“Please, Athena.” Those blue puppy dog eyes have me leaning towards him, hazing my thinking.
“How does this help me?”
“You get to be with me all the time.”
I nibble the inside of my cheek. “I’ll ask again, how does this help me?”
“I don’t know, it just does.” He runs his hand down the side of his dark hair.
I ponder for a moment, resuming my pacing. His eyes watch my every move. I’m muttering my thoughts out loud, arguing with myself about why I should or shouldn’t do this.
“No feelings?” My voice is soft.
“No feelings.” He nods firmly and my chest tightens. “Just two friends helping each other.”
“One acquaintance helping another,” I correct him.
“Po-ta-to, po-tah-to.” He shrugs, that boyish grin back on his lips.
“I mean it, Royce Lexington, if you do not play ball, or embarrass me… this is my career on the line too.”
“I swear it, kid.” He crosses his finger over his heart and my heart jolts.
Silence blankets me for a moment.
“So, you’ll do it?” Hopefulness dances in his eyes.
“I’m such an idiot,” I whisper to the floor.
He jumps from the bed, pulling me into his arms and holding me close to him. My head rests against his chest, and I listen to the steady beat of his heart.
“Thank you, I owe you massively.” He places a kiss on the top of my head before unlocking his arms from around my trembling body. “Now, get dressed. We have to meet Nora in twenty.”
“Jeez, gives me so much time,” I mumble, walking towards the bathroom and slamming the door.
Dressed in a long,burnt orange maxi dress and sandals, I walk alongside Royce up the pavement towards where we’re meeting Nora. My curly hair is half clipped up, the rest tumbles down myopen back. Royce keeps smiling at me, and it’s putting an uneasiness deep inside my chest.
“After you,” he mutters as we stand outsideChin Chin.
His hand teases at my lower back as he ushers me forward, almost as if he is scared I will turn around and run. We’re greeted and taken to the table where Nora sits with someone I haven’t met.
“Royce, Athena.” She stands, kissing us both on the cheek then holding her hand out for us to take our seats. “This is Patrick, he is from HR.”
Royce shakes his hand and I give him a curt smile. This is awkward. Placing my small clutch beside me, Royce’s hands are linked and resting on the table.
“Let’s get this out the way, then Patrick can head to his eight p.m. meeting.”
I nod, not quite sure why. She mutters something to Patrick who then leans down and reaches for his briefcase, popping it open on the table and then pulling out a wad of paper.
I swallow. Royce’s hand grips my thigh under the table in a reassuring matter.
“Don’t worry.” He flashes me a toothy grin and I give him a sarcastic smile.
“These are both of your contracts, as well as an NDA for you, Athena.” She winces as she slides it across.
“Why do I need an NDA?” I flick through it, looking to Royce, then to Nora.
“It’s just to cover Royce and us at the team.”
