Falling, Falling, and Fallen

LINA

He looked through the peephole, and I quickly turned around, afraid he might have seen me.

Why in the bloody hell is he here?

I quickly realized that only I could see him, so I turned back around and looked at him through the peephole. I started giggling as I eyed him through the tiny hole.

He slowly turned his face toward the door and said, “You know I can hear you.”

I gave a little scream and slid down the door, hoping the floor would just swallow me up. I heard another knock, and his deep voice went through the door. “Miss Reign, open the door.”

That command made my heart race and my knees weak. Taking a deep breath, I slowly stood up, fixed my robe, and opened the door.

There he stood in all his godlike glory, still dressed in the same suit and black overcoat. My mouth slowly fell open as I stared at him, drool beginning to slide out of the corner of my mouth.

He was the embodiment of perfection, every detail flawless, not a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his clothes. I found myself wondering what he would look like if I just grabbed his hair or wrinkled his clothes.

As my thoughts drifted into risky territory, he spoke my name. “Miss Lina.”

Jumping out of my thoughts, I cleared my throat. “Mr. Blackwood. Are you following me?”

I saw the corner of his mouth kick up slightly, but I may have imagined that. “Your address was on your application.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “I didn’t think candidates were blessed with a home visit from a CEO.”

Now, a full-fledged smile appeared on his mouth, not one where his teeth showed, but definitely a smile. “Only those I find intriguing.”

His eyes changed when he said that. There was something in his eyes that made me so heated I could feel the heat in my cheeks rising. Not wanting to embarrass myself any further, I asked, “How can I help you, Mr. Blackwood?”

He folded his arms behind his back. “I’m hiring you, Miss Reign.”

I was taken aback by his comment and nearly stopped breathing. I looked at him wide-eyed and asked, “Excuse me?”

He huffed out an annoyed breath. “Look, there are obviously some issues we will need to overcome with you, but I feel like there is some quality that may be of use to me.”

Issues?

I continued to look at him as if he had just grown a second head. He just stared at me, waiting for my answer, but all I did was stand there like a mute moron and watch the man pick something from inside his coat.

He lifted a card into the air between his fingers. “I don’t appreciate my time being wasted, Miss Reign, and if you’re going to stand there like a silent idiot, then you have twenty-four hours to give me an answer.”

He threw the card at me, which hit me in the face and fell to the floor. He suddenly walked away, and I just stood there, staring at the empty space where Aaron Blackwood had stood.

I then slowly lowered my head toward the floor and stared at the card that he had just thrown at me.

He just threw a card in my face and left?

He threw a fucking card in my face and bloody left!

My blood started to boil, so I did the only reasonable thing any person would do. I slammed the door shut and walked straight to my sofa, picked up a cushion, and screamed into it.

I screamed until my voice was hoarse. I screamed until every drop of irritation and anger left my body. By the time I was done, I had collapsed on my sofa. I slowly turned around and just lay there, staring at the ceiling.

I didn’t know what to do. How on earth would I be able to work for a man so arrogant and egotistical, who probably wouldn’t even value me?

But then I thought about how he’d just shown up at my home to offer me the job. He’d said I had intrigued him. What could that possibly mean?

I stared at the ceiling, drowning in my thoughts, wanting to say no to a man who obviously had no respect for me, but then I thought about the past, and I thought about Dane.

He’d never wanted me to move forward or better myself in a way that would make me happy. It had always been about his wants, his needs, his happiness.

***

I walked into the house, kicking off my shoes and hanging up my coat. I quickly made my way to the dining room and saw Dane sitting there, an empty plate in front of him.

Slowing down, I kept a smile plastered on my face. “What are you doing?”

He looked up and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m eating.”

Confused, I glanced at the clean plate. “But there’s no food on your plate.”

His expression shifted to surprise before turning to anger. “You know why there’s no food? Because you didn’t cook any!”

He hurled the plate at me. It missed by inches, shattering against the wall. I froze, unable to move or think.

Dane stood up slowly and approached me, his hand sliding around the back of my neck. “Why isn’t there food?”

Fear gripped me. In all our time together, I had never seen him like this. Stuttering, I tried to explain, “I—I haven’t cooked yet. That’s why.”

His grip tightened, almost crushing my neck. He looked me in the eye. “Why haven’t you cooked yet?”

I tried to pull his hand away. “You’re hurting me.”

He squeezed harder. “Why the fuck haven’t you cooked yet?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. “I—I was working.”

He grabbed my cheeks with his other hand, mocking me. “You were working.”

Letting go of my neck, he moved his hand to my throat and squeezed. “Is your work more important than keeping your partner, your future husband, fed?”

I clawed at his hands, struggling to breathe, shaking my head. He gave my throat one last squeeze and threw me against the wall.

I landed in the broken glass, cutting myself everywhere. His legs approached, and he leaned down, lifting my chin. “It’s best you quit work so we can be happy. Hm?”

Terrified, I nodded. He smiled and kissed me, then stood up. “You should get this all cleaned up.”

He walked away, leaving me trembling on the floor.

***

I’d known on a deeper level that he hadn’t respected me either. My father always said that you have to earn someone’s respect, and it was baffling that after everything I’d done for Dane, I’d never had his respect.

He’d always been happy for me to stay in the little box he had created for me, and, to be honest, I didn’t want to go back there.

If I worked for Aaron Blackwood, it wouldn’t be because I expected his respect. Frankly, I was at the point in my life where I just didn’t care anymore. But maybe working for Aaron Blackwood could bring something into my life that I’d longed for—a chance at happiness.

I sat up and looked at the door. Slowly, I made my way to the door and stared at the card that was just lying there.

I slowly knelt down, folded my hands over my knees, and just stared at the card.

I prayed that I wouldn’t regret my decision as I picked up the card and made my way to my phone. I dialed the number and listened to the ringer.

The phone was answered by the very man who would either make or break me. “Aaron Blackwood.”

Clearing my throat, I said, “Mr. Blackwood, it’s Lina Reign.”

There was only silence on the other end of the line for a moment before I heard his voice again. “Yes, Miss Reign. Have you made your decision?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “I accept.”