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I hunched my shoulders. “Okay. I’ll be at my desk,” I mumbled.
What did Jonas say to him? Was it because of the kiss? I worked steadily as Gregor continued to avoid me communicating through emails and the phone. My worry about our working relationship had preoccupied my mind so much so that when Declan called and I noticed it was ten after 12:00. I had to run out of the building to meet him.
“About time you came out. I work in the village, or have you forgotten,” Declan griped as I climbed inside his range rover.
“I’m sorry, Dec. I told you I had work—” I stammered.
“But you couldn’t choose a place in between midtown and the village for lunch. You know I work in the village and this is at least a twenty-minute drive in lunch traffic,” Declan scowled at me. “So spoiled.”
I dropped my head. I didn’t want to point out that he had chosen Bryant Park, which was even further away, just this morning. “How about we go wherever you want to go?” I offered.
Declan grunted and started driving. “I don’t have much time, so yeah. We’ll have to eat at Parco’s.” Parco’s was a small chain sandwich shop a few doors down from his work, and would take me an extra half hour just to return to work by subway. I wanted to protest; but he had something I wanted and the best way to get it was to be accommodating. “Okay.”
“Good girl,” Declan said. His lips curled into a smug grin. He turned on talk radio and laughed along with it all the way through downtown and the village.
Once we reached Bleecker Street, he parked his car in his regular parking space. He turned and assessed me. “You lookokay. You want to go inside and say hello to everyone? They always ask about you.”
I looked down at my watch. “We don’t have much time and I really will be late getting back to work.” My pulse sped up as he went still next to me.
“A princess can’t spare a few minutes,” he said venomously. “You want to just run off after I went through the trouble of picking you up—”
“No. I want to have lunch,” I stammered interrupting him.
Declan snickered, “Yeah, you want to eat. Always ready to stuff your face. Of course.”
My face fell as a lump formed in my throat. “I’m not all that hungry. I can come in and say hello.”
“I was just joking.” He chuckled. Suddenly he grabbed my hair bun and yanked my head back, exposing my neck. “Stop acting funny and talking weird to me,” he said.
As I took in ragged breaths, my hands reached up to my neck to soothe the pain there.He hasn’t hit me. He’s just frustrated,I lulled myself.
“Let go, Dec,” I gritted, trying to remain calm. He let go with force enough to slam my forehead against the dashboard.
I cried out and clutched my head. “Ouch. What are you doing? You asshole!”
“What the fuck did you call me?” Declan gripped my head and banged it against the dashboard again.
I clawed into him. “Stop.” He took both of his hands and with added force pushed my head against the dash again. Sinking my nails into his hands and arms, my voice rose louder. “Wake-up. Stop it.” Another, this time with more strength. He was gone, and nothing registered. I clawed into him as hard as I could, letting out a high-pitched scream.
“Fuck that hurt!” he yelped. “Why are you screaming?”
Good. I hope it hurts.My breath came in and out fast as I tried to still my rapid pulse. My mind raced as it struggled through Declan’s attack.
I covered my face with my hands. I grabbed the door, but found it locked.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to do that,” Declan said. “Wait, please don’t leave. You’re too delicate. I forgot I can’thorseplaywith you.”
I frantically looked around outside and saw no one was around. No one had witnessed it. “Don’t touch me. I’m leaving.”
“Please don’t go,” Declan pleaded. “Don’t leave me like everyone else.” He dropped his head. “It’s been hard for me. I lose contracts at work. I barely get time off. I’ve got nobody. Nobody,” he said mournfully. He glanced up at me. “You look like your mom. She was so pretty. She was so good to me, I loved her like she was mine. I guess she kind of was, after my foster mom died. I think about her every day, probably why it was hard to be with you, because I see her in you… you know. I miss her.”
My heart felt heavy in my chest as I listened to him and assessed my injuries. My face throbbed in pain. I felt a scrape along my scalp that was damp.
“I miss her, too,” I mumbled.
“You’re the only one that gets me. Please. It was an accident. I was looking forward to seeing you and giving you the video and pictures.”
My throat closed and I stared down at my hands, unable to speak.
