Chapter 37 CHAPTER 037
"Hey, Amelia." Tyler stops me before I get in the elevator. I turn around to give him a small smile and he walks up to me, blocking my path. My stomach tightens with an unexplained apprehension as I meet his wild bright blue eyes. I can't believe I used to think they were innocent and gorgeous.
"Hi, you are back." I say, my smile frozen on my lips. Without Ashley, I can't help the weirdness between us.
"Yeah." He says, still standing in my way, the elevator light blinks indicating that it is about to close.
"Oh okay. I better get that." I say gesturing to the elevator that is now closing slowly. Tyler turns to look at it like he is seeing it for the first time.
"Going up to see your stepdad?"
The words hit me like whiplash. I know everyone already knows my connection to Linc at this point, and I no longer worry about it. But the way Tyler says it, the obvious ugly scorn when he phrases the words. I look up at him and my stomach tightens even more at the cold look in his soulless eyes. How have I never seen this side of him before?
Better question is how nobody else has seen it. You can ask anyone around the firm, even in college and they will give you a glowing review of him. Talking about how great and friendly he is.
"Yes, I am going to see Mr. Dmitri." I say, hating the slight trembling in my voice. I clear my throat and make to sidestep him so I can escape into the elevator.
"Mr. Dmitri..." His scoff stops me cold in my tracks.
I turn around, crossing my arms over my chest, I pull my chin up, "What is the problem here, Tyler?" I am so sick of the judgements. Yes, I got in because Linc is my stepdad. But it is just an internship position, it is not like I took someone's job and source of livelihood. It is not like I have any real responsibility in the firm.
Fuck, I get people coffees and teas and watch and listen and stay as unnoticeable as I can. Just learning. As unobstructively as I can. If Tyler is going to be an asshole to me because I got in easily and he had to do whatever he had to do to get in, he is in for a shock because I won't stand for it.
Does he think I wanted to be here in the first fucking place? I know we should be grateful for privileges but this particular one is costing me my conscience and mental health. So fuck him.
"Well, I am not one to be concerned with what people do in their personal lives. But, I gotta say, I didn't peg you as that kinda girl. Shit is wild." Tyler's eyes are cold, emotionless and I feel like I am being watched by a boa constrictor slowly winding up my body, crushing me with immense pressure till it gets to my head and...oh fuck!
My stomach drops. It all makes sense instantly. Tyler's eyes lit up with diabolical glee as he watches me come to the realisation. Oh. My. God.
Of course Tyler doesn't give a shit that I got into the firm because Linc is my stepdad. He also got in because he has some weird connection with Marcus so he can't really judge.
No. This is about something else. Oh God. My mouth goes dry as Tyler leans into my personal space.
"Meet me in the parking lot." He says and he doesn't wait for me to reply before turning around, walking away from me with a proud gait to his steps. His sickly cologne suffocating me. I can't breathe with the panic clouding my senses as I stand there, frozen.
Somehow, in my daze, I find myself going through the motions of taking the elevator to the underground parking lot. My throat thuds with my heartbeat. I don't think I have ever felt dread like this before. It clogs my brain and I swear, I am in a trance.
It was Tyler.
Oh. God. It. Was. Tyler.
He saw us. It was him that day.
I can't process the thought further without feeling like I might collapse. I would have preferred anyone else except Tyler. Christ. Is this karma?
Charlotte. Marcus. Emily. Anyone. Any other person. God. Not Tyler. He is my class president. He belongs to my life in Boston where I have managed to create a safe independent space for myself. Away from my complicated relationship with my stepfather.
And now, all that is threatened. All because I was reckless.
I step into the brightly lit parking lot and see him leaning against his car. My heart jumps into my throat when he looks up and smirks at me.
"What do you want?" I say, my voice is shaky and my heart is beating erratically. I could drop down and die in front of him but I won't give him the satisfaction.
"Woah. Woah. Calm down..." He puts his hands up in mock surrender and I recoil, thinking he was going to put them on me, his smirks only deepens at the fear reflected on my features, he is so sick.
How can he hide this side to him so easily?
"You are not even going to ask what I am talking about? Well, I guess my eyes didn't deceive me after all. Even if they did, my phone camera definitely didn't. So..."
I take a step back. He recorded us. I can't breathe. This is worse than all the worst case scenarios I have come up with so far. So much worse. Looking in his cold eyes, a cold shiver runs down my spine. Again, I can't believe I used to find him charming.
"What do you want, Tyler?" I repeat. I don't even know anything else to say. I sound like a broken record and it only makes him smirk more.
"You don't even want to see it first?" He says, his voice teasing and filled with wicked glee. He is having the time of his life doing this to me. I am guilty and scared but I can feel my anger flaring at the edges.
What fucking right does he have to judge me?
"Well, I guess I should." I say, holding his cold eyes as he pulls out his phone and makes a few taps on the screen, before handing it to me.
I hear the moaning first and I can't believe it is me till I look closely and see myself sitting on Linc's desk, dress pulled to my mid section with Linc on his knees in front of me. I close my eyes in shock.
It is me. It is us. There is no way to misinterpret what is going on. It is bright daylight and we are highlighted clearly like we are posing for a porno picture. Oh God. What was I thinking?
I look up at Tyler's satisfied smirk and I smash the phone to the ground. It hits the cement with a satisfying crunch.