eyes narrowed, but I detected a hint of amusement. "I prefer to focus my time and energy on more important matters."
"Like locking women in penthouses?" I quipped before I could stop myself.
His expression darkened momentarily, but then he surprised me with a small smirk. "Among other things."
