Chapter 42 *
Scarlett’s POV
I stared at my laptop screen, fingers flying across the keyboard.
"Fucking Helix," I muttered. My script was ninety percent complete. Just ten more minutes and I could've wiped every trace of last night's disaster from the internet.
The door opened behind me.
I jumped. My heart stopped.
"What are you doing?"
Damon's voice.
Shit shit shit.
My hands moved on autopilot. Closing windows. Minimizing programs. Opening random tabs.
"Just playing some online games," I said. My voice came out way too high. Too casual.
I clicked frantically. Had to get out of the system. Had to cover my tracks.
Please don't come closer. Please don't look at the screen.
"Games? It's almost three in the morning."
His footsteps moved toward me.
Oh God. He's coming over.
My hands were shaking. The mouse cursor kept missing the buttons I needed to click.
"You should be sleeping. You need rest."
"Almost done," I said quickly. "Just one more second..."
Exit. Exit. EXIT.
I heard him getting closer. Each footstep made my panic worse.
They say Damon knows hacking. What if he recognizes the interface? What if he sees the code?
"Scarlett."
His voice was right behind me now. Close.
I hit the final exit sequence. Prayed it would work fast enough.
The screen flickered. Changed. Showed the most basic beginner tutorial page I'd bookmarked months ago for exactly this reason.
Damon stopped next to my desk. I could feel him looking at the screen.
Silence.
My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.
"You're interested in programming?"
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Just a hobby," I said. Tried to sound casual. "Learning stuff online."
He was quiet for a moment. Still looking at the screen.
Does he believe me? Can he tell I just switched windows?
"What have you learned so far?"
I turned to look at him. His expression was neutral. Hard to read.
Think. Say something believable.
"Not much," I said. "Actually, I'm thinking about quitting."
His eyebrows went up slightly. "Why?"
"Because the hacking community is full of assholes," I said. Let real frustration creep into my voice. "Like this guy Helix. Have you heard of him?"
Damon's face changed. Just slightly. Something flickered in his eyes.
"I've heard the name," he said slowly.
"He's the worst," I continued. "Terrible skills. Even worse personality. Remember that cruise ship hijacking incident a few years ago? The pirates took ten thousand hostages?"
"I remember."
"Helix showed up during the rescue operation and completely screwed everything up. He was fighting with the good guys instead of helping. Because of him, the whole thing took way longer than it should have."
I was on a roll now. All my real anger at Helix pouring out.
"The hacking community has people like that. Just ruins it for everyone. Makes me not even want to learn anymore."
Damon took a deep breath. His expression was strange. Almost uncomfortable.
"Don't you think that was Nyx's fault?"
I felt my face heat up immediately.
"What? No! Nyx is amazing! She's my idol!"
"Your idol."
"Yes! Nyx is brilliant. She was trying to help those hostages. Helix is the one who interfered!"
Damon stared at me. His jaw was tight. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't decide what.
The silence stretched out. Awkward. Tense.
Why is he looking at me like that?
"I brought you something," he said. His voice was stiff.
The topic change was so abrupt I blinked.
"What?"
He started pulling things out of the bag. Prenatal vitamins. DHA supplements. Some kind of organic pregnancy tea. A thermal container.
"You... bought all this?"
"Doctor said you need proper nutrition. Don't skip meals."
He walked to my desk. Set down a glass. Poured water from a bottle he'd brought. Handed it to me.
"Take the vitamins. Now."
It wasn't a request. It was an order.
But his eyes were worried. Gentle.
What is happening right now?
I reached for the glass. Our fingers touched.
We both froze.
Just for a second. His hand was warm. Rough. The contact sent a shock up my arm.
He pulled back first. Cleared his throat.
"Take them," he said again.
I popped the vitamins in my mouth. Drank the water. He watched me the entire time.
This is so weird. Why is he standing there watching me take vitamins like I'm a child?
When I finished the water, he picked up the thermal container. Opened it. The smell of chicken broth filled the room.
He grabbed a spoon. Scooped up some broth. Held it out to me.
"Drink this too. It's still warm."
My face went hot.
"I can do it myself."
He didn't move. Just held the spoon there. Waiting.
"Damon—"
"You need to eat properly. Open."
We stared at each other. His dark eyes were intense. Stubborn.
Is he seriously going to feed me like a baby?
"This is ridiculous," I muttered.
But I opened my mouth.
He fed me the broth. Slow and careful. Making sure I didn't spill.
This is the most awkward thing that's ever happened to me.
But also... kind of sweet?
He fed me another spoonful. Then another.
I watched his face. He was concentrating hard. Like this was the most important task in the world.
His breathing changed. Got heavier.
I saw his throat move. Adam's apple bobbing.
His face was getting red.
After the fourth spoonful, he suddenly shoved the container at me.
"Finish it all."
Then he turned and walked out. Fast. Like something was chasing him.
The door closed behind him.
I sat there holding the thermal container. Completely confused.
What just happened? Why did he run away like that?
The next day, the coffee shop was crazy busy.
I'd been on my feet since six AM. Making drinks. Taking orders. Cleaning tables. The line never seemed to end.
By one PM, I finally got a break. Grabbed my packed lunch from the staff fridge. Microwaved it. Sat down in the back room.
I'd just taken my first bite when Sarah burst in.
"Scarlett! You need to see this!"
"See what?"
"Just come look!"
She grabbed my arm. Dragged me to the front window.
All the other girls were already there. Staring outside. Whispering.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Then I saw it.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom. Sitting right in front of the shop.
Two Mercedes-Benz SUVs parked in front and behind it. Like a convoy.
Men in black suits stepped out of the SUVs. Lined up in formation.
Oh no.