Return to the Darkness - Ripley Proserpina Page 0,29
his father had been in charge, it had just been a big ranch, but now there were multiple buildings that looked quasi-industrial, quasi-commercial. I wasn’t sure exactly what they were doing, but I knew it wasn’t at all what Colton had wanted to do in life.
“God fucking damn it,” his voice bellowed out. “Someone had better find me those fucking papers now or I swear I’m firing everyone.”
Aaron turned to me. “Sure you need him on this? That is pretty much his constant mood. From moment one to moment ten. All day. Every day. I tried to have a beer with him three years ago. It did not go well. He yells all the time.”
I shrugged. “I’m not afraid of Colton’s temper.” That was true. In fact, in our world, he practically never yelled at all, at least not around me. In any case, I knew that he was all bark and no bite.
Aaron stepped aside. “You should go in. Go talk to his secretary. I’m going to wait here. Seeing me might just piss him off.”
I walked forward, nerves hitting my stomach. Why, I wasn’t sure. What was the worst thing that would happen here? He’d say no. Okay. I’d be heartbroken a little bit. But that was fine. I’d lived through that before. The thing was, Colton was always so sure of me. What would it feel like to have him disinterested?
I walked into the office and the secretary rushed through the door. “Whatever you’re here for, I’d wait until later. He’s on a rant. And I need a break. Just one little break.” She was practically in tears.
I got out of her way so she could rush by. The poor lady. I hoped he was paying her a lot of money. Not that it would compensate for this at all. It wouldn’t. No one deserved to be treated… Hell, I wasn’t going to get myself in a snit over this. Oliver had been to jail. Aaron was a completely different person. Colton made those who worked for him miserable.
What was Thorn doing? Kicking babies?
Still, for now I had to focus on Colton. I steeled my back. I could do this.
I wasn’t going to knock. I had surprise on my side, so I might as well use it. I turned the knob and opened it, walking inside.
“I swear to god, Susan, if you don’t have the right papers this time…”
Oh. My. God. Business Colton was… hot. Oliver and Aaron were both so tired. But Colton? The dark hair I loved was peppered with silver. A lot of silver. I guessed this was a very stressful life, because my twenty-eight-year-old Colton still had a full head of dark hair. He wore a button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal muscled forearms. His face was clean-shaven, but that jawline could cut glass.
“Do you ever smile?” Shit. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Colton blinked at the papers he was reading and lifted my gaze to mine. Slowly, he stood. “What the fuck is this?” His voice shook.
“You’re making your secretary cry. And everyone is afraid of you. That’s not the Colton I know.”
His face went pale, and he sat down hard in his chair. After a moment, he chuckled and shook his head. “You know, Aaron told me this would happen. He said that I’d end up paying for what I did, for being a Scrooge. And here it is. The Ghost of motherfucking Christmas Past.” He dropped his head in his hands. “I don’t want to see the past. Just bring on the other two ghosts. I already know where I messed up with you.”
It seemed like with all bullies, Colton’s meanness came from hurt. I approached him and slid into the chair in front of his desk. “I’m not a ghost. And I guess I’m more like the Ghost of Christmas Alternative Reality. But yeah, you should still definitely apologize to Aaron. And Susan. You made her cry.”
He dragged his hands down his face and met my stare. It took him a moment of studying my face before he reacted. His chair suddenly slammed into the wall behind it as he stood. He strode around the desk, and pulled me out of my chair. One hand went to the back of my neck while the other went around my waist, yanking me against him. His lips crashed down on mine, tongue thrusting past my lips.
Shock held me still, but that hand holding my neck shook, and I