Chapter 32 "You don't have your period." I glare at him. "How would you know that?" "Other than the fact that my face was in your pussy a few short hours ago, and there was no hint of blood, you have a Mirena IUD and don't get a period with it." "How on earth would you even know that?" He gives me a look that tells me he won't answer, and Jesus, how invasive are his background checks? "Why were you crying?" Vander is holding my wrist with a look that tells me he won't accept my bullshit. "I'm going to miss Champagne. I'll be on my own, and I still feel very new at this." S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That's not where those tears came from. You'd never cry at something like that." I turn to him, all attitude and gusto I hardly feel. "No? And how would you know that?" His hand tightens. "Because I know you." "Ha." I scoff loudly. "You know nothing. You think because we were childhood sweethearts and I let you fuck me a few times that you know me? So wrong." "No? Maybe not. How about you tell me what I'm missing then?" There's accusation and knowing in his tone, but I push past it. "I don't like you enough to tell you anything. In fact, other than being an easy and convenient fuck, I've decided Hazel and I are moving out." Walk away, Vander. Get angry. Hate me. But just walk away. "Oh yeah? When?" "As soon as I can." "You regret fucking me?" No. I don't. Not even with everything that's happened, I don't. "Yes. You were a mistake. It's over and done now. I don't want anything to do with you anymore." His head angles, and he studies me a hell of a lot closer than I like. It's everything from my red lips to my miserable eyes to the quivering of my insides. "You're lying, my little angel." "Fuck off, Vander." I tear away from him and waltz down the hall, only to burst into the conference room, momentarily forgetting all the tears I just shed. Naturally, it's filled with people, all noticing the train wreck that is my face. "Are you okay?" Jeremy asks, concern drawing his brows together. "Oh. Yes. I'm fine." I laugh. It's weak. "I, um... It's..." "Ugh, are your allergies as bad as mine?" Alesha jumps in, saving me and shocking the hell out of me at the same time. "Here. Try this. They're over the counter, but I swear, they work miracles." She fishes through her purse and hands me a small white tablet. A glass of ice water is set in front of me, and I look up to find Vander glaring down at me. Oh boy. "They're the worst. Thank you." I take the pill and swallow it with the water. I don't even care what she gave me. If I'm lucky, it'll be an Ativan or something similar to take the edge off. Vander sits beside me, and the meeting starts. I can't pay attention. People are talking and words are being said, and none of it registers. Which is why I don't belong here. I'm a danger to all of this. To this world he's built. It's an empire, really, and I don't want to hurt it. If I had any balls, I would have killed my father years ago. If I didn't have Hazel, maybe I'd do it now. I don't know. I'm not him, and I don't want to be, but he's not someone who should be allowed to breathe air and continue living his best life when he's ruined so many others. Vander can find someone else. A real assistant. Someone who understands what they're doing and isn't putting his life at risk. "Did you get that, Liora?" someone asks, and my head snaps up. "Oh. Um." Crap. "No, I'm so sorry. I missed it. Would you mind⁠-" "Everyone out," Vander barks harshly. His sharp gaze tells me I'm not included in that. Jesus. Way to make a scene. My face heats with embarrassment. "It's not a big deal," Alesha states flatly. "I'm happy to repeat it." "I said out." He takes off his glasses and sets them beside his laptop, and I focus on those so I don't pick up a pen and stab him with it or burst into more tears. Slowly everyone stands, unsure of what to do other than follow his command. I get sympathetic looks as people shuffle out, and a moment later, it's just us. Vander stands and paces over to the door. "I can't believe you did that. You completely humiliated me." "You weren't doing your job. There were three things you missed in the first ten minutes of the meeting." My face falls toward the table. "I'm sorry. I was a little distracted." I swallow thickly, needing to do this. "Vander, I quit. I thought a lot about this yesterday and this morning, and I don't want to be with you. Not ever again. I was using you, sleeping with you because I felt like I had to since we were living there and you're my boss. It disgusts me, and I can't do it anymore." My heart is throbbing, and my nails dig into my thighs so I don't sob at my lies. I clear my throat. "Anyway, it's better that we do this now. I'm sure you can get Champagne to stay⁠-" He closes and presses the lock on the door, the sound reverberating through the quiet room, cutting me off. His shoes tap lightly on the carpet, and my breathing quickens to their cadence. The toe of his shoe spins my chair until I'm facing him. Before I can meet his eyes, his hands are on my hips, and he lifts me out of my chair and drops me onto the table. "Vander." My voice catches, and I clear it. "What are you doing?" His hand captures the back of my neck, and his lips slam down on mine. My hands grasp his biceps, and I gasp in shock. His tongue takes full advantage, swooping into my mouth and thrashing with my own. It's deep and pulsing and passionate and uncompromising, and as always with him, my mind shuts off and lets him lead. I kiss him back, not knowing how to stop. I'm sick and aching and scared, and I just need him. His hand slides up my dress, where he rips my panties off me, and before I can comprehend what the hell he's doing, he pushes two fingers into me only to immediately withdraw them and break the kiss. He stares down at me, holding his two fingers up. "No blood or tampon, Angel. And not only are you wet, but you kissed me back like you wanted it just as much as I did. So how about you tell me why you were in tears earlier and lying to my face now?" Shit. Stupid, sexy, smart man. "I quit." A devious smile curls up his lips, and his palms plant onto the table on either side of me, fingers splayed, putting him directly in front of me. "You already said that, and it's not accepted. Try again." "You can't dictate that. If I quit, I quit." "You're not quitting. Cut the shit and tell me what's going on!" he yells in frustration. "No." His eyebrows jump. "No?" "That's clearly what I said since you just repeated it." His expression turns menacing as he tugs me straight to the edge of the table to the point where I nearly slip right off. "Vander! Jesus, what are you doing?" He gets right up in my face, fuming in a way I've never seen before. "How am I supposed to take care of you and keep you safe when you won't talk to me?" He cups my cheek, forcing me to meet and hold his gaze. "Do you not get it? Do you really not know?" He moves away, and I hear fabric ripping before he's back with his forearm in front of my face. I start gasping for air, my chest so tight there's no air, and I'm dizzy. All I see are bleeding angel wings inked into his skin. "That's you, Liora." He taps the tattoo. "I got this two weeks after I left you. You've always been with me. You've always been a part of me. My angel. No matter how I fight it, all the ways I know being with you is wrong, I still bleed for you." He lifts my chin, and his voice softens. "It's you, baby. It's always been you." His mouth comes down on mine, and he kisses me like he's never kissed me before. It's a kiss filled with passion and desperation. With yearning and intensity. "You're mine. You and Hazel are mine." My eyes pinch shut, but the tears leak through anyway. He got that tattoo for me. Now he's not just claiming me but my daughter too? My head falls to the center of his chest, and I grip his back, holding on, knowing I need to walk away but also knowing there's no way I can now. Still, I have to try. "We can't be. Please, Vander, we can't be." "But you are. I love you. I love you, Liora." He drags me away from his chest and holds my face in his hands. "I fucking love you. Do you think I don't know what's going on? Do you think I don't know who you're running from? Now tell me why." His eyes search mine. "Please, baby. You have to talk to me. I can help. I can." I shake my head and shirk his fierce grip before my face falls back against his chest and I cry into him. He loves me. "Vander, I have to leave you." "Look at me. Feel me." He holds me tighter. "I'm in this with you. I told you the other night. I'm in this." "No. You need to walk away. And it has to be for good this time." It reminds me of our last night together, only in reverse. The night in his dad's tattoo shop when I snuck out to meet him. He said goodbye to me that night and told me that he wasn't coming back. I cried nearly the entire time we had sex, even as he tried to kiss and apologize them away. I was heartbroken on top of already being heartbroken. But that was then, and this is now. He's not saying goodbye. He's offering me a new beginning. It just happens to be one I can't take, no matter how much I wish I could. He slides off the table, taking me with him, but he doesn't let go. He drags us down onto a chair. And he kisses me. With his hands on my face and our chests touching, he kisses me and kisses me, and he doesn't stop. It's swirls of his tongue and deep melding presses of our lips all interspersed with teasing touches and gentle caresses. He's showing me it's not just words. It's not just sex. "I love you," slips from my lips before I can stop it, and I know I shouldn't have said it, but I need him to know. I love him, and because I love him, I have to leave him. "Perfect. I love you more." He pulls back and holds me still. "Now that we got that out of the way, talk to me." I balk. "Never mind. I take it back. I still hate you." He squints. "Stop being evasive." "I can't tell you." He brushes my hair back from my face. "Why not? Tell me that at least." "Because my father will kill you if I do. Which is why Hazel and I have to go."