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I shake my head, laughing with him.
We continue talking about business, but soon I say goodbye.
I should be getting back to the activity. I almost forgot all about it.
When I get back to where the activity is happening, while some of the influencers have made some stunning labels, others could only be described as children’s drawings as best.
I smile and encourage everyone, nonetheless.
But there is one person who hasn’t made any progress so far.
Quinn sits in her corner, away from the rest of the influencers. She’s looking even more frail now, even though I didn’t think that’d be possible.
I cannot help myself anymore and march up to her.
“Quinn, is everything okay?” I frown.
She looks up at me, passing me a smile that seems fake.
She looks like a shell of the person she was when she arrived. Looking at her up close again, I’m reminded of our kiss, and I wonder if she’s reacting this way because I left her hanging immediately after.
The guilt wants to eat me up alive.
“Everything is…uh… Great.”
“You can tell me if something happened, you know?” Not buying her half-baked excuse, I’m surprised how insistent I’m being, a strange feeling of protectiveness washing over me.
I want nothing more than to restore the smile on her face.
“No, really, Enzo. I’m fine. Nothing to tell.”
Although I still think she isn’t telling me the complete story, I am momentarily disarmed when she smiles at me again—a genuine smile this time.
“But thank you for caring enough to ask.”
My heart skips a beat, and I curse myself at the reaction. “Right, just checking.”
My departure is abrupt as I cannot be around her longer.
It’s ridiculous. I’m running around, trying to dodge her like a schoolboy. What’s the worst that can even happen?
My thoughts darken, and desire stirs inside me once again.
I picture her naked in my bed, pinned underneath my body, mouth open and eyes rolled back.
Yep.
That’s the worst that can happen.
I flee to my office, locking myself inside.
My thoughts have gone too far this time. I don’t even know if she’d be willing to indulge me like that.
It’s time I either decided to do something about this or forget about her altogether.
This game of chess between us has gone on for far too long.
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