Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 131

How Things Were

It's been a week.

A week since I've seen Jake.

Not even in passing have I caught his gaze. Thankfully, Aiden and Zaid have been with me every day. Keeping me company, distracting me, making me feel loved.

But Jake? He's been swallowed whole by work. I've been thinking about him so much, to the point where I'm thinking of reinstating the phobia chants in my head. Even when I'm laughing with Aiden or tangled up with Zaid, Jake is on my mind.

I miss him.

It's starting the feel like it did when I forced myself to stay away from him.

The board is pushing him to také legal action against his late CFO's family. They want repayment. They want blood. But Jake doesn't. And it's been draining him to be the only one against it.

Even if he is the founder and owner, he has the board top answer to.

So for the past week, I've only received little notes from him. His handwriting is terrible, but I cherish the small apologies scribbled onto the expensive cardstock. Even more so when they are tucked between the petals of the flowers he sends

me.

My room is filled with them, vases on my nightstand, my dresser, my windowsill. They're beautiful.

But I miss him. I want him, not flowers.

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the bouquet he sent this morning. I make up my mind there and then that I want to see him. Enough is enough.

I stand up and pull my red dress from the back of my closet. It's short, silky, and just revealing enough to make a statement. He won't be able to ignore me, regardless of how much work he has piled up.

I pair it with heels, letting them click against the hardwood floor as I make my way

to my

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4:06 pm 11

How Things Were

A little eyeliner, soft waves in my hair, a

how I look, I grab my

I catch Aiden and Zaid walking out of the kitchen with

drag over me, slow and intense, his jaw tightening. He doesn't say a word, but the way his

feet, pressing my

a low whistle. "Damn, baby," he drawls, his lips tilting into a smirk. "You look

my neck, and I lower my gaze, suddenly feeling like I'm caught with my hand in the

of my dress. "Do you think Jake will

his heel, and walks away. I watch him

makes his way toward me. He grabs my

gonna love it," he murmurs, brushing his

my chest now, my stomach twisting. "You think so? I haven't seen him and

grip on me and forces my gaze right back to his. "He's going to love it so much that he'll want to take it off

eyes, but my stomach

car keys. "Come on,

my thigh as he drives and I pick at his

the next conversation.

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How Things Were

I start softly, having to clear my

hand flexes on the

to say what's been weighing on me.

feeling about

at me, but I see the way his shoulders tense. "What do

sigh. "About us. About me being with you,

and then he puts both hands on the

eyes on

last week how you like being the only one

He nods.

you want things to go

lips pressing into a thin line. His silence stretches between us. It's uncomfortable. I place a hand on

sighs and nods. "Is it bad that

but

ache.

us. When I didn't