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

soft waves in my hair,

with how I look, I grab my coat and head

I freeze when I catch Aiden and Zaid walking out of the kitchen with a load of

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

shift between my feet,

lets out a low whistle. "Damn, baby," he drawls, his lips tilting into a

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

over the fabric of my dress. "Do you think Jake will like

he clenches his jaw, turns on his heel, and

makes his way toward me. He grabs my

brushing his

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

gaze right back to his. "He's going to love it so

but my

grabbing his car keys. "Come on,

my thigh as he drives and I pick at his knuckles, nervous to

the next conversation.

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How Things Were

softly, having to clear

flexes on the

the courage to say what's been weighing

about

the way his

sigh. "About us. About me being

tense on my leg, just for a second, and then he puts both hands on the wheel.

eyes on him,

how you like being the only one with me

He nods.

go back to how they

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

nods. "Is it bad

hard. I expected that answer, but hearing it out loud still

ache.

miss when it was just us.