(Willa)
Before I could really think this through, I was on my way in a taxi. This seemed like an in-person conversation, and I was honestly a bit upset, more than a bit, but I couldn’t exactly place it.
The longer we drove, the more confused and angry I felt. I didn’t understand why he thought he had to do that. I didn’t want him to see me as someone he had to f.ucking save.
“We’re here,” the driver said.
I paid the fee and almost felt sick. It would probably be half my tips for today, if not more. The drive was over thirty minutes, and we barely hit traffic.
“Thanks,” I muttered and stepped onto the sidewalk in front of one of those large buildings. The afternoon sun glinted off the upper floor’s windows. I felt wildly out of place in my black shirt and dark jeans.
I made it this far, so I pushed through the revolving door and entered a place that was made out of mostly white marble with dark wood accents.
I was definitely out of place.
I walked up to the first receptionist that looked at me. Her cropped brown hair and red lips twitched up at me.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hello, can I help you?” Her voice was like f.ucking butter. I really didn’t fit in.
“I’m looking for Caspien, uh, Dracos. Mr. Dracos?”
“Hm.” She clicked on her computer. “And what is your name?”
“Willa Balfour,”
“I don’t see you on his schedule.”
I sighed. I didn’t even think of that. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Does he have any availability?” I asked.
The woman looked me up and down. “No.” She responded without looking back at her computer.
“Can you please just tell him I’m here? I’ll wait.” I crossed my arms, and she raised an eyebrow. Her lips formed a tight line. I knew that was a hard pass.
“Fine, I’ll ask him myself,” I huffed, turning around and fumbling with my phone.
“Willa? Hi, is everything okay?” His gravely voice came after the first ring, making my stomach dip despite myself.
“Sure.” I shrugged but realized he couldn’t see the movement. “I’m at your office. Are you here? Do you have a minute?”
“You’re here?”
“Yes, in the lobby of some white marble castle,” I threw a hand up.
He chuckled. “Give me a moment.” The phone went blank, and I turned back to the receptionists that were eyeing each other and me now. I crossed my arms, not sure what to expect.
One of them picked up the phone; her eyes went wide for a second before whispering to the first brunette I spoke to. The brunette looked back at me and the computer and clicked a few things.
Well, this was even more awkward than I expected.
Minutes later, Caspien came down, his face set in a familiar hard stare that didn't make him any less attractive. I could sense the receptionist sitting up, and I wasn't sure if it was because of his position or his aura. The receptionists were human, but I saw how humans were affected by him when he came to the restaurant.
“Willa.” He gave me a smile that wasn’t one of his real ones and motioned for me to join him near the long front desk.
“Ladies, this is Willa Balfour. Memorize her face." He paused for a long moment. "She is to be given all security clearances, and no matter what I’m dealing with, if she shows up, she will be shown personally to my office,” he said. His voice sounded cold, colder than I ever heard from him.
“Yes, Mr. Dracos,” they all said almost in unison.
The first girl handed me a security pass with my name on it. Caspien swiped it from her.
“Come on. I’ll show you up.” He put his hand on the small of my back and led me to an elevator.
I felt a bit s.tupid now that I wasn’t so upset. The awkwardness of the lobby calmed down my anger.
“You said your office was close to the restaurant.” I stared up at him; one side of his lips twitched up.
“Close is relative.” He looked down at me, and I fixed him with a blank stare.
The elevator stopped at what might have been the top floor, and he motioned for me to go ahead. I waited at another reception. No one was behind the desk, though.
“You realize this is my first time here. I don’t know where I’m supposed to go,” I crossed my arms, trying not to let the way his smile softened his face get to me.
“This way.” He led me past the desk and down a long hall of windows showing conference rooms that were empty before we made it to the end of the hall. He pushed open double black doors that led to his private office.
Was anyone else even on this floor?
Another wall of windows showed the sprawling gray buildings beyond. Most of them weren't as tall as this one, and the view, even during the day, floored me.
In front of us sat a large marble desk with a comfortable-looking black chair and seats across from it. To the left were minimal bookshelves with some chrome sculptures and black books that were definitely staged next to a sitting area, with low white furniture around a table.
“Are you some kind of villain?” I smiled, forgetting myself.
He sat across the massive desk and placed his palms on it. “Yes,” His lip twitched up. “Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked as he motioned to a seat across from him. I shook my head and stood next to a chair but didn’t sit down.
I hated that I was in my work clothes, even without the s.tupid pink apron. This place made me feel small, and I didn’t like it.
Somehow, when he was sitting across from me at the diner in his suit, it felt more natural than me here in my dirty black clothes across from his desk.
“Willa?” he asked, and I grabbed my arm.
I took a deep breath.“Did you pay for my classes?”
His brows furrowed, but he nodded. “Yes,”
“Why?” I demanded.
He seemed a little taken aback. “Because I wanted to do something for you.”
I jutted out my chin, waiting for him to go on, but he didn’t. “I don’t need your help,”
“Are you upset with me?” he rubbed his beard, and I flopped on the chair.
“Maybe? I’m not sure. I just, I don’t feel okay that you did that. I know you have money.” I motioned to the marble desk, thinking of his band of secretaries as a company with his last f.ucking name on it.
“But you want to do it yourself,” he finished for me, and I nodded.
“I don’t want you to think that you have to do that. I don’t expect that from you. I don’t want that from you. This is the first time I’ve been able to do something for myself, and I want to be able to do it for myself, by myself.”
“I’m sorry, I made a mistake.” He sighed. “I didn’t think it through. I thought I was doing something nice for you.”
I studied him, he actually looked a little worried, and it softened me. “It was a nice gesture. I just can't accept it.”
He sat back.“Why not?”
“I don’t want you to have that over me. I would always feel like I owed you something,”
“Willa, you don’t. This wasn’t to buy your affection or tie you to me. I just wanted to do something for you because I can. I care about you, and I know how hard you’re working. I don’t want you to ever feel behind or get burnt out, especially because there’s Emmett involved.”
My gaze snapped to his. It made sense, but I could do it. Alone.
“I have it handled.”
“I know you do.” His voice softened. “But could I just give you a bit of a buffer while you figure it all out? It would make me feel better.”
“Don’t do that,” I raised an eyebrow.
“Do what?”
“Turn it around so it's like I’m doing you a favor by taking your money.”
He snapped his mouth shut, but it looked like he was trying not to smile.
“You have to admit you’re working a lot. You’re paying for it all on your own too. Just let me cover your summer classes while you get on your feet, and then we can see from there.”
He did have a point; it would be a huge relief. I was already worried about buying Emmett new clothes for winter, and he needed new shoes too, and we still didn’t have everything we needed for the apartment.
“I’ll pay you back with interest,” I added, and he smiled a tiny bit.
“No interest, one date a week, that’s my terms.” He c.ocked his head, watching me.
“Fine, but I’m paying for the next date,” I shot back. I would relish him eating a hot dog from a stand in the park in his suit. I smiled at the thought.
“Deal,” He held out his hand, and I scooted forward, grabbing it and shaking it once.
“Deal,” I agreed.
“But I do hope you let me be there to support you.” He didn’t take his hand from mine. “Not financially, but emotionally. We’re friends, remember?” He raised an eyebrow, challenging me to disagree.
“We are,” I agreed, although we were definitely becoming more than that.
"So you'll let me be there for you while you're figuring it out?" He seemed to be holding his breath.
“Yes.” With that word, I knew there was no going back. Whatever this was was happening, and neither of us could or wanted to stop it. “Yes,” I repeated, and at that moment, I felt something tether us together.