Forty minutes later my hair was once again soaked. I closed up my hopeless umbrella against the strong wind and pushed my way through the doors of Scott’s apartment building.
I smiled at Fredrick at the lobby desk who typically had the night shift and he greeted me right back, calling for the penthouse elevator.
Quietly, I cursed the determination that disappeared and was replaced with a hammering heartbeat. Deep breaths were proving to be pointless as I reached his floor.
The fuck was I thinking?
Before I could turn back, I pounded at his door, wiping the raindrops from my forehead with the back of my hand as the door opened furiously.
My breath caught. It was unfair how massively tense I was while Scott stood there, shirtless, staring at me without as much as a blink. His eyes washed over me but there was no warmth in them.
I opened my mouth and his jaw flexed as he pushed the door open, stepping aside.
I stepped in hesitantly, removing my raincoat while he disappeared wordlessly through the corridor. He returned a moment later, handing me a white towel and pulling a t-shirt over his head.
“Thank you,” I whispered and patted my face. I tried my first words again. I had them—accusing him of not giving me a real chance to explain, diminishing my existence. I reminded myself that I had nothing else to lose.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I blurted.
Seriously? That’s what you start with?
“Guilty conscience?” his tone was flat.
“That’s not what I meant. I needed to talk to you, without…” my voice cut off again, dammit.
Scott rolled his eyes and went behind his kitchen counter.
I turned away taking a few more steps into the apartment, rubbing my forehead; willing myself to get it together. Feeling ready, I spun and found him standing before me, handing me a glass of red wine.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a glass of wine,” he nodded at the half-poured stem glass, “please have some.”
I gritted my teeth and gave him a cold glare, but took the glass because he was right. I needed this. I swallowed down more than half of it and handed it back. “You think you know me so well,” I muttered, barely posing a question.
He twirled the glass and the corner of his mouth twitched. “Maybe a little.”
“I’m sorry it’s late.”
He shook his head slightly, setting the glass down. “The evening? The truth? Be more specific here.”
I sighed. “Both. Okay?”
He slipped his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants and leaned against the wall. His glare came off as if he were giving me the chance to say more but not to expect anything of it.
“I’m sure it didn’t go unnoticed that I still owe you a reason. I want you to know that it wasn’t at all because I didn’t think you’d like me if I weren’t equal to your status.”
“First of all, only a handful of people in this city are. Second, I’m not an idiot, Elle. I’m aware of the amount of times you tried to get away from me when I was in full pursuit.” He pushed off the wall, irritated. “Maybe I should fix myself a drink since this is clearly going to take a while.”
Okay. He is getting impatient.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again. I had this outstanding reputation. If it got out that I’d often dress to fit in with the crowd to do damage control at my own events, I’d be the joke of the industry rather than a role model.”
“You’d make a terrible role model,” his voice wavered but I still nodded at his words.
I swallowed knowing it was time for the hard truth. “At first, I was afraid of what you, in your position, could do to someone like me in this city.” I shrugged. “If I didn’t have my career, I had nothing. I don’tknowanything else.”
He frowned and his mouth opened slightly.
