33. Lorelei

33

LORELEI

I swallow thickly as I stare at numerous notifications of messages from Matt staring back at me.

When I didn't hear anything from him last night or all day, I thought that maybe he'd gotten the message and was finally going to back off.

Apparently, that was wishful thinking.

"You want him to leave you alone?" Kian asks, his voice deadly serious. "Then let me help you."

I shake my head, unable to process all of this.

I barely hear the sound of the car pulling up, and it's not until Kian reaches for my hand that I realize what's happening.

He leads me toward the limo with his hand resting on the small of my back, and after greeting Jamie, who's holding the door open for us, he follows me inside.

The second the door closes behind us, I swear all the air goes with it.

Kian presses the button to raise the privacy screen, and it only compounds the issue.

When he drops into the seat beside me, I swear he's closer than he was on the way here.

His heat burns down the length of my body, and suddenly, my dress feels too small. Suffocating.

"I'm tired," he says after a few seconds, although his voice doesn't convey the feeling he expresses. He sounds fully awake and alert. "Sasha, Claudine…they all want something from me. Something that I don't have to offer them."

He glances at me when I don't respond, but I stay silent and allow him to continue.

"This arrangement will be mutually beneficial for both of us. It'll get Matt off your back, and it'll give me a break."

Picking at my nails, I consider his words now that the shock and initial anger have ebbed away.

"You really want to be my fake boyfriend?"

"Sure, why not?" he asks as if this isn't a big deal.

"But I'm your assistant."

"Bosses and assistants hooking up is pretty common."

"As common as making them cry?" I quip.

"I haven't fucked any of my assistants before, if that's what you're asking."

"And that won't be changing anytime soon. I said fake boyfriend, Kian. F.A.K.E." I'm not sure which one of us I spell it out for.

We're in dangerous territory right now. Territory that I know I need to back away from as fast as I can.

But Kian Callahan is like a flame. I just can't help but touch. Metaphorically, of course.

There will be no touching.

I don't need to look over to know his signature smirk is fully in place.

"Whatever you say, Temptress."

"I won't do anything for your image. I'm not the daughter of some wealthy businessman, or the daughter of a mogul or philanthropist, or an up-and-coming influencer or celeb?—

"Good. Fuck all of those."

I sit up straighter and finally look over at him.

The engine rumbles beneath us as Jamie makes his way across the city toward my apartment.

"You're actually serious, aren't you?" I ask in amazement.

"That asshole is harassing you, Lorelei. Do you really think he's going to get bored and just give up?"

I want to say that he will, but I've been saying that for weeks now. Even a black eye hasn't deterred him.

"He won't. But let him think that you've moved on and he might just figure out that it's really over."

"And you really think you being in a ‘fake' relationship will force your harem of loyal followers to back off? I'm not sure you're really giving these women's tenacity and determination enough credit."

"There are plenty of other men they can turn their attention to."

"Wow." I laugh, making Kian's eyes widen in surprise. "How much did it hurt to just admit that you're not all that special?"

"Careful, Temptress, I can redact this offer at any time."

I think for a moment. "Seems to me like you're the keenest party here, seeing as you've already announced it."

"I'm not allowing you to be subjected to Sasha's shit."

"How noble of you."

He narrows his eyes in warning as his patience begins to visibly drain.

"Okay, so say I agree to this inane plan; how would it look exactly?"

Kian relaxes back in the seat as if I just agreed. He combs his fingers through his hair as he thinks for a moment.

"It would look exactly like it does now. Only…"

"Only what?" I ask when he trails off. "I'm not sleeping with you. You can forget that."

"I was going to say that you actually have to look like you like me. But—" He shifts even closer and wraps his arm around my shoulders. "If you want to turn this to the more intimate parts of our arrangement, then I'm more than happy to discuss details."

A shudder rips through me when his fingers gently brush the skin just beneath my hairline.

"Kian," I warn.

"What? If we're fake dating each other, there's nothing wrong with us benefiting from it."

"You laid the benefits out a moment ago. Discourage Matt and send your fan club after other eligible bachelors."

"Aw, you think I'm eligible."

"You're insufferable."

"And you're hot. Sue me."

The car slows and I look out, hopeful that I'll find my apartment.

Nope, just a set of lights.

"What are your plans this weekend?"

"Well…I did consider popping to Paris. It's been a while. Or maybe Rome. But it might just be a little too much for a weekend, so I think I'll probably just hang out at home. Maybe have lunch with Tate. Get takeout. Wash my hair."

"Think I prefer the first options."

"Ah, yes, but then you're a billionaire who can charter a jet and go wherever you want in the world at the drop of a hat. Us mere mortals need to book commercial flights and spend hours in an airport."

He smirks. "Having money sure has its benefits." I roll my eyes hard enough to hurt. "Can I take you out?"

"Sorry, I'm busy."

"But we're dating," he sulks, sticking his bottom lip out like a petulant child.

"No, you have floated an idea about us faking it. An idea I have yet to agree to."

"But you're going to," he states arrogantly.

"Am I?" I quiz.

"Of course you are. You know I'm right. And anyway, dating me would be fucking awesome."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never had a girlfriend before, have you?"

"Lorelei Tempest, did you Google me?" he asks, quirking a brow.

"I think it's only sensible to know as much about my boss as possible."

"And I'm sure whatever shit has been written about me in the media was very enlightening."

"Like you wouldn't believe. All those scorned women you've left in your wake really had a lot to say."

"Lies. All of them."

"Good to know. So…previous girlfriends?"

"You're right. I've never dated anyone seriously. Ever. I'll be good at it, though." He leans closer, allowing his breath to race down my neck. "I know exactly how to treat a woman."

Oh my god.

Without instruction from my brain, my head turns to look at him.

My breath catches and my surroundings vanish as his eyes drop to my lips again.

Do it , I want to scream when he finds my eyes again.

Suddenly, the door is pulled open and we both jump back. One glance out of the window tells me that I'm home now.

I should probably be glad, but honestly, I'm mostly disappointed that our time is over.

"Right, well. Thank you for this enlightening evening. I'll see you on Monday."

I climb out of the limo with Jamie's help and then walk into my building without looking back.

Leave. Please leave.

I'm not sure I could be held responsible for my actions if he were to do anything else.

Hell, the guy just offered to make one of my biggest problems go away.

Sure, he's going to benefit from it too. But still. People—men—don't offer to do things like that for me.

The elevator doors open the second I press the button and I slip inside.

In seconds, I'm closed into the small car, and it jolts around me as it climbs through the building.

A few years ago, I never would have stepped into something so small and enclosed.

It was a fear that was born from my less-than-memorable childhood, and something I never want to think about again. It's also something that I'll forever be grateful to Tate for helping me with.

Pushing thoughts of my former years behind me, I focus on the present and Kian's proposal.

It's crazy, sure. But it also makes a lot of sense.

I have one big problem with it, though.

Who the hell in their right mind will believe that Kian Callahan has lowered his standards enough to choose me?

I'm lost in my own insecurities when the elevator jolts to a stop.

Shit.

My eyes shoot to the little screen to find that I'm one floor below where I need to be.

Jamming my finger against the button for my floor, I pray that it'll kickstart it into moving.

I might be mostly okay with enclosed spaces these days, but getting stuck in an elevator is a very different situation.

I keep pressing the button over and over, but nothing happens.

"Come on, please," I beg, my pulse beginning to race.

I jam my finger against the emergency call button. But nothing happens.

No alarm rings. No voice crackles down the line with supportive words about getting help.

Regretting my decision to run away from Kian the way I did, I weigh my options.

Normally, I'd call Tate. But she's at a different event with King tonight.

Flipping open my purse, I pull my cell out.

I'm immediately assaulted with even more message notifications from Matt.

"This arrangement will be mutually beneficial for both of us. It'll get Matt off your back…"

"Jesus." As if Kian wasn't messing with my head enough already.

The lights above me flicker, and my heart jumps into my throat.

I can't be stuck in here in the dark. I just can't.

Swallowing thickly, I unlock my cell and open my contacts.

I do have other people I could call in an emergency, but it's Kian's contact I find myself staring at.

My thumb hovers over the call button.

Even if he has left, he'll be the closest person.

Suddenly, I'm plunged into darkness.

I stumble back, colliding with the wall as the space around me instantly begins closing in.

My cell ensures it's not completely dark, but one look at the battery and I know it's not going to help me for very long.

Before time runs out, I hit call.

"You've reached Kian Callahan. Please leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

"Motherfucker," I hiss, watching in horror as my cell dies in my hands. "FUUUUCK," I sob, wrapping my arms around myself protectively.

Sliding down the wall, I tuck my legs against my chest and rest my head on my knees. Instantly, I'm six again, and the shouts and screams I remember all too well echo around me.

Ice fills my veins, making my entire body tremble.

I was useless then, and I'm useless now. Unless someone in this building realizes the elevator is out and calls for help, I'm fucked.

I'm going to be here all night.

A loud sob bubbles up my throat as the sound of Mom's screams haunts me just like they used to every night back then.

Screams. Slaps. Sobs. Punches. Grunts. Moans. Threats.

Without realizing it, tears are streaming down my cheeks as I relive everything I've worked so hard to forget.

What is Kian thinking? I'm not the woman he wants to be faking anything with.

I'm just a broken little girl who is the product of her shitty upbringing.

I can't stand beside a man like him.

I don't belong in the world he inhabits.

I'm no one.

Just a broken little girl trying to outrun her nightmares.