Chapter 89: Scared of Him

“If you don’t understand then I will have to make you.” She sighed. “I am not trying to hurt you, William. I just don’t like to be in the spotlight, with so many people looking at me and plotting against me. The world of the rich and influential has burned me too many times. I don’t understand what is real and what is not. I don’t want to live my life like this…” She trailed off.

She hoped he understood because if he didn’t, he really would chase her until she broke down her defenses and won her over. But she didn’t want that. She couldn’t handle that any longer.

“Are you kidding me? Giving me this half-assed explanation that you don’t believe yourself? You should at least try to sound more convinced by it yourself so that I can take a step back.” William shook his head. “You are working for the Cavanaughs to expand their business and you started your own company. This doesn’t make you fall into the spotlight?”

“Because I never tried to show myself. I don’t care for it!” she yelled, agitated by his interrogation.

William was delighted. He knew that she was breaking her defenses the moment she started showing emotion. She had sparked the fight in her enough that she would be truthful to him.

“Then you should stop being so damn conspicuous!” he replied.

Sarah huffed in frustration. “If you are trying to be smooth right now, it is not working.” She didn’t mention that her heart started pounding at his words. Her feeble attempt at resisting had worked this time around.

“I am only stating the truth. You know my temper… I can be calm with anything but when you touch my bottom line, nothing can stop me from exploding.”

Sarah rubbed her eyes. “You scare me, William. You really do.”

This surprised him. He was so shocked that he couldn’t respond for a while. “Not you. You are the last person that I want to scare…”

Sarah had already started to walk to the door. She opened it and looked at him pointedly to move out. “Chairman Colton, let’s meet at your office or at another location next time,” she said as calmly as she could.

William stood stoically, wondering how he could prolong their time together, but he could see her resolve. No matter what he came up with, she wouldn’t tire and would continue to push him out.

Hence, he chose to retreat. “Goodbye, Sarah,” he said in a low voice before slowly walking out of the front door. He heard the door shut with a loud bang and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Inside the room, Sarah was leaning against the closed door. She breathed deeply and shook her head, willing her heart to forget about the passionate words he had just spewed. Her reasoning was sound but, as William had said, she was slowly starting to believe otherwise. William’s presence had a lot to do with it. Every time she remembered his face, another logical argument chipped away.

She heard another knock on her door and refused to open it.

“Sarah?” He heard Carson’s voice. Her shoulders sank in relief and she opened the latch.

Carson was baffled by the still present hard look on her face. “Did you expect William to come back after you kicked him out?” he questioned.

Sarah widened the door and then ushered him in. Carson looked at the boxes of food and chuckled.

“He fooled you into staying in the room, huh?” he started. “No wonder the hotel staff called to ask if you were going to use the room or not.”

Sarah shrugged. “I was hungry…” She didn’t want to admit that she had fallen into the old habit of discussing work while she was eating with William. That had been their moment of discussing possibilities and deciding on the best course of action.

She was worried about how easy it was to fall into her old habits when it came to William.

“I won’t question you anymore,” he said immediately, sensing that she was falling into a trance. “I have received news from the detective that they have more insight into how your father passed away. But it turns out… she also tried to kill Aunt.”

Sarah sucked in a breath. “She tried to kill Mom?” she whispered.

Carson nodded. “He doesn’t have enough evidence to state that she succeeded but we will find out soon. The police might call you to take your statement on the threats the lawyer made so you should be prepared.”

Sarah shook her head. “I can’t let Mendez be the scapegoat right now. But we can use it to get the will and information about her other crimes, though.” The idea was brilliant. “Call the PI and ask him to give us some inside info so that we can present it to Mendez.”

Carson raised a brow. “And William? You aren’t going to tell him?” he questioned.

“I should. Otherwise, whatever he has planned will hinder me.” She picked up her phone and sent him a message.

[Do you want me to turn back and go with you?] William responded.

[No. I have it under control. Just wanted to update you.]

The conversation ended. William looked empty as he sat in his car.

“Are you okay?” Luca asked.

“She said she is scared of me.”

Luca looked at him in the rearview mirror. His expression revealed that he understood. “You can be intense and it is easy to get overwhelmed.” He paused, seeing William’s thunderous expression. “She will run away if you are too intense. She has been used to living in the shadows since young. But if you accompany her and not push her… she might react better.”

This idea had come to William’s mind but he was someone who liked to aggressively pursue things. “Are you saying I should change strategies?”

Luca nodded. “Instead of scaring her, become a constant in her life. That was she will not see you as a threat.”

Luca was actually conflicted about giving his boss advice, but he could see that Sarah, his friend yearned for William, too. While he was not sure what exactly was holding her back, he hoped that both of them could be happy. Together or apart.

“Mm. For now, don’t contact Mendez until Sarah gives the heads-up.”

Luca nodded in understanding.