Big Ben (See No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,74
might need your help keeping a competitor occupied while I close the deal with a client.”
She lifted a brow. “Dare I ask who?”
“Bram Van Linsted.”
She arched a delicate brow. “Let me guess, he’s going to try to stop that meeting from happening.”
“He is. So we’ll need to go covert.”
“I’ve always wanted to be Bond,” she said with a sly grin.
21
Livy
I’d finally managed to get Ben to stop hovering and let me go back to my old flat to pack for Paris. His idea that I could buy clothes there was bullshit. I could, but it was a business meeting. I needed to have my things.
Having familiar things would also help me feel a little more like me. Since meeting Ben, I’d been on my back foot. Or at least it felt that way. Like I was just a little bit unsteady all the time. And no wonder. Since that fateful moment in the closet a month ago, I’d gotten mugged, gotten a new job, lost my boyfriend, moved in with my boss, and found out that someone might be trying to kill me.
The tell-tale ding of the front door told me that Dexter’s code had been punched in, and the pit of my stomach dropped. Shit. It was way too early for him to be home. What the hell was he doing there? I hadn’t anticipated a fight.
Technically he still lives here.
Ben had sent me back to the flat with Todd, who doubled as a bodyguard and driver. Ben said he’d get dropped off there after he was done and we’d ride to Heathrow together. I should have had Todd come inside with me, but I’d thought it would be a relatively quick trip.
I quelled the irrational instinct to hide as I heard his footsteps on the hardwood, but I tried to hurry my movements.
“You’re home.”
I paused but didn’t turn around. “Not for long. I’m just packing for my trip.”
“You don’t come home for days, and when you do, you’re going away? Can I even ask where you’re off to?”
With every word out of his mouth, I could feel my blood pressure rising. “Paris.”
“You’re going to Paris?”
“For work.”
“Why is an admin being taken to Paris for work?”
I stopped trying to cram my boots into my bag and turned to face him. “Seriously. How is it you don’t listen to a single word that I say?”
He swallowed hard. “Liv, I—”
“Nope, you don’t get to call me Liv. That is reserved for people who love me. You humiliated me, tried to make it seem like it was my fault, then put me in a potentially dangerous situation. I’m done taking your bullshit.”
I moved faster, scrambling around and shoving things into my bag.
He was quiet for so long I thought he’d left, but when I hurried out of the bathroom, he was still there. Our gazes locked, and he pleaded with me. “I fucked up, Olivia.”
Well, at least he hadn’t called me Liv again. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Look. The other night got way out of hand. I was out of it. I know. And I get that Fenton makes you uncomfortable. I’ve been a complete twat. I never…” He let out a long breath. “I never should have spoken to you that way. I was out of order, and I shouldn’t have left you alone with him.”
I shook my head. “Dexter, I’m leaving. I can’t have this conversation with you. Not right now. I have to go.”
Stepping forward, he took my hands, stilling me. “I am sorry about the other night. I had just taken a pain pill.”
“That’s your excuse? That’s not good enough anymore, Dexter. I’ve made excuse after excuse for you. You can’t be there for me in the way I need because you’re not looking after yourself. I need a partner Dexter.”
“I know.” He licked his lips. “And I can be that. I just started an outpatient program. I want to kick the pills and the booze.”
I tried to pull my hands out of his. Tears stung my eyes. “I’m happy for you. And I’ll support you in any way I can, but we…” My voice trailed as he got down on one knee, and my eyes went wide. “What the hell?”
“I know I don’t deserve you. I know I’ve broken your trust. But I’m kneeling before you a changed man. I will give you my everything. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me. Marry me instead.”