Asher sighs and runs a hand through his dark hair, which, now that I look at it, is incredibly messy. Like he’s been doing that for hours.
“I’m sorry,” we both say at the same time.
“I understand why you wouldn’t want to be on your phone at work. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I’ve just been out of my mind worrying, and I didn’t even know you’d left, so when you called I sort of panicked.”
I nod. “I get it. I definitely didn’t mean to put you through all that.”
“You’re okay, though? He didn’t hurt you?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t hurt me. Just scared me a bit, and I left right after. Zuri came and picked me up, and before you protest, I called her because I wasn’t in a headspace to cope with you acting like this—” I wave my hand at his furious scowl and rigid shoulders, muscles bunched like he’s ready to attack. He unfists his hands, then reaches out to take mine and strokes my knuckles with his thumb.
“She’s a good friend,” he says after a moment, jaw unclenching.
“She is.”
38
IS THIS OBSESSION?
ASHER
“So,”I clear my throat, “was there something else you wanted to talk about?”
“Well…” she says, slouching in her chair. “I think we can both agree that we need to do something. You’re right, I don’t think I can keep working there, at least not long term. Not if Chadwick or your parents are there.”
I flinch when she calls them my parents. I know technically they are, that they’re my blood, but they’re not my family. She’s my family now, whether it’s official or not.
I want to tell her what I’ve been working on this week, the scheme to get me out from under their thumb once and for all. I hate keeping things from her, but I’m not ready yet. I haven’t fully faced what it would mean for me if it goes wrong. My tentative plan could so easily backfire, and I fear I’d be trapped with them forever, unable to protect her.
“I’ve been working on a plan this week, something I think could get us out of this situation entirely.” I can at least share some of the background information with her, she deserves that much.
“Oh?” Her eyebrows jump and my heart thumps at the hope flooding her eyes.
“It’s not set in stone yet, I’ve got a couple last pieces I’m putting into place.” I keep going before she can ask further. “I found out Claude and Estelle bribed at least some of the board members, I’m not sure on all of them yet, but that’s how they came to be the new CEO’s. They bought their way in. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some threats involved as well.”
Her eyes pop and I nod, pinching my lips.
“That’s…” she shakes her head. “Well, really not surprising at all, I guess.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You said you had a plan, though?”
“Raya, I need you to trust me. I’ll tell you when I have something more solid, but for now, I don’t want you involved. If they find out what I’m doing, if they catch wind of any of this, I don’t want you or your name anywhere near it. It’s too dangerous.”
“If it’s too dangerous for me, then it’s too dangerous for you too,” she whispers, her voice showing her panic.
I shake my head and squeeze her hand in mine.
“No, sunshine. They want me alive, they want me on their side. I’m not in nearly as much danger from them as you are. You, they wouldn’t think twice about hurting.”Or killing, or using against me.
Her eyes search mine, and I do my best to project calm confidence. I’m trembling on the inside thinking about what might happen if I fail, but I refuse to add any more worry or stress to her life right now. She’s already carrying enough.
“You promise you’ll stay safe?”
“I promise.”
She nods, but is still fidgeting, anxious. I pull her onto my lap, not caring that we’re in public, and she melts against me.
