Part One Hundred and Eleven

Part One Hundred and Eleven
Faro sat in his office at Escape and looked at where Sihana sat at her own desk in the office they now shared. They hadn’t really talked about anything but he knew she’d graduated at the top of her class and didn’t want to sit at home.
She was now going over everything Eris had done and Faro couldn’t help staring at her. He’d been such a dick to her and he’d felt even more emasculated when she refused to take his credit card, claiming she could look after herself.
Escape was Dominic’s high-end escort company and Faro had limited dealings with the books. Now that Eris was gone, he’d need the help and Sihana was the only one that had the expertise to help with the books.
“Faro,” she said and he snapped out of his daydream.
“Yes?” He realized he was still staring at her and he swallowed nervously. He had no idea what he was doing but something had to give. She had to either slit his throat or tell Dominic what he’d done. He’d been waiting patiently for Dominic’s summons but it didn’t come and Sihana treated him like the stranger he was.
“Stop staring at me,” she said softly.
Faro cleared his throat and looked down at the bank statements littering his desk. “I’m sorry.”
Sihana sighed and pushed her chair away from the desk. “What do you want, Faro? Do you want me to say that I forgive you? Do you want me to hike up my skirt and spread my legs for you so you can get rid of your frustrations?”
“Fuck, no.” Faro said, feeling the anger pulse in his veins. He could taste bile in his mouth at the thought of what he’d done to her and he didn’t expect to ever touch her again.
“Then what, Faro?”
Faro shook his head and looked up at her again. She was leaning against her desk, her arms crossed loosely over her chest. Every time he looked at her, he realized just how strong, how beautiful and graceful she was.
“I wish I could take it back and start over. I wish it never happened because I still don’t know what exactly happened and I don’t want to remember everything. I don’t want to remember how I brutalized you. I don’t want you to hate me forever,” he said earnestly.
“I don’t hate you, Faro. I just need some time to fully accept that this is now my life. I don’t have past experience to compare you to. I expected my first time to be different … I think …”
She closed her eyes as Faro stood up and walked towards her and she stiffened when his hands cupped her face. She could feel his breath on her cheek and she opened her eyes to look at him. Pain and sadness were evident in his eyes and she wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Tell me what you think,” he said softly.
“I think if I’d known beforehand that you liked it rough, I could’ve prepared myself better,” she said.
Faro briefly closed his eyes and swallowed. “Fuck, Sihana. I don’t … I wish … Tell me how to make it up to you, tell me how to make it right.”
Faro opened his eyes and found himself staring into the depths of her soul. Her eyes were bright and her lips were slightly parted. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers softly. It was something he’d wanted to do since that morning she’d threatened to slit his throat wide open.
His tongue coaxed her mouth open further and he moved as slow as he could. When the tip of her tongue touched his, he moved closer against her and deepened the kiss. Her hands fisted his shirt and she kissed him back.
The kiss was slow and sweet, not rushed and urgent, even though he wanted to claim her mouth, Faro didn’t want to spook her. It was a miracle she was even allowing him to touch her and he wasn’t going to push his luck.
Faro pulled back and inhaled deeply as he looked into her eyes. “That was meant to be our first kiss.”
The phone on his desk buzzed and her hands let go of his shirt. His fingers trailed down her jaw and she closed her eyes again as her breath hitched and he walked to his desk to answer it. “Vittori.”
“I apologize for the intrusion, Mr. Vittori, but your brother had an appointment today …”
“It’s fine, Marjorie. I’ll take the appointment,” Faro said.
Sihana seemed composed and she had her purse in her hand. “I’ll go get a coffee.”
“You don’t have to leave, Sihana.”
She nodded her head and put her purse back in the desk drawer and sat down behind her desk. Faro stood in front of his desk as Marjorie opened the door and a young girl smiled brightly as she looked at him.
She rushed forward the moment the door closed and wrapped herself around him. “I was so worried when you didn’t answer your phone, Eris.”
Faro frowned as Sihana watched the interaction with a sad look on her face. He loosened the girl’s arms and stepped away from her. “I’m Faro.”
The girl sucked in her breath sharply and backed away from him. “Where’s Eris?”
“Who are you and what’s your connection to my brother?” Faro asked her instead of answering.
“My name is Bianca,” she said softly and glanced at the door. “Where is Eris?”
“Are you a new hire my brother was cozying up with?” Faro’s gaze was filled with disdain and Sihana stood up from her desk. The glare she gave Faro spoke volumes.
“Screw you,” Bianca said loudly and looked so offended that Faro didn’t know what to think. The way she said Eris’ name made him think that they knew each other well.
“Faro … she has your eyes,” Sihana said and Faro straightened up.
Bianca took another step toward the door and her breath quickened. She turned and yanked the door open but Faro’s hand came down on the door and pushed it closed again. “Now is a good time to start talking.”