Shay's POV
You said
"He has that cool, boss-like demeanor, you know? Sometimes, I'm shocked by how intimidating he can be, like he has an on-and-off switch that he can press anytime to become scary while dealing with work, and then switch back to the kind and cool guy he really is. That's one of the things I like about himâhe surely knows how to handle himself well without any help from anyone."
The whole time Sylvia was going on and on about Jason, my eyes were fixated on her expression.
It's only a matter of time before she realizes that she could be in love with him. I don't know him that well, but she sure does, and it's probably not that hard to like a guy like Jason. He's good-looking, has that hint of an Aussie accent in his voice, is very professional at work, and I can tell that he's actually a nice guy, even without Sylvia telling me that he really is.
Sylvia and I are more like best friends than cousins.
I know her better than anyone, and I also know the last time she was ever like thisâranting about a guy she really likesâand that last time was years ago, back in college. I know that she's been through a lot of tough things that she doesn't like talking about, so watching her be this happy and excited makes me glad.
My eyes involuntarily glanced at the clock hanging on the wall above her head, and I jumped up from my chair, grabbing my phone from the top of her table. We had been so engrossed in our conversation in her office that I didn't realize what time it was.
"Shit!"
Sylvia stared at me in confusion as I browsed through the recent messages that had come through a while ago, messages I had been ignoring.
"What's wrong?" I pocketed my phone and grabbed my handbag from the chair next to mine.
"I have to go. Shawn wants to meet up at his villa in Pac Heights. I think something's up. Can I call you later?" She quickly nodded.
"Yeah, sure. See you tomorrow."
I waved goodbye and quickly walked out of her office.
Shawn asking me to meet him at his villa was unusual. The only thing I could think of was that maybe something bad was going on at the company or he wanted to tell me something important.
I got into the elevator, and just as the doors were about to close, someone's hand slipped between them, and I found myself standing face to face with none other than Jason Cartwright. My breath caught in my throat when his eyes met mine.
I quickly looked down, moving to the side as he stepped inside, pressing the button for the first floor.
A sudden thought popped into my mind, and my fingers tightened around my handbag's handle as I debated whether I should just go ahead and ask him or not. It was a bad idea, and Sylvia might hate me for this.
But she might thank me later if it turns out well. So without thinking any further, I turned to face him and plastered a smile on my face.
"Hey, are you free this Saturday?"
There! I said it. I couldn't believe I was actually doing this, but it was worth a shot.
He tilted his head to the side to look at me, and I swallowed the tight knot in my throat when I saw the surprised look on his face.
"What?"
"Are you free this Saturday?" I asked slowly again.
He turned around to face me fully, and after a minute, he started chuckling.
"Are you seriously asking me this?" His expression turned cold as he pointed to his face without breaking eye contact with me.
"Did you forget who I am? I'm your boss."
I inhaled deeply, but it was hard to do so when he was staring at me so coldly. I quickly racked my brain for a good reason to give him.
"It's 2021. People do crazier things than this all the time." He raised an eyebrow at me, slipping one hand into his pocket.
"Right. So you thought it was normal to randomly ask your boss if he's free on a Saturday? Don't you think that's a little inappropriate?"
Oookay. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.
"Oh, I'm not trying to ask you out. I just wanted to know if you're free this Saturday so we can all hang out for drinks or dinner or something. Just as friends, you know? And Sylvia is coming with us too."
He frowned and gave me a strange look.
"You know, Sylvia is a really good person. She's kind, smart, and great at things. I feel like you and she would really get along well, not just at work but outside of work too."
His jaw set, and he suddenly smirked at me.
"Are you trying to set us up or something?"
Shit, I really suck at this.
"No! That is not what this is about. I'm just trying to suggest a way for us to get together and get to know each other better and maybe become friends or somethingâ"
He suddenly interrupted me by making a stop sign with his hand in the small space between us.
"I'll pass. I don't 'get together' with people who work for me just so we can become friends. Look, I like Sylvia as a person, and I really think she's great at her job, but if you're trying to set us up, you should stop right there. First off, I don't date anyone, especially people who work for me. Second, I'm kinda interested in someone else. I actually admire you for your boldness, but I think there's a line you should be aware of when it comes to approaching people who could fire you in less than a second if you make a wrong move. Do we have a mutual understanding, Miss Kellen?"
I slowly nodded my head.
The doors finally opened, and he walked out without looking back. My heart was pounding in my chest. I was really afraid that he'd fire me on the spot for acting so stupid.
He was right; I crossed a line today, and I felt so embarrassed that I didn't think I'd ever have the courage to face him again or even look him in the eye next time.
Dammit, Shay! What were you thinking?
OoO
I parked my car in the front driveway and quickly glanced outside.
As always, Shawn's bodyguards were standing guard, wandering around on full alert. They eyed me warily as I got out of the car and walked inside the house. I greeted Shawn with a hug when I met him in the living room and quickly searched his face for any sign of anxiousness or anything unusual.
"Are you okay? What's going on?" I began pressing him.
He smiled gently and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about." He reassured me, making me sigh in relief.
"I thought something bad had happened to you. I mean, why else would you ask me to meet you here?"
He chuckled easily and led me outside to the back patio. I hooked my arm around his as we slowly walked.
"There is something big we're planning to do at work, and I think I'm being stalked because of it." I frowned in confusion and started to feel a little agitated.
"Well, what did Dad think about this?" He sighed loudly and glanced up at the dark sky above us.
"He wanted me to stay here and lay low for a few days until he figures out when it's safe for me to return home."
I stopped walking, and he turned around to face me.
"What? If you're not going to be home for a few days, then what am I going to do? I can't stay in that house without you being there. You know how Shelby and Mom are when you're not around."
"Hey, it's okay. It's only going to be a few days, Shay. Look, I promise that nothing will happen to you even if I'm not there to protect you."
I blinked back the tears that started to well up in my eyes and folded my arms in front of me. I couldn't imagine a life without my brother in it. He was the only one who made me feel safe and happy in that house, and the only reason I kept living another day with the people I call my "family."
Now that he wouldn't be around for a few days, I didn't know what my sisters would do to bother me or what my mother would have in store. They knew they couldn't do anything to me when Shawn was around because he loved me and always looked out for me.
I guess I'd have to start learning how to look after myself from now on, even without my brother there every time.
"It's fine, I understand. It won't be long until the day I pack my stuff and leave home forever to start living my own life. Money won't be a problem, if that's one of the things you're worried about." He frowned at me.
"What do you mean by that?" I smiled at him and started walking again.
"Just keep this between us, okay? I've been secretly buying the company's stocks for a while now. I used a different name and opened a new account. I haven't told anyone about this except you. This is just to help me get started in a new chapter of my life once I free myself from home."
He gave me a warm smile and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you did that. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. Just tell me whatever you need, and I'll help you with anything. I know our family isn't perfect, and I've always wished that someday it would change. We can become a whole family again like we used to be. But I understand that this is what you really want, and I'll always have your back, little sis."
I couldn't help myself and embraced him in a tight hug. He said what I needed to hear, and it actually helped me a lot. It meant a lot to me, too.
I felt at ease after telling him about the company stocks, and now I could continue working on my plan until I'm finally ready to leave all of it behind.