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“Wait here,” Will told me, lightly patting my head as I gazed up at him.
He just smiled. “Will you wait?”
I nodded quickly.
He chuckled and entered the office room next to us, and I stared after him as he vanished behind the solid wood.
I then puffed my cheeks, bouncing on my heels.
Great. Boredom.
My favorite.
We were back in the office, but there was not really anyone around.
I had to be careful, though... People would be weird if they found out I was dating the... “office jerk.”
I internally smacked myself.
He’s not a jerk! He’s just...
Angry... most of the time...
I wondered what made him so angry? Did he need more teddy bears?
I noticed that he had a lack in his collection.
Maybe I could’ve bought him teddy bears. He might’ve liked that.
What color, though? Pink? Red? Brown?
He seemed more of a brown guy.
Okay, it was settled. After this, I was going to take him straight to the mall to give him a teddy bear.
I would not accept any resistance.
I smiled then, staring evilly at the office door.
But I heard a sudden voice behind me:
“Oh, you must be Suki.”
I spun around then, blinking when my eyes met a tall, suited man who leaned against one of the cubicles.
“Oh, hi...” I said, waving. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember your name.”
Or your face.
He was new to her, it was odd.
His golden hair glistened under the lighting, making my lips part. And he had these... gold eyes that were way to bright to be a normal color.
He must’ve had contacts.
The mystery man also had oddly pale skin—kind of like Will—huh.
Jesus. These men needed sun.
Maybe I should’ve taken Will to Hawaii.
I seriously wondered if he surfed.
“It’s alright,” the man said then, making me blink and look up. “It’s only natural that you don’t remember my name.” He just gazed up at me, smirking. “We’ve never met, but I know you very well, my dear.”
My brows drew together.
I didn’t like his tone... and I didn’t like the look on his face.
Something cold was developing inside me.
“My name is Aiden, Angel,” he told me, eyes darkening. “But you—of course—would not know that.”
My lips parted. “Oh... hi.”
He just tipped his head to the side. “So... Suki. How’s your relationship with Mister Boss?”
I stared. “Uhm... Uh.”
“Oh, it’s obvious.” He laughed. “You think you can hide that cute little affection when you look at him?” He stared down at me. “Or that... look in your eyes? How your fingers twitch when he leans toward you?” His eyes darkened as he smiled. “Or how your heart rushes when he gets closer? You’ve been in love with him for a while, haven’t you? He’s been in love with you, too.”
I took a step back. “Uhm... so, haha... How’s your day, Aiden?”
I was debating whether I should’ve ran or pounded on the door, but both options seemed out of my hands, and I didn’t know why I felt that way.
“It’s going great,” he replied, still leaning against the cubicle. “How’s yours?”
“Fine,” I said, nodding as I stepped back. “Fine, yeah. You know... life’s flying. Dreaming. Haha.”
“You’re speaking nonsense,” he replied, chuckling. “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
To put it lightly.
“No,” I said then, “just... it’s hot in here. You know? Is the AC on? Maybe you should check.”
Aiden chuckled. “You think I’m going to hurt you, don’t you?”
I stared as chills ran through me.
He just gazed up. “Well, you happen to be right.”
My eyes widened.
He smiled dangerously. “I want to watch your bones break. I want to tear your skin off piece by piece. I want to hear you scream while I rip your throat apart.”
Something cold struck me, and I breathed shakily as my lungs clamped.
He just smiled. “You can’t hide from me.”
The door behind me suddenly opened, and I spun around to find Will stepping out.
I turned back toward the cubicle...
Only to find Aiden gone.
Something inside me shattered.
“We can go now,” Will said.
I never replied, just looked around.
“Suki,” Will repeated.
I gazed up at him then, swallowing down nausea. “Oh... hi....”
His brows drew together. “You okay? You look ill.”
I just nodded, keeping quiet.
He stared at me for a moment, and then parted his lips. “Well... I wanted to go on a date tonight. You up for it?”
“No,” I blurted out.
He drew back at an instant, confusion washing through his expression.
“I wanna go home,” I said then, “goodbye.”
I then ran forward, leaving him stranded behind me.
But my arm was caught, and I screamed when I was flipped back around.
Will’s expression was grim. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly, “now, I must go—”
“Suki.”
I gazed back up at him, tears burning my eyes. “I must go.”
“Suki, what is it?” he said then, voice dark. “You’re acting weird.”
I tried pulling my arm from his grip, but he just tightened it.
“Will, I must... go! Will!”
"Suki, what happened?” he urged again. “Suki, answer me!”
“Nothing happened!” I replied quickly, tears slipping down my cheeks. “Nothing! I just feel sick! Now let me go!”
He just pulled me further toward him. “Was it Aiden?”
I froze, his name chilling my every being.
I gazed up. “How did you...?”
He cursed under his breath, gazing around nervously before he gazed down at me. “Come on. Hurry.”
And he pulled me forward, making me stumble as he dragged me toward an elevator.
“Will!” I cried. “Will!”
“I’ll explain,” he said, turning toward me with soft eyes, “I promise.”
My lips parted, and I blinked hazily before nodding.
He dragged me all the way down the staircase—avoiding the elevators for some reason—and pulled me out from the office building.
After we made it to the street, he stopped and pulled his jacket off himself, making me breath shakily when he pulled one end over me, and the other over himself.
He pulled me against him. “Stay close.”
Despite the fear burning through me, I calmed when his warmth deepened into me, and I relaxed slightly into him.
We walked down the streets like this, making me gaze around curiously as we kept weaving through the crowds.
“Will...” I said, “I’m scared.”
He gazed down at me briefly. “I know, Angel. I’ll help you.”
Aiden called me Angel.
But for some reason... when Will called me the same name... it felt different.
It felt... warm.
Almost minutes later, we entered Will’s apartment, and he quickly closed the door, gazing up at me as I stared up at him.
His jacket was still puffed around me.
He held out his hand then, offering comfort.
I stared down at it for a moment, but I reached out, hovering my hand over his in hesitation.
I twitched my fingers, breaths straining.
Could I trust him...?
I didn’t know.
He always saved me when I got in trouble... he always made sure the coffee brewed my favorite flavor before I entered the breakroom... and he always watched me when I was unsure about things, as if... as if he wanted to make sure I was okay.
I kept my hand hovering over his.
He knew Aiden, personally, I could tell. But it wasn’t a good relationship. It was... something dark. Something deep and dangerous that looked as if it festered years ago.
And Aiden advanced toward me; Will could just... tell.
That meant... all this time... was he protecting me from him?
I didn’t know.
But he was concerned, he was scared that I was scared. When I told him how I felt, he seemed sympathetic.
And he wanted to date me.
I knew Will. I knew he wasn’t cold-hearted. He was sweet, he was kind, and he was an angel.
So could I trust him?
Yes... yes, I could.
I finally set my hand on his, and his expression seemed to soften when I looked up at him.
He just pulled me further into his apartment, keeping silent as I clamped my free hand around his jacket, holding it around me.
After he helped me onto the couch, Will kneeled down, making me lean forward, but he just guided me out from my shoes.
I felt warm...
My nerves were tingling.
He pushed them to the side and stood up, eyes soft. “I’ll... make some tea. And then I’ll explain, okay?”
I nodded numbly.
He then left my side, rushing over to his kitchen.
The next few minutes drew on for ages, and I couldn’t help but replay what happened with Aiden over and over again.
Why did he hate me so much? What did I do?
Tears brimmed in my eyes.
I didn’t... want to die.
Will sat beside me on the couch then, making me gaze up.
He just set two mugs on the table, gazing down at me. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
I was silent, just gazed down.
“You don’t have to explain every detail,” he added gently. “You can just... tell me the basics.”
“He threatened me,” I told him then, slumping my shoulders. “Uhm... very explicitly.”
Will was silent then; for too long.
But he suddenly shifted, lightly catching my chin and tipping it up.
I hesitantly gazed up at him, finding his expression soft.
His eyes darkened, and he brushed his thumbs under my eyes. “I’m sorry. Please... don’t... don’t be afraid of me.”
I just blinked numbly. “I’m not afraid of you, Will. Just... confused.”
His expression softened more, and he dropped his hands, looking away.
“I’ve known Aiden for a while,” he said then.
“How long...?” I said.
“Years,” he replied, “decades.”
My lips parted. “What happened?”
He sighed, tipping his head back. “We were best friends... brothers almost. For a long, long time, but... suddenly... he changed.”
I stared. “How so?”
“He became dangerous,” he explained. “Explosive... angry.”
“Why...?” I said.
“I...” he scratched his head, “I don’t... know.”
I shuffled closer. “Uhm... has he... hurt people?”
Will nodded. “A lot of people. Endless amounts of people.”
Another chill sliced through me.
I suddenly felt cold... colder than I’d ever been. Every sense of self drained from me and replaced with pain; excruciating, needle-like pain.
“Police...?” I suggested weakly.
Will shook his head. “Trust me. I’ve tried. They can’t do anything. He’s too... fast.”
I then stared down at my hands. “Why me?”
He sighed heavily, resting his hands on his knees. “Because... I like you. And... and he knows hurting you will hurt me.”
I gazed up at him. “Does he do this a lot?”
“More than you can imagine,” he chuckled sadly.
I then stared down at my hands again. “Another woman?”
He shook his head. “No... my family.”
I shot up then. “He... he hurt your family?”
Will nodded quietly; expression grim.
I was silent then.
“Suki...” Will said then, “if you can’t handle this—”
“I’m not breaking up with you,” I replied then.
He gazed up at me in shock.
I shrugged. “What good will it do anyway? In all those TV romances, they want to protect themselves by breaking up with the boyfriend, and then hide. Or the opposite.” I gazed up at him, smiling slightly. “He thinks hurting me will hurt you, right? Well, clearly you’re feelings aren’t going away yet.” I shrugged again. “Mine aren’t. So... even if we break up, he’d still come after me. Even if I moved far away from you, he’d come after me. It never ends.”
Will sighed. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s not,” I said then, making him close his eyes tightly. “It’s... it’s my fault. I advanced you first, and you pushed me away. You tried to hide it, but I could... I could tell.”
He gazed up at me hazily.
I just averted my gaze to my hands. “I gave you all those chocolates. And... you ate them. I looked. For the last four years, on Valentines Day, I would give you them, and you would only eat mine. He could tell,” I said, “like I could tell.”
Will was silent then.
“It’s just... poor timing,” I said then. “It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you, okay?”
He kept his eyes on me.
“I’m going to use the restroom now,” I told him. “And... I wanna go to bed, if that’s okay.”
He nodded then. “Of course. The guest room is across from the restroom.”
I smiled.
Yeah... I was still too nervous to sleep in his room tonight.
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