AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I have a billion questions I’d like to ask, starting with,How did he know?
But I’m too dumbfounded to bother asking, not that I think Boris was about to be particularly forthcoming with additional details. I spend most of the drive back home just gawking at the shoes. The Debbie downer in me keeps wondering how I’m going to explain such expensive purchases to Ben.
But the optimist in me—the stupid, naive, ever-hopeful optimist—just can’t stop smiling long enough to care.
32
EMMA
I feel ridiculously well-rested as I walk the special artisanal coffee blend in my hand towards Ruslan’s office.
I was tempted to wear his shirt into work today. The whole oversized-shirt-plus-pencil-skirt combo was really doing it for me. Well, that, and the fact that it was very exciting to imagine myself walking around Bane wrapped in Ruslan’s oaky-scented button-down.
It just felt… I dunno. Kind of like I’d be broadcasting the obvious. Flaunting it. In the end, I decided not to push my luck.
Ruslan doesn’t look up from his paperwork until I’ve put the coffee down in front of him. When he does look at me, his expression is impassive—and that throws me for a loop.
Last night, we broke one of his rules. A big one, in my opinion. Are we just supposed to pretend like it never happened? Am I supposed to back out of the room without addressing the giant elephant in it?
“I used the coffee voucher you left for me.”
God, I sound awkward.
He raises one eyebrow and nods. I keep twisting one of my beige heels into the dark laminate floors. There’ll be a scuff here if he keeps up this stony silence. A testament to me being so cringey it hurts.
“I just… I know you’re uncomfortable with gratitude, but I have to say thank you. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well. Or so long.”
He clears his throat. “Don’t mention it.”
I know he’s not being polite. He means that literally.Do not mention it.
“And as for the kids’ shoes… you have no idea how much it means to me. Or how much it’ll mean to them.”
“They’re good kids,” he says gruffly. “They deserve a decent pair of shoes.”
“I’ll reimburse you for them.”
His eyes snap to mine. “Don’t you dare. They’re gifts.”
“But—”
“They’re gifts, Ms. Carson. End of discussion.”
My mouth clamps shut. There’s this weird, piercing sensation in the center of my heart and I don’t like it one bit.
Why?Whydoes he have to go all inhuman on me now?
“If you insist,” I concede. “Anyway, yeah, they’ll be over the moon. Almost as over the moon as I was to actually get a decent night’s sleep.”
I give him a self-conscious smile that he doesn’t return.Welp, seems like my time here is done.I’m about to turn towards the door when he speaks. “I’m glad you got some sleep. You’ve been running on fumes lately.”
I’m not sure if that’s meant to be a reprimand or a peace offering, but he looks neither pissed nor annoyed. His signature eyebrow furrow is absent, too.
“Is it that obvious?” He arches his brow again and I let out an embarrassed chuckle. “I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s not so easy to juggle everything all the time. I do have help. Amelia’s a godsend, but she’s been getting restless lately and I just know that, at some point, it doesn’t matter how much more I agree to pay her; she’s going to want to leave.”
I have no idea why I’m telling him all this. Maybe it’s the fact that, for once, he’s actually listening.
He folds his hands in front of him. “Why do you think she’s getting restless?”
