Page 25 of Strictly Against Policy

“Yes.” She blew out a long sigh. “Now, if you’ll move to the side, I’ll get going.”

She pushed my jacket gently into my chest, and I took hold of both of her wrists before she could pull away. “Going where?”

She didn’t answer, but her eyes welled up again.

“Do you have anywhere safe to go?” I asked.

She blinked. “No, but it’s alright.” Her voice was so light it sounded like a breath.

“It’s not safe for you to go home, Lina.”

“I’ll be fine.” She shrugged.

My hands trembled, and my jaw tightened. I couldn’t believe she was telling me this nonsense. Where was the woman who was always calm, unbothered, and practically mechanical? Where was the woman who held her head high, looked me straight in the eyes, and demanded I act professional? Where was the Lina Lee I knew?

I let go of her and let my hands fall to my side. My heavy overcoat was still in her hands as she pulled away from me.

“Fine? Fine how? You were terrified of your brother just a few minutes ago. Now you’re saying you’ll be fine when he comes to your door later? He could hurt you or worse⁠—”

“Why do you even care?” she spat. Her voice rose sharply. “You hate me, don’t you?”

My dry throat worked, trying to swallow down whatever emotions were forming in my chest.

“I’m not an emotionless monster, Lina. I may not like you, but I care for your safety and life. It’d be negligent of me as your manager to ignore this.” I huffed out another breath as her face grew brighter and redder. “We’re not leaving until I’m certain you’re somewhere safe or know someone is staying with you. Can you call your boyfriend or a friend to come stay with you?”

Lina hesitated, trying to hand me back my overcoat again. I knew if I accepted it, she’d try to slip around me and leave. I blocked the doorway with my entire body and crossed my arms across my chest. Little Miss Perfect wasn’t going anywhere.

She pursed her lips, observing the way I filled up the door frame. “I have no one to call,” she whispered, eyes now on the ground. “My friend’s out of state to see her sister and mom. I don’t have a boyfriend, so . . .”

I quickly pulled out my phone to go through my contacts. “Julie and Andy should have a spare bedroom for you to stay the night. If not, you could stay with my cousin, Shoua, too. I’d offer you my sister’s old room to stay the night, but I know my mom would just⁠—”

“There’s no need,” interjected Lina. “It’ll be fine, Jonathan. I will be fine.”

I opened my mouth to speak up when she continued. “My brother is all talk and no bite. Besides, you scared him earlier.”

I scoffed. “That man didn’t look one bit scared.”

“You’re taller than him.” Her eyes lingered from my head to my toes in a lethargic but observant way. That dark gaze dipped across every valley and inch of my body with such careful regard that I couldn’t watch her watch me. “You’re big, Jonathan.”

Her words danced across my chest in a velvety caress, making me shiver. I could hardly breathe with the loud booming of my increasing heart rate. My entire body nearly combusted into flames while Lina stood there, clueless to the workings of my body. She continued with her husky, smooth voice.

“You’re strong, too.” Out of the corner of my eyes, I watched the way her eyes darted to my chest and arms. She eyed the width of my chest and the veins on my hands; a simple observation devoid of any desire or lust. “You scared him. So, if you could step aside, I’d appreciate it. I want to go home after a long day of work, Dr. Lo.”

I shuddered out an exhale. “I don’t trust you.”

Her eyebrows crinkled, and her pink lips pursed into a frown. “Trust me?”

“You claim your brother isn’t a threat to you or your welfare, but I bet he’ll be there when you get home.” She attempted to interrupt me, but I continued. “If he is, please promise me you’ll call the police.”

The tiniest sliver of an emotion struck her face, but it was instantly replaced by a guise of calmness. “I’ll be fine.”

The woman who was crying just a moment ago was no longer here. Instead, it was the icy and unbothered Lina I’d always known. The pink around the corners of her eyes was the only remnant of the events that had unfolded a few minutes ago.

I said nothing and stepped aside. She handed me my coat and walked out. As she did, my chest grew heavy with concern. I shouldn’t have let her leave. But I did so because I had no right to impose, even if I thought she was putting her own safety at risk.

I let her go. Then, I paid the price—she ran through my mind for hours on end. Her screaming brother and his threats, her crying, and the broken facade of her acting fine went in and out of my brain.

That night, I didn’t sleep a fucking wink.