The Contract Said Leave After, His Mind Said Please Stay Chapter 06

Julian came home earlier than usual that evening.

I was curled up on the couch eating chips when he walked in. He glanced at me.

–

[She’s got chip crumbs at the corner of her mouth. I want to wipe them off. With my hand or no. Julian,

you’re a gentleman. Act like it.]

“You’re home early,” I said.

“Yeah, slow day at the office.”

[My assistant told me Vanessa showed up today. What did she say to her?]

[Harper seems fine – she doesn’t look upset. Should I ask about it?]

[No if I ask, she’ll know I care. I do care. But she can’t know that.]

I looked at that blank face of his and sighed internally.

If you care, just say it. Three years of swallowing his own feelings, and the man was going to implode.

“Mr. Sterling,” I called.

“Hm.”

“A woman came by to see me today.” His hands went still for a second.

[Here it comes. She’s going to tell me. Stay calm. Act like you don’t care.]

“What woman?” he asked, like it barely mattered.

[That lunatic Vanessa. I’ll have her blacklisted from every elite circle in this city by tomorrow.]

“She said she’s your ex-fiancée.” His fingers stalled on his tie.

“What did she say?”

[If she hurt Harper, I’ll destroy her.]

I watched the quiet violence simmering beneath that calm expression and felt something I wasn’t expecting

– a little thrill.

“Nothing important,” I said, keeping it light. “She just wanted to rub your history in my face.”

He was silent for a few seconds.

[History? What history? I don’t have a history with her.]

[It was strictly a corporate arrangement – I never even touched her. She has no right showing up at Harper’s door acting like the ex.]

‘There’s nothing between me and her,” he said. His voice had dropped half an octave.

[Believe me. Please believe me.]

I nodded. “I know.”

He looked at me, and something flickered behind his eyes.

[She believes me? Just like that? Why isn’t she suspicious? Why isn’t she… jealous?]

Jealous? I could hear everything rattling around inside that skull of his.

His head was wall-to-wall me – what was there to be jealous of? The love poems he was writing in his own

head?

“Mr. Sterling.”

“Hm.”

“If someone comes after me again… will you deal with it?” He looked at me, and something in his gaze

shifted.

[Is she asking me to protect her? She’s asking ME?]

“No one will bother you again.”

[Anyone who tries won’t get a second chance.]

The corner of my mouth lifted. “Thank you.” He looked away.

[She smiled. God, that’s pretty. That’s too pretty. I’m going to have a cardiac event.]

“Consider it done,” he said. “You’re mine.”

The words left his mouth and he froze.

[What did I just say??? “You’re mine”??? What kind of line is that???]

[She’s going to think I’m staking a claim on her. I’m dead. I’m so dead.]

I went still for a second, but not because of what he said.

It was because, in three years, this was the first time he’d actually said something possessive out loud.

Not a thought I’d overheard. His actual voice, aimed at me.

My pulse stuttered. “Yeah,” I said. “I know.”

He turned and disappeared into his study. The second the door shut, I heard him.

[You’re done, Julian. You’re totally exposed. She definitely thinks you’re insane.]

[“You’re mine – really? Why not just go all in and say “you’re my baby”? God, that was humiliating.]

I slid off the couch and crouched behind it, laughing so hard my whole body shook.

Julian. If you wanted to call me your baby, I could take it. He should just say it.