Page 104 of Kaine

“You hypocritical asshole.” I hiss, the anger burning in my chest.

“Jemima, go.”

“Yes, Mr. Ashley,” she says, standing up and making for the elevator.

We both turn and watch her go, the fury building and building inside of me.

“I can NOT beli-...” I start.

“Wait,” he hisses, pressing a finger to his lips, gesturing his head toward Jemima, just as there’s a ding to announce the elevator’s arrival.

“No, I will not fucking wait. In fact, I’m not even going to fucking stay. Hold the elevator, Jemima,” I call out as I run to join her.

“No, don’t hold it, Jemima.” Kaine comes running after me, grabbing my hand just as I step into the elevator and pulls me back. “Go!”

Jemima reaches for the button to close the door and gives me an apologetic smile. The elevator leaves and we’re alone.

“I don’t want to talk to you, Kaine.” I say, refusing to look at him.

“Please, just listen!”

“What? What could you possibly have to say that would make this alright?”

“I just... I just had to know.”

“Know what?! If I was some sort of gold digger? After all your billions of dollars?”

“No, it’s just...”

“Just what? Or maybe... oh my God, or maybe I planned the whole mugging? I wanted to get stabbed in the stomach and have my throat almost slit?”

“Jade. Of course not, I didn’t think...”

“And that I loved having mobs of crazy New Yorkers camp out in front of my workplace?”

“You tried very hard to find me,” he says as an argument.

I gasp at the meaning behind the comment. He knows why I did that. And yet he’s bringing it up as an explanation.

“And I told you why. And I thought you understood.”

“I do.”

“You don’t.”

“I had to be sure, a man in my...”

“Position? I don’t give a crap about your position, Kaine. I didn’t know you from a homeless man when we first met, it’s not why I wanted to find you. You... you know, when you told me you’d been watching me on the security camera at your apartment, I didn’t like it, but fine, it’s your home. Then you stalk me, following me when I go to find Gabriel? Now I find out you had a fucking PI investigate me? Do you, do you even know what an invasion of privacy that is? I’m not one of your employees, Kaine! We’re... we’re supposed to... be something. Fuck, I don’t know what we are.” I throw my hands up in defeat.

He flinches. Like I’ve hurt him. As if I could.

I turn away from him, staring out the side window out into the grey ski.

“Don’t say that. You know what we are,” he says softly. And in this moment, I don’t agree with him.

“What? What are we? Huh, you apparently know everything about me? But what do I know about you? Nothing... NOTHING! You won’t share anything with me.”

“Jade. Come on.” He comes up behind me and pulls me tightly against him. I gather all my inner strength to push him away.