I bit back my scowl. He nodded without looking at them and climbed up the steps to the chestnut doors. He barged in with me right behind him. I took the time to shut the doors gently behind us. When I turned around Samuel had settled on a leather chair, an ankle crossed over his other knee. On the other side of the desk was a leaner male looking over his glasses at him with an eyebrow raised. His eyes were a deep green that complementedhis fair complexion. While Samuel Astor’s hair was more golden, this Astor had a lighter blonde that verged on white.
I hovered near the door, trying to blend in to the wall.
“You didn’t sign the budget?” The Astor, whose name eluded me, drawled out, returning his attention to the computer screen. Unlike the charm Samuel showed, this one only exuded a rigid composure.
“Easy fix, Caine.”
“It’s unlike you, is all I’m saying. No need for the tetchiness.”
Samuel grunted. Caine Astor rifled through his drawer and pulled out a thick black folder and tossed it on the desk in front of Samuel.
He plucked up the pen resting in front of his brother and opened the file. While he was busy doing that, Caine caught one of my furtive glances at them and lifted a pale eyebrow.
“New assistant?”
“Intern.” The pen scratched across paper.
Caine hummed, still not removing his eyes from me.
“Stop eyeing my intern.” Samuel smacked the pen on the sheet, shoved it across the desk, where the thick folder hit Caine’s keyboard, and then stood and moved toward me, eyebrows drawn down. I hurried to open the door for him.
“Don’t forget to come to the Club.”
Samuel grunted. What club? When? Was it a strip club? I tried not to let my face show my internal turmoil. My heart pounded in my chest. Samuel moved past me, and I shut the door but not before noting Caine’s smirk.
I hurried after Samuel, my mind going a mile a minute. If he frequented a club, I couldn’t handle that. I would fall apart, die, suffocate, all at once. If he was with someone else?—
“Nina,” Samuel said, sparking me back to life. We were back in the elevator, and he pressed the button for the first level. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said, focusing on my flats.
“Nina,” he warned, but his phone rang again, saving me. He sighed and answered. I withdrew into my head as he talked to someone about budget codes and investments. Honestly, all of that nuanced business talk was beyond me. He stepped into the main lobby, still talking on the phone, and I slowed. I was just following him, but did he want me to? What if I had to go back upstairs?
These doubts were going to eat me up.
His steps slowed and he looked back at me, waiting.
I jolted back to life, and hurried to catch up with him. He guided me with a palm on my spine to his vehicle waiting for us outside.
Chapter Six
Billings drove us a few streets over and Samuel hadn’t gotten off the phone since, he’d even pulled his laptop out and set it on his knees to work. We still sat in his expensive Royce under the flickering lights of the mall’s garage. I smoothed my hands on my thighs, trying my best to sit still next to him. Why were we at the department store? I wanted to ask him, but now he was speaking another language to the other person he’d begun a conversation with—I could speak Spanish as that was the language my grandparents raised me with, but that was the extent of my knowledge of other languages.
I peeked over at Billings but he stared straight ahead, not fazed by the wait. Samuel closed his laptop and lifted it toward me. Quickly grabbing it, I slid it into his briefcase and secured itshut. Samuel still hadn’t gotten off the phone, but he slid out of the car and shut the door.
“Do you think he wants me to stay here?” I whispered to Billings.
“I don’t know, miss.”
I shuffled my feet, watching as he crossed the backside of the car, but he turned toward my door and pulled it open. He held out his free hand with a raise of his eyebrow. I cautiously lifted my hand, and he captured it, pulling me out.
I reached my other hand toward the door, missing it. “I didn’t close it.” Samuel didn’t react but Billings was already out of the car, heading to close it. The woosh of the electric doors opening let out a stream of cool air, fluttering the strands framing my face. He guided me past a phone service, across the pathway and toward the expensive boutique. It was so bright in here I had to squint. Finally, Samuel hung the phone up.
A girl about my age hurried forward, hobbling slightly on her heels, determination lashed across her face as she caught herself.
“Welcome, is there anything I can help you find?” Her chest rose and strained against her too tight blouse. I peeked up at Samuel, but he was frowning down at a text.
“A private room please,” he said without looking up.
