Page 29 of Stolen Voices

“Now, please answer my question. Is Callie okay?”

The woman sighs, exasperated with Eli’s stubborn attitude. “Yes. You reacted quickly, and I think it’s safe to say she’ll be okay. But someone needs to monitor her for the next 24 hours and make sure she doesn’t relapse. Anaphylaxis is serious and can happen again after a big reaction. She needs rest, fluids, and to watch what she eats. She’ll be nauseous and tired. If this happens again, you need to promise me you will take her to the hospital.”

Anaphylaxis?

Memories of dinner with Eli at the studio click into place. The cupcake. There was something off about the flavor when I bit into it. It only took a minute before my body reacted and I went into shock. My airways constricted, and my pulse raced as panic swept through me.

Then Eli was there, holding me, soothing me with his voice. “I’m right here. I’ve got you.” And he did. I remember the sound of his heart beating erratically beneath my cheek as he held me to his chest and carried me to the car.

“Princess.”The nickname he’s always called me sounded different this time. As I slipped to sleep, I knew I was going to be okay because I was with him.

“I swear,” Eli agrees.

“Good. Now, do you know what sent her into anaphylaxis?”

“No. But I have a feeling whatever it was had to be in the cupcake. She was fine; we were talking throughout dinner…” Eli pauses. I can picture him gathering his thoughts, with his jaw tense as he rubs his hand over his chin and stares off into space. “She had two bites of that damn cupcake before I watched her fall to the ground, gasping for breath. I almost lost it. She…” His voice cracks.

I’ve never heard Eli sound anything other than cool and indifferent, especially with me, but last night was different. We talked and laughed. He was playful and sweet. I loved seeing that side of him. The way he stood up for me with DJ Reigns, our dinner, and the playful banter have me feeling some kind of way.

“But you didn’t. You responded in time. Don’t beat yourself up. It wasn’t your fault,” the woman consoles Eli.

My stomach twists with an unwelcome feeling at the thought of them embracing. The two of them sound more than friendly.

Is this woman his girlfriend?

Eli’s voice lowers, and I strain my ears to hear him. “I’m supposed to be watching her, Tay. I failed. She could have—”

“But she didn’t.” I can picture her hand on Eli’s arm, running her perfectly manicured nails down his sleeve, comforting him, and the urge to chase her off hits me hard. “I have to say, it’s nice to see you like this.”

“Like what?” Eli asks, confused.

The woman chuckles. “Tied up over a woman.”

“I’m not,” he retorts, snapping my crush like a silly little twig. Eli will never see me as anything but a colleague. “She’s my client. I’m supposed to be watching out for her, for Hudson. He put me on babysitting duty, that’s it.”

Babysitting?

The word is like a knife to the heart. I’m not a child, but that’s all I will ever be to Eli. How could I think he wanted to get to know me? I’m nothing but a job for him. While I’m not surprised, it still stings to hear, especially after the way he behaved in the booth when we were alone. I thought it was because maybe he felt…

I force myself not to go down that line of thinking.It’s for the best,I remind myself.

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” the woman asks. “You brought her to your home, E. You never do that.”

His home? That bit of information has the butterflies in my stomach fluttering.

“Of course I’m sure. You know I don’t mess around with clients.”

“You don’t mess around with anyone,” she quips like she knows from experience.

I hate her.

“Taylor,” Eli warns.

“Fine.” The woman named Taylor sighs again, dramatically. It’s obvious she has some sort of relationship with Eli.

Or agreement.

Bile rises in my throat. Eli probably has a roster full of women waiting for him to call. I’ve never seen him with the same woman twice, and as far as I can tell, he prioritizes work above all else.