The Damaged (The Insiders Trilogy #2) - Tijan by Tijan

Fitz was about to open his door, and I knew what he would do after that.

I couldn’t. That was too much attention.

“Is Erik inside? I’d like to get out on my own.”

His eyes met me in the mirror. He knew what I was really asking, and after a second look, he used his phone. It buzzed back a moment later, and I looked through my window to the building. As Fitz answered me, I already spotted Erik standing at the door.

He did look like a grad student. Jeans. Hoodie. He had a bag slung over one shoulder and his phone in his hand. His gaze on me, he pushed open the building’s door, taking a casual stance behind it.

He was looking just like the four other students right next to him, but I knew that wasn’t the case. He was out there watching me, and I knew as I got to the building he’d somehow find a way to open the door for me. I would have to wait so he could go in first. These rules were stressed heavily to me the night prior. There was protocol and reasons for everything, but mostly Kash said it was all for my safety.

“You’re good to go.”

I grabbed my bag and nodded to Fitz. “Thank you.”

I got out, and as soon as I did, my phone started ringing.

Kash calling.

He’d woken me this morning with his mouth trailing down my spine, a firm hand on my hip, and then a full hour of ecstasy. I expected a quickie for the morning. It was anything but. He’d been in no hurry. There was still that, but there’d been a whole element where it was slow and tender and loving. He kissed me the entire time he made love to me.

My entire body had been trembling from the emotions, and he rubbed a tear away with his thumb at the end. I’d been that overwhelmed.

I loved him.

God, did I love him, and somehow he knew the exact touch I needed to start this next chapter.

I answered, my phone to my ear. “You’re supposed to be walking into your first shareholders’ meeting right now.”

Kash came from a powerful, well-connected family. With his grandfather being the evil lord he was—wealthy, powerful, and dangerous—and his mom having been a money genius who left an extremely large inheritance, he was a major player in the world. Besides money and power, Kash had his father’s shares in Phoenix Tech, since he and Peter started the company together.

Kash had been steadily taking over his father’s shares, which my father had previously voted in his stead, and he was also taking over older companies that his mother had started with a similar arrangement. The owners had been waiting for Evelyn Colello’s son to step out of the shadows.

A low chuckle greeted me, and it washed over me, my entire body encased in warmth and flutters.

The flutters. I was still affected by just his voice.

“Shareholders can wait. Fitz said you’re heading inside. How are you feeling?”

I stopped on the sidewalk, adjusting my bag, and shut the door behind me. The air was warm, sunshine already promising to be high and heavy that day, and students of all ages roamed behind me, around me, cutting in front of the vehicle. More than a few were eyeing Fitz, who could be seen through the windshield.

It was an impressive vehicle, a black SUV, but it wasn’t anything more. I could be a normal student just getting dropped off by someone … but I was in the back and Fitz was in the front and I could feel their gazes switching to me, wondering who I was.

This wouldn’t have bothered me three months ago. Three months ago, I would’ve assumed I was getting the attention because my tech reputation had preceded me. I would’ve been trudging from the parking lot, with my own shitty little Corolla in the lot, and I would’ve been standing in line to get a parking permit so I wouldn’t get a ticket on my first day of classes.

But there was no recognition on any of their faces.

I breathed easier. “I’m feeling ridiculous, to be honest.”

Another low and baritone chuckle from Kash. “You got this. And you already met Busich and Goa. They’ll look out for you.”

I pressed my lips tight together.

I’d met them. I hadn’t wanted to meet them that way, though. Not in my father’s study, with my dad there, and knowing I was already getting special privileges because he was introducing me as Peter Francis’s daughter. Busich was the head of all the graduate programs and Goa was the head of my program’s department. Two individuals a normal graduate student might never have met, but not me. Another change.

All these changes.

My stomach clenched. My gaze wavered; everyone was starting to circle in on me.

Get ahold of yourself! I could hear Chrissy’s voice snapping at me, loaded with impatience and thinking this whole thing was ridiculous. Me, griping about all the “special” things that had happened to me and I knew would keep happening to me. I would’ve rolled eyes at myself three months ago, but—

“What if you dosed her too much?”

“Bitch…”

“Kidnapping and murder…”

I swallowed over a knot that was encased in acid and shoved that whole thing down my throat. That happened.

My hands were shaking, but I kept my voice firm. Goddamn, my voice wouldn’t give anything away.

“You’re right. I’ll be all good.”

Straighten up, Bailey.

I straightened.

Roll your shoulders back, girl.

I rolled my shoulders back.