Prey Drive by Jen Stevens
Chapter 43
the lamb
out and fall asleep on my desk by 3 p.m.
Bash kept me awake all night, and while I was a willing participant in his escapades, I’m certainly paying for that decision today.
My training session is being led by Grace, who is going over all the amazing things Lancaster Tech has to offer its employees. It’s an enormous part of my job, knowing all these benefits, but it’s insanely boring and hard to retain when the man they speak so highly of robbed me of all my rest the night before. I feel like if anyone had suspicions about me and Bash before, they’re more than certain there’s something going on between us now.
It doesn’t help that he insisted on walking in with me this morning instead of letting me hang back for a few minutes the way I wanted to. He truly doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him, and he fails to understand why I can’t seem to take on the same attitude.
Probably because there’s about a billion-dollar difference in our bank accounts, my guy.
He had to work through lunch, so I had a chance to check out the cafeteria and socialize with my new coworkers. Despite being seen as Bash’s pet, everyone has been really nice. Most of my fears about taking this position have been pushed away as time goes on, and I feel like it’s something I’m completely capable of. For the first time in my life, I feel like I might be okay. My resentment for my mother fades away with every hour I spend here, part of a community I probably wouldn’t have otherwise been a part of without her push.
It’s still sad to see my bank account so low from bailing her out, but soon that will be rectified as well.
“You look like your brain has been fried,” Grace comments with a teasing smile. “Let’s wrap it up for today and pick up where we left off tomorrow morning.”
I stare at her disbelievingly, debating whether or not this is some sort of joke, or if she’s really letting me leave early. At all my previous jobs, it was more likely that you’d be asked to stay later than your designated shift than to be released early simply because you looked tired. Rosie is the only exception to that, and my reasoning was a far cry from being kept awake all night by a man with a never-ending sex drive.
Once I confirm that she’s serious, we each pack up our laptops and head out for the day. But as soon as I step into the main office area, I realize I have no idea where I’m supposed to go.
Do I tell Bash I’m leaving early? Am I expected to go to his apartment and wait for him? Does he even care?
I think my hotel room is still reserved. Though, I’ve always wanted to explore the streets of New York…
“Heading out?” Bash calls from the elevators beside Eliza, who stands with a large bag strapped across her shoulder.
When I nod at him hesitantly, he mumbles something to her, and then walks over to me, turning us away from the rest of the lobby so no one overhears. I take note of Eliza stiffening behind his back, though she keeps her mouth clamped shut.
“We're going to grab a coffee. You look like you could use one,” he says with a wink.
“I'm okay,” I tell him, ignoring his assistant's eyes burning holes into the side of my head. “I was just going to walk around for a bit. I've never been here before, and I've always wanted to see the square.”
Bash's eyes crinkle in amusement, and he chuckles lightly, like there's another inside joke I'm missing out on.
“Time Square is still quite a ways away,” he says, tilting his head at me pitifully. Then, his face falls as he looks around us, lowering his voice. “Are you sure you don't just want me to have Sterling take you back to my apartment so you can rest? I don't like the idea of you being alone…”
“Wrap it up, lover boy. We've got a meeting to get to,” Eliza calls across the lobby, earning even more unwanted attention.
“I'll just stay close, then,” I rush out, my tone a little too close to a question. I shoot him an irritated look, silently pleading with him not to make a big deal over this. I'm not asking for permission.
Hanging his head, he blows out a breath. I can tell he wants to insist that I go to his place, but Eliza yells another warning, jabbing her finger on the elevator button. When it immediately dings and the doors open, he lifts his head, those intense eyes pinning me to my spot with their silent warning.
“Stay close. Don't talk to anyone. I'll be back for you in an hour—two tops.”
I nod, frustrated with myself for even allowing him to think he can make these terms, and his gaze lingers on me for a moment too long before he turns away and jogs toward Eliza.
She hits the button to close the doors before I can join them, and I'm forced to wait for the next ride down.
Bash finds me window shopping at a jeweler a few blocks away from the office two hours later. I don't even want to think about how he managed to hunt me down so efficiently, though I wouldn't put it past him to be tracking my phone or something equally as unsettling.
I regretted my decision not to go back to his penthouse within twenty minutes, but I refused to admit defeat to him so quickly. Instead, I wandered around with absolutely no direction while the crisp autumn air nipped at my skin.
What was I thinking, anyway? I couldn't even afford a hotel room in this city. I sure as hell can't afford to shop in any of the stores, especially the ones surrounding blocks of office buildings filled with a bunch of rich people.
And no one here is very kind, either. It's no wonder he was bred into a psychopath.
“See anything that catches your eye?” he asks from beside me, gazing in at all the beautiful, expensive pieces.
I point to a golden, heart-shaped locket that's studded with diamonds. “My mother had something like that once. She kept a picture of mine and my sister's father in it and wore it every day,” I find myself telling him.
Seeing it here in the window sparked the memory, and my mood instantly went downhill after that. “He died when we were young and she didn't keep many pictures of him around. She said she'd give it to me when I turned thirteen. But then one day, about two months before my birthday, she pawned it to pay the rent. I was so mad at her, we didn't speak for a week.”
Sebastian isn't looking at the locket as I tell him my pathetic story. Instead, he's staring down at me with a look I've never seen him wear before, and I quickly turn away as soon as I notice it. I'm not sure I have the mental capacity to deal with another overbearing version of him right now.
But when a few seconds pass and his gaze lingers, I turn my head to ask what he's doing when he shifts his feet to fully face me, forcing me to do the same. I track his movements as he reaches into the pocket of his pants and pulls out a golden, heart-shaped locket. It's nearly identical to the one in the window, save for all the diamonds.
“This was my sister's,” he explains, holding it up in front of his face with a look of pure misery.
“It's beautiful.”
Those gorgeous green eyes, now a shade lighter than I've ever seen them, flick from the locket to me in a silent debate. Until, without warning, he grabs my shoulder and spins me around, swinging the necklace in front of my face so he can put it around my neck.
“I want you to have it.”
Stepping away, I shake my head adamantly. “I can't take this from you, Bash.”
But he pulls me back, clasping it together before I can protest any more. “I want it to go to someone who appreciates it as much as she did, and I can't do that. There's a picture of me and her inside. You can toss it and put your own in there.”
His shoulders stiffen, and he looks off in the distance behind me, as if someone has just called his name. I turn to see what caught his attention, but no one is anywhere near us. When I turn back to face him, he shakes his head and looks back down at me, smiling.
“Thank you,” I tell him genuinely. “I'll make sure it stays in good hands.”
That same proud smile graces his lips as he grabs my hand into his and leads me down the street.
“Your sister meant a lot to you, but you never talk about her,” I point out, hoping I'm not prying too much.
Ever since Eliza told me about her, a million questions have been burning in the back of my mind. Questions I've been too afraid to voice for fear of him shutting me down. This feels like the perfect opportunity to learn more about my mysterious man.
“Were you close?”
There's a brief pause when I think he's going to shut me down. “She meant everything to me,” he admits, surprising me. “And we were nearly inseparable since birth. She was my best friend. I wish I could talk about her more; it just still hurts too much.”
So, they were twins. That explains a lot.
“I'm sorry I brought it up, then.”
“Don't be. You remind me of her. You're both extremely hard-headed.”
I swat his arm, and he laughs lightly, chasing away the heaviness of the moment.
“I'd like for you to tell me more about her one day.”
He turns his head to me, still smiling as a new twinkle appears in his eyes. “I'd love to.”
We arrive at the front of our office building, and he releases my hand, signaling his driver toward us.
“Let's go home,” he mumbles to me, then leads the way to the town car.