Page 2 of From You to Me

His intense blues sharpened, pinning me in place and making the unease in my stomach escalate. “It’s my damn house. I can do whatever the hell I want.”

“But I need this job. I was promised that I would be able to work full-time here. I changed up all my other jobs for this,” I stammered pathetically through the false bravado that I put outward.

He didn’t move an inch, and his expression didn’t change one bit. He still glared at me with an icy look.

My helpless eyes dragged to the kaleidoscope of bright daylight shining through the Manhattan skyline behind him as I thought of a way out of this situation.

I needed this job. But I needed the money more. It would help me for a while. I saw it as a big opportunity because it was hard to come by a salary like this, and I wasn’t ready to let it go.

My hands turned clammy as I swallowed, putting aside my pride. “Please, Jay. I really need this job. I swear I won’t be a bother.”

His knuckles turned deadly white while his beautiful face flashed with anger. “Don’t fucking call me that,” he hissed.

My eyes widened as I tried to suppress the hurt that was slowly expanding in my heart.

Things were a lot different now,I reminded myself.

“Okay, I understand.” I nodded slowly. “But please, I need this job. I promise I won’t bother you.” I waved my hand frantically. “Hell, you can keep me around for a month, and if it still doesn’t work out, you can let me go,” I asked, hopeful. At least that would buy me some time to get back some of my clients.

“Your promises mean shit to me. Look, I don’t have time to waste. You pack your things and leave, please. Aimee will talk with you.”

My eyes fixed on his retrieving sculpted back inked with powerful angel wings that almost looked like it was moving with him.

The panic flowed back tenfold, and my feet took a step toward him without even thinking, my hand almost gripped his shoulder before his head snapped at me as if he had sensed me coming up to him.

A thunderous expression clouded his face as he gave me a pointed look.

My hand froze midair, shaking as I slowly drew them to my side. I breathed as I gazed into those blues that I loved so much. Now that he was so close, my mouth had completely forgotten what it had to say.

“What?” he punctuated.

“Umm…” I started—my mouth dry as my stomach twisted with anxiety.

His eyes drove into mine like the sharpest steel of a blade. “WHAT?”

I breathed through as I stammered, “Pl..Please. Let me just work here. I swear I won’t cause any trouble. I really need this job. I don’t have anything else lined up at the moment.”

He shook his head, frustrated. I didn’t know if it was the desperation in my voice or the sorry-ass look on my face, but after what seemed like the longest minute of my life, he nodded.

“Fine. But only for a month. Make sure you find something else by that time.”

I smiled as I nodded enthusiastically. At least it was something.

His eyes narrowed. “Also, don’t fucking talk to me. Don’t fucking bother me. Don’t unnecessarily show your face in front of me. And know your place.”

The smile dropped hard as fast as it came. I blinked as I watched his back disappear upstairs.

I would be foolish to admit that it didn’t hurt because it did. It hurt so damn bad. But who was to blame? It was pretty evident that he couldn’t even tolerate my presence. For some reason, I thought he would at least ask me how I was doing.

For old times’ sake.

But all the love and care he once had for me was replaced by hate and detest.

I shook out of it and trudged my heavy feet back to the kitchen.

Confused.

All the pain that I had bottled up over the years rushed back to me. I could feel in my bones that this was going to be a long, hard month.