His grip on Langley’s arm is tight, and Langley strains against Oliver’s hold, his expression shifting from shock to anger in the blink of an eye.
“Let me go,” he snaps, trying to pull free, his face reddening with the effort.
Oliver doesn’t immediately release him, his jaw clenched so tight the muscle in his cheek is ticking. But then he does, shoving Langley back a step, causing him to stumble a bit.
“Start talking,” Oliver demands, his usually soft voice hard as steel. “What the hell were you doing at her door?”
Langley straightens his jacket with jerky movements, then puts his hands in his pockets, glaring at Oliver before he turns his attention to me. I feel pinned by his gaze, my fingers twisting nervously in the hem of Misha’s hoodie.
“I was just checking to make sure Amelia’s safe,” he says defensively, almost wounded. “I heard there were security breaches lately. I was concerned.”
Oliver scoffs, the sound disbelieving. Langley’s gaze zeros in on me, but Oliver steps closer to him, his stance protective as he partially blocks me from view. “More like you were trying to get into her apartment,” he accuses, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses.
Langley shakes his head vehemently, his expression indignant. “That’s outrageous. I was worried since nobody was in the apartment next to hers anymore. Hendricks is gone, and he told me about what happened to Amelia. About the intruder.”
My breath catches at the mention of the attack, the memory of that night flashing through my mind, and I have to suppress a shudder. “You know about that?” The words slip out, shaky, despite my best efforts to keep calm.
Langley’s gaze softens, though I catch the frustration flickering behind his eyes. “Everyone knows, Amelia. I heard something in the hallway and thought I’d make sure you were safe since you’re alone.”
“She’s not alone,” Oliver hisses, his anger barely contained. I can see his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as if he’s fighting the urge to grab Langley again. “And she’s not your fucking problem.”
Langley’s eyes flick between us, his expression hardening.
Yep, he is mine. I am theirs.
Something in Langley’s gaze unsettles me—frustration and something I can’t quite pin down.
“I was just trying to help,” he mutters, but there’s a bitterness now that wasn’t there before.
“Help by minding your own business,” Oliver snaps back, his posture still tense, ready to step in if Langley makes any sudden moves.
I smile at Oliver.
My sweet protector.
Langley raises his hands in a placating gesture, but the look in his eyes tells me he’s not happy about being dismissed like this. “Fine. I’ll go,” he says, his voice clipped. “But make sure you’re careful, Amelia. It seems like this building isn’t as secure as it used to be.”
Langley turns to leave, but something nags at me.
Why did he mention Hendricks?
So I ask him again. “Why did Hendricks quit?”
Langley pauses, glancing back at me with a hint of surprise, hesitating as if he hadn’t expected the question. “I already toldyou. Personal reasons.” Still, there’s something off in his tone, and when I furrow my brows at him, he huffs a humorless laugh. “But it wasn’t for the money, that’s for sure. I don’t think that small startup pays him any good.”
“What startup?” I ask.
Langley gives me a long, searching look, his eyes narrowing as if he’s weighing how much to say. Finally, he straightens his shirt, muttering under his breath, “I don’t know. Just something I heard.” He shakes his head in apparent frustration. “This is what I get for trying to help.” Without another word, he turns and walks away, his footsteps fading as he rounds the corner.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I turn to Oliver, the unease in my chest growing. “Did you hear that?”
Oliver nods, his expression serious as he pulls out his phone, dialing quickly. “Grey, come down here. Bring Misha and the laptops.”
Opening the door to my apartment, Oliver and I step inside. Grey’s voice is audible on the other end of Oliver’s phone, sharp and alert, but my mind is too preoccupied to focus on their conversation.
What startup was Langley talking about?
And is Hendricks the one who stole my work after all?
