Page 47 of See Me

Oops.

Her bag falls off her shoulder and she jogs into the elevator dragging it behind her. She goes to the back corner, as far as she can get from me, and I hit the button while shaking my head. We ascend quickly and soon we’re in front of my intended destination. I grabbed the key earlier when I got suspicious after seeing garbage in the can this morning.

No way Omar would make that mistake again. So, I planned a little stakeout and damn did it pay off. It wasn’t easy keeping my hand off my dick when she was showering mere feet away from me, though. I dig out the key and open the door, stepping back to let her enter first.

Ella hesitates,as she should, but the minute I swing my eyes to hers she lurches forward through the entrance. I follow her, hit the switch for the lights and close the door. She spins around a few times taking it all in. The high ceilings, the exposed brick and dark woods, the gourmet kitchen and all the staging furniture I could get in here.

“What is this? Your place? I’m not staying here with you.”

“It’s a show apartment. I don’t live here.”

She takes a few steps away from me. “So why am I here?”

“It’s yours. For now. Until you don’t need it anymore.”

“Absolutely not.” She walks toward the door, and I block her path, making her retreat a step and huffs out a breath.

I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t remember giving you a choice.”

Her hands land on her hips. “What does that mean?”

Leaning down, I get in her face. “You can’t live in the bar.”

Ella swallows and avoids my eyes. “I'm notlivingthere. It’s just temporary. I’ll figure it out.”

“Well, until youfigure it out, you’ll stay here.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “You are not giving me an apartment.”

“Where else are you going to stay?”

She straightens her spine with conviction. “I'll go back to my car.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides, and I take a step toward her. “You were living in your car?” It comes out as a growl and she takes a step back. I match her step for step until her legs hit the couch and she halts.

“It won't be for much longer.” She adjusts her bag on her shoulder and fidgets with the strap. “My salary will kick in soon and, with the money I’ve saved, I’ll make it work.”

I plant myself in front of her. “No, you’ll stay here.”

She looks around the place, avoiding my eyes, no doubt. “I can’t afford this place.”

“I told you it’s a show apartment. I don’t make any money off it. I don’t plan on renting it out.”

Her eyes heat and her face twists into a grimace. “So, I’m some charity case now?”

I spread my arms out and gesture to the room. “I don’t see anyone else here stepping in to save you. Does Enzo know about this?” I swear to Christ if he let her live in her car, I'll kill him.

Deflating in front of me, she shrinks in on herself. “No. No oneknows.” She bites her lip as her chin trembles. “I don’t have anyone. My family won’t talk to me. My friends are busy living their lives, so I didn’t want to bother them.” A tear escapes and she wipes it away like I didn’t see it. “I’ve got it handled.”

I bark out a laugh. “You don’t have shit handled.”

“What the hell? I’m falling apart here and that’s all you can say? My family disowned me because I wanted to be a teacher. It’s notprestigious,” she uses air quotes, “enough to be associated with the mighty O’Loughlin’s. I bust my ass to graduate only to be told I’m cut off and good riddance. I actually land a job, only to have to wait until the new year to start.”

Her bag slides off her shoulder, hitting the floor at her feet. “I get a job in a bar to make some cash. My boss is an asshole.” She points at me. “That’s you, by the way, and all I do is take your shit and swallow it because I need the money to flipping eat.” Her voice breaks, and she sinks to the arm of the couch.

“I lie to my friends. Tell them I’m too busy to have them over to my new place. I work for a guy that tells me to keep mytits out,” she uses air quotes again, and I swallow harshly and divert my eyes, feeling like the asshole I am, “I serve drinks to people who tell me to sit on their laps. I rigged the lock on the door to sneak into the bar at night. I steal showers. I eat cheese out of the walk-in so I can save as much money as possible. I sleep on a smelly, mildewy cot, but I wake up every day and show up. I’m doing the best I freaking can.”

A sob breaks free after her rant. I’m not so far removed from society that I don’t know when someone needs a hug. I inch closer to her and open my arms. The action has my gut swirling with hesitation, but she’s literally crumbling before my eyes.

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