Page 46 of See Me

I’ve never thought my voice was all that, just something I did for fun. Sing in the shower, the car, dance parties with my girls. Nothing special. But it may be the only tool I have at my disposal. My sparkling personality sure isn’t getting the job done. I bring up the song Jessica Rabbit sings in the movie… cartoon… whatever.

This is so stupid.

I can’t believe I’m sinking to this level. And I wish I could answer why this is so important. I don’t even know myself.

Is it about sex? No doubt the sex would be amazing. I saw the evidence he couldn’t hide as he towered over me in his office. But like I told Enzo, I’m not a casual sex kind of girl. So, what the hell is my end game? Control? Validation? The thrill of the chase?

That’s not me. I don’t have a competitive bone in my body. I’m more of a stay low and out of sight to fit in kind of girl.

What is it about Luca that sparked thismust get the guyattitude? Maybe the fact that he doesn’t like me? And what do I do if he caves? Sleep with him and call it a day?

I can’t even answer that. I reach out of the shower and set my phone to repeat the song. Taking my time in the shower, I listen and start to sing along. When I think I have it down, I turn the water off and reach out to the bench for my towel. I squeeze my hair out and wrap the towel around my body, tip-toeing across the cold tile toward the sinks and as the steam clears, I stop, frozen, still up on my toes.

“Motherhugger.”

Luca, perched on the sink, face of steel, reaches into my bag and throws my clothes at me. “Get dressed.”

“Luca.”

“Get fucking dressed, Ella.”

“Listen, it, it’s not been long, I just—”

He pulls away from the sink and stalks toward me. “Get. Fucking. Dressed.”

He storms out of the shower room and I jump when the door slams.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

This situation calls for the real words. He’s going to throw me out, fire me, have me arrested, the list goes on. I try to slip my clothes on my still dripping body while calculating how much money I have.

Not enough.

Maybe I’ll call Cassie back and ask if I can sleepover. They have a spare room. Hell, I’ll sleep on the couch with Henry.

Luca pounds on the door. “Tick tock, Princess.”

Fuck.

FIFTEEN

LYING TEA

My long strideseat up the floor to the elevator. I don’t bother to look behind me to see if she’s following.I can smell her. That’s how I knew she was staying here. Tomi was right, her scent lingers, and not just in my fucked-up fantasies.

Her bare feet pad across the tiles to catch up. “Wait, where are we going?”

I hit the button for the elevator to take us up. I cross my hands in front of me and keep my eyes forward.Yes, I’m hiding my hard dick.The look of her all wet from the shower, hair pasted to the sides of her face, skin pink from the heat, eyes wide, scared… it definitely works for me.

Maybe I need medication.

She stands a few feet behind me. “Why are we going up?”

The door opens, and I walk in and put my hand out to hold the door. I turn around and level a glare at her. She doesn't enter, just tugs on her lip and bounces her weight from foot to foot. Crossing my arms, I plant myself in the doorway.

The door closes, hits my arm, and opens again. She gasps and jolts back. I blow a long breath out of my nose and meet her eyes. Her gaze bounces around my face while taking in my taut form. Maybe fear isn’t the best way to handle this. No sane woman would follow a man she feels threatened by.

As the door closes and hits my arm again, I growl. “If you let this door hit me one more time, I swear to god...”

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