Chapter 17 A FIXED DATE
NOVA'S POV
I stayed at the office until almost seven that night, trying to prove to myself that I could handle this job. By the time I finally packed up my things, most of the building was dark and empty.
Callum was waiting by the elevator when I came out of my office.
"Ready to go home?" His voice was neutral, carefully controlled.
"Yeah. Sorry for making you wait so long. I lost track of time going through those files."
"You don't need to apologize. The work you did today was solid." He pressed the button for the parking garage. "How are you feeling about everything?"
"Overwhelmed and exhausted. But also kind of excited? I didn't expect to actually enjoy it." I shifted my bag on my shoulder.
The elevator ride down was silent. The drive home was even more silent, just the sound of tires on asphalt and the occasional honk from other cars.
When we pulled up to the estate, I practically fell out of the car.
"Nova, wait—" Callum called after me.
"I'm exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow morning." I didn't look back, just headed straight inside and up to my room.
I kicked off my heels the second I closed my bedroom door, groaning as my feet finally got relief.
The pencil skirt came off next, then the blazer and blouse. I changed into an old t-shirt and shorts and collapsed onto my bed face-first.
My phone buzzed in my bag.
I considered ignoring it. Consider just going to sleep and dealing with everything tomorrow.
But I rolled over and grabbed it anyway.
Text from Matthias: How did the rest of your first day go? I've been thinking about you all afternoon.
My stomach did that stupid flipping thing again. I stared at the message, reading it over and over.
He'd been thinking about me. All afternoon.
I typed back: Exhausting but good. I think I might actually be decent at this job.
His response came almost immediately: I never doubted that for a second. You're clearly brilliant. When can I see you again? I meant what I said about coffee.
My heart started racing. I sat up in bed, suddenly very awake.
When were you thinking?
Thursday afternoon? I know a place called Ember & Brew near your office. We could meet around two if that works for your schedule.
Thursday. That was three days away. Three days to overthink this. Three days to talk myself out of it.
Or three days to look forward to something.
I thought about Marcus. About how he'd made me feel special and wanted right up until the moment he'd destroyed my entire life.
That had been less than two weeks ago. Two weeks since I'd discovered my bank account was empty and Marcus was gone.
And here I was, getting butterflies over some guy I'd met in a boutique. Some guy I barely knew. Some guy who could be lying about everything just like Marcus had.
Was I being stupid? Was I making the same mistake all over again?
But Matthias wasn't like Marcus. Matthias was established, successful, wealthy in his own right.
He didn't need to steal from me because he already had everything. He wore suits that probably cost more than my old car. He shopped at The Arcanum like it was normal.
I bit my lip, staring at the message.
And then there were the brothers.
Callum and Elias. Living in the same house. Working in the same building. Always there, always watching, always making me feel things I absolutely did not want to feel.
I wasn't stupid. I knew something was happening there. Something complicated and impossible and completely insane.
At least that's what I kept telling myself.
I looked down at my phone and typed: Thursday at two sounds perfect. I'll meet you there.
You just made my week. Sleep well, Nova.
I set my phone on my nightstand and stared at the ceiling.
What was I doing? Why was I agreeing to this?
Because I wanted to feel wanted. Because I wanted someone to look at me like I mattered. Because I was tired of being broken and scared and alone.
Even if it was stupid. Even if I was setting myself up to get hurt again.
A knock on my door made me jump.
"Come in," I called out, sitting up and pulling my t-shirt down to make sure I was covered.
Elias opened the door and leaned against the frame. "Hey. Callum said you worked late. Wanted to make sure you actually ate dinner and didn't just pass out."
"I'm fine. Just tired."
"You sure? Riley can bring something up if you're hungry." He stepped inside, his eyes scanning my face. "Your first day went okay?"
"Better than I expected, honestly. The work is interesting. I think I might actually be good at it."
"Of course you're good at it. You're smart." He moved closer to my bed. "Did Callum give you a hard time?"
"No more than usual. He's very particular about everything, but I guess that's just how he is."
"That's one way to describe it." Elias sat on the edge of my bed without asking permission. "He can be intense. Don't let it get to you."
We sat there in silence for a moment. I could feel him watching me, studying my face like he was trying to figure something out.
He reached out and grabbed the front of my t-shirt, his fist closing around the fabric. Then he pulled. Not hard. Just enough to make me lean toward him, close the distance between us.
My breath caught in my throat.
"Elias, what are you—"
"Look at me." His voice dropped lower, rougher.
I lifted my eyes to his and the intensity there made my stomach flip. He was looking at me like he was starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him. Like he knew exactly what he wanted.
I bit my lower lip without thinking, and his eyes tracked the movement. Darkened even more.
He let go of my shirt and his hand moved to my waist, fingers spreading wide against my side.
Then he pulled me closer, eliminating the last bit of space between us until I could feel the heat coming off his chest.
"Elias." My voice came out breathless. "We shouldn't—"
"We should." His other hand came up to cup my jaw, his thumb tracing along my cheekbone. "We absolutely should."
We were so close now I could count his eyelashes. I could see the gold flecks in his hazel eyes. Could feel his breath on my face.
He didn't look away. Didn't rush. Just held my gaze while his thumb continued its slow path along my jaw, down to trace the line of my neck.
"Tell me to stop," he said softly. "Tell me you don't want this and I'll walk out that door right now."
I should have told him to stop. Should have pushed him away. Should have reminded him of all the reasons this was insane.
But I couldn't make my mouth form the words.
His hand tightened slightly on my waist and I could feel the tension between our bodies like an electric current. Every breath pressed us closer together.
"Nova." My name on his lips sounded like a prayer. Like a plea.
He paused. Just stopped moving. Stopped talking. Let the anticipation build between us until I thought I might combust from it.
Then he leaned in slowly, so slowly I could have stopped him at any point. His breath mixed with mine, warm and unsteady.
"I've wanted to do this since the day you came back," he whispered against my lips.