Page 41 of Pleasure & Prey: Vol. 2

The elevator dings, doors opening so I can step into the freshly cleaned cab. I press the button labeled 7 and the doors close smoothly, no sign of creaking or unoiled gears anywhere in sight. But I suppose when it’s a GreenCo—one of the richest and most profitable companies in Akron—elevator, it’s no wonder the elevators are immaculately cared for and clean.

Though, they also have the worst elevator music. It makes my ears burn as I watch the floors go by, leaning on the back wall with my gaze fixed on the counter that beeps lightly with the changing of floors. Is it just me, or is this the slowest elevator known to man?

Finally, when I’m sure I’ve aged about forty years, the elevator dings with more conviction and the doors slide open. I take the provided escape, glad that the music plaguing my ears is left far behind while I take a left and breeze down the hallway like I know exactly what I’m doing.

It’s too bad that I don’t.

My plan started at the door, and ends in about twenty feet, where I estimate Wren’s office to be. I figure I need to tell Wren about Tyson Miller’s brother, and the fact that the cops showed up at my apartment. But other than that? I have no idea what I’m doing here.

My steps slow as I reach the office, my eyes fixed on the door where I see the shiny, silver plaque engraved with black letters.

WREN CRYSTAL glares at me from the sign, taunting me with how close I am to getting what I’m pretty sure I want. Or at least finding the access to it.

But…

I bite my lip, a thought occurring to me that hadn’t before this unfortunate moment. What if Jed doesn’t want anything to do with me? What if his words had been just that? It wouldn’t be the first time, or the second. There’s a big chance he was only being that nice to me to make sure I wouldn’t tell the police on him and his friends.

Worse, what if he’d decided I wasn’t worth it when I left his cabin and didn’t look back? Then it would be all my fault, and my stomach plummets at that painful possibility. It would be literally all my fucking fault, if that’s the case. And all I would’ve had to do was not run away like an idiot.

Once I work through my racing thoughts and blink a few times, I realize I’m staring into Wren’s office window with someone looking back at me.

Only, it isn’t Wren.

Nor is it Jed.

A brunet with the same lithely muscled build as Wren stands on the other side of the glass, meeting my gaze with furrowed brows and a bemused look on his face. His arms are folded, his hair cut shorter than both Wren and Jed’s, though nothing close to a buzz cut. His eyes are a darker hazel than I had first thought, and as I watch, he tilts his head to the side.

I mirror him without meaning to, and his smile widens just a touch.

“There’s a girl staring into your office like you killed her cat,” he interrupts, and I realize belatedly that Wren has been talking to him this whole time. Unluckily for me, the windows are thin enough that I can hear him when he’s this close. “Did you kill someone’s cat today?”

“Yeah, clearly,” Wren sneers, amusement lacing his tone. “I make it a habit to throw cats into trees and kick puppies on my way to work. Didn’t you know?” With a snort, he adds, “Move your ass, Cassian. Let me see who it is.”

“Not your assistant,” Cassian mutters, but side steps enough for Wren’s expectant eyes to find mine.

His brows fly up to his bangs, and he blinks once, then again, like he’s more than a little surprised to see me. But that’s okay, because I’m just as surprised I’d made it here. “Oh.” I can barely hear the word, and I only know from the shape of his mouth that it’s what he said. “That’s…huh. Open the door for her, would you?”

“Last I checked I was not your assistant,” his friend repeats, but he opens the door and gestures for me to come in. “Did you get a new assistant?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder before closing the door. “Because she looks terrified of you. Like you yelled at her.”

“No, she’s not my assistant.” Wren’s gaze stays locked on mine, and he leans back in a large, comfortable looking chair behind his mahogany desk. “And I certainly didn’t yell at you, did I, Saylor?”

I shake my head as Cassian mouths my name, clearly familiar with it. “Saylor,” he mutters. “I know that name, don’t I?”

“You should,” Wren replies. “Since Jed’s sure he’s in love with her.”

My stomach bottoms out at his words, and for a moment I feel like I’m going to fall over. In love with me? Sure, he acts way more than just enamored of me when we’re together, but I think saying he loves me is too much of a stretch…isn’t it?

“You’re the girl he kidnapped,” Cassian says, the pieces finally clicking together. “From the preserve. I remember now.” He gives me a quick, easy smile and reaches a hand out to me. “I’m Cass. And you seem to be no longer held hostage.”

“I left.” I flick my gaze between them, my words quick and unsure. “He said…well, we…” God, I can feel myself blushing, and I have to look away from them before I say something stupid. “I…I kind of ran away. I think.”

“I see,” Wren’s voice is carefully neutral, and he watches me shrewdly from thoughtful eyes.

“But I didn’t mean to,” I add, just as fast and unsure.

His eyes widen, just a bit, and he trades a look with Cassian. “I see.” Is that a hint of a smile playing at his lips, or am I just imagining it?

“But I miss him. And the cops came. I didn’t tell them anything.” I’m rambling now, though I can’t stop, and I spill random parts of Rayez’s visit to him as they come back to me. “So…they asked about us. And I lied. I said we were together, and that made me feel worse. I know it’s been five days, but I miss him. And I don’t have his number, so I can’t call him. Then I kind of stalked you.” Yeah, I probably could’ve left that part out. “Though now I wonder if maybe this was a mistake. Maybe he doesn’t want to see me again, or he’s trying to move past it? I know you just say things when you want someone to trust you, so if that was the case, I get it⁠—”