Page 26 of Colton

“Ah, you came here to buy silence.”

“Bingo.”

9

The weather is warm, yet there’s icy wind splitting through. My coat is long, and I hug it tighter. Grace is gone, and at this point, I don’t want to know what she’s up to. I don't think either of us should know. I’m just hoping whatever she’s up to doesn’t get her sent to prison.

People are gathered around the big fountain in the square. It’s surrounded by a few coffee shops, two flower shops, and a handful of boutiques. Children run around, their laughter filling the air. It’s peaceful, and I can’t help but smile at the sight.

I take a seat on one of the benches, just observing people. If I remove the fact that this place is incredibly dangerous, I could see myself living here. There’s everything one might need within the gates, and since the living standard is much higher than the rest of the country, I’m not surprised people aren’t leaving this place. Why would they? There is no poverty here, no homelessness — people truly take care of one another.

A shadow looms over me, and I glance to my left. My breath hitches when I look up, the scent lingers in my nose, and yet again, I find myself completely, and entirely enthralled by this man. Goosebumps prickle my skin under the clothes, and I shiver.

“Ms. Evans,” his deep voice greets, and I try my best not to let it affect me. I squeeze my legs tightly together, taking a deep breath.

“Sir,” I say, the word slipping past my lips, barely above a whisper.

Colton looks too good. Instead of his usual blazer, he wears a long coat, yet he looks equally as good. His hair is neatly trimmed, slightly pulled back. The salt aspect of it makes him seem more mature, though, looks-wise, he doesn’t look as old.

“What a lovely surprise,” he murmurs. “May I sit?”

“Of course,” I scoot over to the farthest part of the bench, my nerves getting the best of me. I fiddle with my hands in my lap, yet I cannot look away from him. His presence is intimidating, and I never expected to run into him here.

“This is a rather lovely surprise,” he says, a soft smile playing on his lips that makes my heart skip a beat. “Unexpected, but lovely, nonetheless.”

“Ah,” I chuckle, the anxiety rising inside of my chest. “I’m here with a friend. She had… things to do here.”

Colton lifts a brow, clearly not believing a word I’m saying, though he doesn’t say anything about it. Instead, he leans his elbows on his knees, his chin propped in his palm. He’s looking at me, and I’m struggling to keep eye contact.

People are whispering around us. He’s a very important figure here, and he seems not to care that his name is being spread through dozens of lips. He’s solely focused on me, his eyes skimming my face, every single inch.

“Such as?”

I swallow thickly. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that, sir.”

Colton merely chuckles, the deep sound sending shivers down my body. “It’s quite alright. We all have secrets, after all.”

The sentence is simple, yet it makes me want to know more. I want to unravel every secret this man has, to know the darkest things he’s been hiding, to know the weakest spots, to know every detail of his life. But I can’t know it.

To him, I’m nothing more than a student.

I clear my throat, then decide it is best to change the subject. Yet, I am barely able to speak. His intense eyes are staring at me, like he’s ready to pull out every hidden thought from my head whether I’d like it or not.

“What brings you here?” I smile. “It’s the middle of a school day. I don’t think I have ever seen you miss a day.”

“That means you’ve been paying attention to me, Ms. Evans,” he quirks a brow, the teasing lilt in his voice making my cheeks flush in a light, rosy shade. “It’s a family thing, mainly.”

My brows narrow, suspicion rising inside of me. His excuse is similar to the one Artemis had used a while ago at the restaurant, and it makes the doubt inside of me double in size. If two members of the five important families are here at the same time, something must be happening.

God, I shouldn’t be as curious as I am.

“I hope everything’s alright,” I offer a small smile, unable to look away. His eyes are bright, and the way the sun’s shining down on them makes me want to lose myself in the depth of the intensity, to drown in him.

“It will be.” he straightens up and stands. My heart sinks to my feet, and although I didn’t anticipate I’d see him here, I don’t want to cut this meeting short. I mean, Grace won’t be done for hours, and I’m all alone.

Meeting him here seems like destiny, or, at least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Everything about this man is surreal, and I like to pretend greater forces are bringing us together. Is it delusional? Perhaps, but I’m already too far gone to act otherwise.

Fuck, this is insane.