Page 18 of Under Your Scars

The orphanage has its own accredited academy, a grocery store, fast food restaurants, and a bowling alley to give them work experience. It’s a haven for kids with nowhere else to go, and though I’m intimidated by the man sitting across from me, he’s giving them a chance, and that’s really admirable of him.

He’s got a soft spot for the kids there because hewasthem. He’s lived it— experienced some of the worst pain a child can go through.

When Christian was six years old, his parents were both murdered in front of him. According to the police reports, they found him sitting in a puddle of his parent’s blood, and when the police asked him what happened, all he said was that a man with a gun ambushed his father and shot both of his parents in cold blood.

I can’t even begin to imagine what that was like. My parents mean everything to me. If I lost either of them so tragically, I’m not sure I could come out of it. Hewatchedthem die. It probably still cuts him like a serrated knife if he thinks about it too long.

He takes a silver case out of his jacket pocket, pulls a cigarette from it and lights it. Finishing half the stick in two drags, he glances back up at me before taking it between two fingers and blowing the smoke to the side. “I’d like to take the attorneys to tour the campus, connect with some of the kids there, and then have a meeting with them to make sure we’re still perfectly in compliance with the law. Have them spot any potential lawsuits, that kind of thing. Think you can arrange it for me?”

“Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s a great idea.” My words get caught in my throat, but he politely grins and waits patiently for me to finish my thought. “Do you think I could come too? I’ve always wanted to see it in person.”

“You don’t even have to ask. I’d be lost without you by my side. In fact, I’d like to promote you. Since you no longer have a supervising attorney, I’d like you to be my personal secretary instead,” Christian suggests casually, as if his words didn’t just sucker punch me square in the mouth.

I’d be lost without you by my side.

He couldn’t have meant that the way I took it. He just means that he needs someone to keep his schedule straight for him. He’s a busy man, lots of appointments. I think his calendar would give me anxiety just by looking at it.

He gives me that damn smile again, and I almost accept. The agreement is on the tip of my tongue, but I get to thinking about my future and why I came to this company in the first place, and I shake my head. I give him an apologetic sigh. “Mr. Reeves, I really appreciate the offer but…I’m actually committed to the legal department, and I’d like to stay there.”

“Christian,” he corrects as his face falls, seemingly disappointed in my response. “Is it because you want to be a lawyer here? You already have your JD.”

My brow furrows in confusion. “How do you know that?”

Something unknown flickers across his eyes and then he chuckles. “I’ve read your résumé, Elena.”

Right. Of course, he did. Probably read it the day he fired his top attorney for insulting me, to make sure I really wasn’t an airhead like Neil claimed.

“Well, I haven’t passed the bar exam yet, but yes, I’d really love to be an associate here one day. I came to Meridian City for my career, and I’d like to stay where I am, if that’s okay with you.”

His eyes darken a bit. “On one condition.”

Oh fuck,please don’t ask for something sexual.Please don’t ask for something sexual.Please don’t—

“I want you to quit your job at the Hellfire Lounge, and I want you to promise me you’ll never go back there.”

I gulp. That’s not an unreasonable request. That place is shady as hell. “Um…okay. Yeah, I can do that.”

His eyes go back to that stunning shade of light blue, and he smiles. “Great. Perfect. I’d like to visit the orphanage within the next week or two, do you think that’s enough time to plan everything?”

“Yes.” I stand to leave, and he takes his feet off the table.

“Come here,” he commands, his tone leaving no room to argue, and I follow him to the wall of windows directly behind his desk. It’s a beautiful view of this city of nightmares. From way up here, you can see almost the whole island—you might even be able to see the mainland of New Jersey if it’s a clear and sunny day.

There’s not many of those in Meridian City, though.

“It’s so pretty up here you might forget how terrible this city is.”

I don’t particularly expect an answer. Just an observation.

“It’s not so bad, I think.”

I turn my head to look at him. “Maybe not up here from this ivory tower, but people like you and people like me see this city differently for a reason.” I rub my fingers together to emphasize that I’m talking about money, and how he’s jaded from it.

“I see a lot more than you think I do,” he says, and then we both look out over the city for a long time. He brushes a strand of my hair back from my shoulder. “Come to dinner with me, Elena.”

I shudder from the unexpected touch. My eyes blow wide, and I take a step away from him. “What?” I ask, my chest heaving. “Why?”

He chuckles and takes me lightly by the waist, pulling me closer again, his thumbs rubbing small circles onto my hip bones. “BecauseI want totake you to dinner.”