With anger simmering in my chest, I shake my head as I slip into the backseat of the armored SUV.
The satisfaction I had after our previous altercations is nowhere to be found. Instead, I feel something foreign and totally unwanted.
Guilt.
I didn’t mean for her camera to break. Especially not after seeing how good the footage was.
It’s not my fault she has butterfingers.
“Where to, boss?”
“The office,” I grumble as I unbutton my suit jacket and take out my phone. The SUV pulls away while I open my emails. I check the first one, but my thoughts churn around the fight instead of focusing on the words.
Letting out a sigh, I glance out of the window. The SUV stops at traffic lights, then I see Tess crossing the road with James and Grant right behind her. She tucks some hair behind her ear, sadness drawing her features tight. Ducking her head low, she wraps her arms protectively around her midsection.
It’s a different sight from her usual feistiness, hitting me square in the chest.
Christé mou.
A man, coming from the opposite direction, bumps into Tess. James darts forward, grabbing hold of her shoulders to keep her from losing her balance while Grant shoves the man against the front of a cab.
Instantly there’s a flare of rage in my chest. Flooded with a possessive feeling I’ve never felt before, my fingers tighten into a fist around my phone.
It’s one thing for me to threaten Tess but watching a fucking overgrown ape almost knock her off her feet fills me with protectiveness toward her.
Dialing James’ number, I bring the device to my ear.
“Boss?”
“I’m at the traffic light to your right. Bring Tess to me.”
I watch as James takes hold of her arm and starts to drag her back in the direction of the SUV. Tess rears away from James, and when Grant snaps something at her, she shakes her head and makes a scene right in the middle of the street.
It looks like she’s being fucking kidnapped.
I swear… this woman!
The light turns green, but Gregory knows to wait even as horns start blaring behind us.
The backdoor opens, and Grant shoves Tess inside. Shutting the door behind her, the two guards head to the other SUV holding my own personal guards.
The vehicle starts to move, and when Tess gapes at me with a mixture of anger and trepidation, I lean into her and pull the seat belt over her chest. Clipping it in place, I settle back against the seat, and finally able to focus, I check my emails.
“What the hell?” she gasps.
“Shhh!” A frown mars my forehead as I reread a sentence.
She huffs next to me, then shrugs her backpack off. Placing it on her lap, she wraps her arms around it.
‘You broke the one thing that meant the world to me.’
Fuck, this guilt has no business swirling in my chest. “Gregory, stop at the nearest camera store,” I order.
“Yes, boss.”
I can feel Tess’ eyes on me but continue ignoring her as I check one email after the other. Not that I’ll remember a fucking thing I’m reading. The woman is distracting as fuck.
Gregory pulls up to a curb. “We’re here, boss.”
Tucking the phone into my pocket, I shove the door open and climb out. My eyes scan over our surroundings for any threats as I stalk around the back of the SUV. Tess doesn’t move, and when I open her door, she shoots me a cautious glare.
“Get out,” I bark.
Fuck, it’s hard being nice to her.
Tess grips her bag tighter as she climbs out of the vehicle, and before she can try to run away, I take hold of her elbow and tug her into the store. Stopping in front of the nearest shop assistant, I say, “Where are your best cameras?”
“Digital,” Tess mutters.
“This way,” the shop assistant answers, his eyes darting between Tess and me.
We’re taken to the left side, where different cameras and equipment line the shelves. Before the assistant can say anything, Tess pulls free from me and makes a beeline for a specific camera. She carefully sets her bag down by her feet, and lifting the camera off the shelf, wonder spreads over her face.
“Is that the one you want?” I ask, stepping closer to her.
For the first time since we met, Tess hits me with the full-blown power of her smile as she looks up at me. It transforms her features from beautiful to otherworldly, making that annoying unknown emotion tug at my heart.
Her smile wavers, then she lifts her chin in defiance. “I’m only letting you buy it because you broke my camera. I’ll take it as an apology.”
The little minx.
Glaring down at her, I cross my arms over my chest, so I don’t end up strangling her in the middle of the store where there are witnesses. “This is not an apology.”
The smile returns to her face, but this time there’s something seductive dancing around the edges of her lips. Fuck if it doesn’t make me harden for her.
“Either this camera is an apology, or I’m not taking it.”
My eyes narrow as my temper flares hotter. Turning around, I walk to the counter while barking at the assistant. “We’ll take the fucking camera.”
The guy glances between Tess and me as she comes to the counter. She doesn’t stop smiling, then the assistant looks at her for a second, too long. Before I can stop myself, I wrap my arm around Tess’ shoulders, tug her to my side, and leaning forward, I growl, “Unless you want to lose your fucking eyesight, you’ll stop looking at her.”
He bristles and quickly finishes the purchase. After I’m done paying, I grab the bag, give him a parting look filled with a world of warning, and practically shove Tess out of the store.
Christé mou.
I feel rattled, my heart beating too fast, my skin growing clammy.
I don’t fucking like this at all.
Why did I threaten the guy for just looking at Tess?
Why do I even fucking care whether she has a camera?
Annoyed as fuck, I shove the bag into her arms and stalk around the SUV to get into the backseat.
Strapping on my seat belt, I bark out the order, “Theresa’s apartment.”
The source of my anger and impatience sits next to me, grinning from ear to fucking ear as she reads every damn word on the box.
Her excitement fills the air, and the moment I slant my eyes in her direction, she smiles at me. “Thank you.”
It catches me totally off guard, rattling me even more. My eyes snap to the window, and refusing to look deeper at the meaning of all the unwanted emotions, I rather focus on my anger.
“You better fucking pass this course with flying colors,” I warn her, my tone tight from all the tension.
“That’s my plan.”
Glancing back at her, I watch as she practically drools over the camera. With eyes sparkling and happiness flirting around her full lips, you’d swear I bought her the world.
To her, it is.
The thought hits hard, and for the first time, I start to see Tess for who she is and not the socialite I expected before I got to know her a little.
She has passion and dreams, and damn does she fight for them.
“This is important to you?” I ask the question before I can stop myself. I shouldn’t give a fuck what’s important to her.
Tess’ gaze lifts to mine and searches my face. “If I say yes are you going to threaten to take it away from me?”
Dealing out threats is second nature to me, and out of habit, I mutter, “If you continue giving me shit, yes.”
Tess’ eyebrows draw together, a flash of panic and sadness in her gaze. I don’t like it one fucking bit and want the smile and happiness immediately back on her face.
Gregory brings the SUV to a stop in front of the apartment building. I’m still taking off my seat belt when Tess throws the door open, shooting out of the backseat. “Bye!”
Fuck, this woman. I swear I’m going to throttle her.
Getting out of the SUV, I set after her in time to see her dart up the stairs. I take the steps two at a time and catch up to her around the second floor. “You could’ve taken the damn elevator,” I grumble.
“A little exercise never killed anyone.” Tess gives me a questioning look. “Don’t you have work to attend to?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing,” I grit out from between my teeth.
On the fourth floor, Tess stops in front of a door. “What work?”
I gesture for her to open, and letting out an irritated huff, she obeys. I follow her into her home and glance around the living space.
It’s not what I expected. It feels cozy but not cluttered. The same peaceful feeling I got at the park drifts around me. The only colors are white and blue, giving it a Mediterranean vibe.
Tess sets the box and backpack down on the table then turns to me with a raised eyebrow.
“Watch yourself, Koritsáki. We’re alone now,” I warn her. “No witnesses around to see me strangle you.”
Her bravery falters, and she moves to put the table between us. A chuckle escapes me as I shake my head, and pulling out a chair, I take a seat. I gesture at nothing specific. “Where’s the envelope?”
“In my bag,” she mutters.
I nod in the direction of the damn bag. “Take it out.”
Tess pulls the bag closer and scrummages around in it before removing the crumpled envelope. God only knows what else she has in that bag.
“Read it,” I order, my eyes sharpening on her so I don’t miss a thing.
With another annoyed huff, she opens it and pulls the papers out. Her eyes dance over the words, and soon a frown darkens her forehead.
