Before I could reply, a man entered the room and set his things on the desk, drawing my attention immediately.
“Okay, class, we’ve got a lot to cover today and only two hours to get through it. As the advanced cybersecurity students, you’ve already completed two of your three coursework papers. In our next class, you’ll get the final one.”
Throughout the class, I watched as she meticulously took notes, answered questions with ease, and explained complex concepts to her peers. Every time she spoke, the room seemed to lean in, hanging on her words. She wasn’t just smart…Sienna was fucking brilliant, confident, and commanding, all at once.
I let a small, rare smile tug at my lips. And for the first time in days, I felt a small flicker of hope that if anyone could uncover the alliances I couldn’t, it was her.
Again, I found myself asking,How the hell did Jasper end up with a daughter like her?
Over the next few days, Sienna and I fell into a routine. We met in the kitchen for breakfast every morning. She'd do the dishes, and we'd head to the campus.
I felt as though she was finally relaxing around me. That at least we could be friends. Because being more would make me want to rewrite every rule I had written for myself. And I wasn't sure it was a chance I was ready to take.
Yet, during her classes, I noticed things I shouldn’t have. The way she straightened her shoulders when she focused. Thefurrow of her brow as she typed, the soft bite of her lower lip when she was trying to work something out, the light in her eyes when she finally did. At night, she’d shower, curl up with her laptop, and lose herself in her studies. Sometimes I’d bring her dinner, and if I didn’t say anything, she’d be so absorbed she wouldn’t even know I was there.
Sienna Romonoff was…mesmerizing.
She wasn’t just beautiful, with those pale blue eyes and honey-blonde hair; her mind was fucking fascinating.
Her intelligence was what really drew me to her.
I’d never been one for shallow conversations about the weather or the latest car on the market. I needed substance. Someone who was on par with me and would understand things without me having to explain every single detail.
And the more I thought about it, I couldn’t help but wonder if, somehow, I could have that with Sienna.
I felt as though I was fighting a constant internal war where she was concerned.
Because I had to remind myself that she was too young, and I’d agreed to Jasper’s deal to protect her, not to exploit her. Falling for her was not a part of my plan.
I couldn’t cross that line. She was mine to guard. Nothing more.
Yet the more I warned myself, the more I realized that somewhere along the way…in my mind…I’d already crossed it.
One night, while I was finalizing a supply list in the home office, a soft knock sounded at the door. I looked up to find Sienna standing there, wrapped in a gray robe and fuzzy socks.
And fuck me if she didn't look beautiful in it.
I checked the time; it was just after midnight.
“Sienna, why are you still up?” I asked.
She stepped inside, avoiding my gaze, fiddling with the belt on her robe. She looked…nervous.
I rose to my feet, every instinct urging me to go to her, but I stayed where I was. “Sienna, is something wrong?”
Her fingers tightened around the belt of her robe. “Can you stop coming to class with me? Before, people just thought I was weird. Now they think I’m the weird girl with a friend who follows her around like a puppy.”
“And you care what people think?” I asked quietly.
“There are times when I don’t, and sometimes I do. And I'm in the middle of midterms. I just want to focus on my classes and studies. Flunking is not an option. And with everything that has happened recently, it's been difficult to focus.”
She took a small step closer to my desk. “I promise I won’t run. Not when my father’s still in danger, and not after I said I’d help you. You don’t have to keep guarding me.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible, Sienna.” My voice came out harsher than expected.
Didn't she want me around? I thought her view of me had changed.
“Jasper is your father, and scheming runs in his blood. Apples don’t fall far. If you decide to pull a fast one on me, I’d lose my leverage in this situation.”
