“How did you get in?” Ellie asked as she placed the towel in front of her.
His crazed gaze stayed on the towel. “I hardly think that now is the time to cover your body. I have seen it in depth already.”
“GET OUT!” Ellie shouted.
He glared at her. “We are not done.”
“Oh, yes we are!”
He shook his head at her. “You better be careful.”
“WHY?” she shouted. “I don’t care about your threats anymore. I have lost Morgan anyway. Get your ugly twisted face out of my apartment or I am calling the cops. Then the dean. You SICK FUCK!”
His eyes rounded.
Ellie reached for her blow dryer and threw it at him.
The professor ducked as it hit the wall and he looked livid. “You will be sorry!”
“I am going to start screaming and I won’t stop till they put handcuffs on you!”
Hillborn turned and left.
Ellie was shaking. She peeked out to see the front door shut. She sank down on the bathroom floor and shook badly. Now she’d done it. It will all come out. Her head rose up. “Well, let it. That man will be embroiled in scandal and lose his job. At least there’s that.” Then she remembered Morgan. She wished Morgan would hurt him. The man was a menace. Who else had he done this to? How many girls did he trap like he did her?
She wouldn’t be able to accuse Hillborn of rape, as Morgan would hurt him. But Morgan’s name would be embroiled too. Like he needs that now. Dammit! She finally got a spine and she forgot about Morgan.
And how did Hillborn get in? She wondered, what with the keypad. She wasn’t safe here. She knew that now. She needed to move. In fact, she should and she was definitely not going back to that creep’s class.
She needed to get dressed and go to the college then do her shift. Try to act normal. Try to get on with it. Whatever came. Her chest hurt again. Even if she lost the man she loved. If it happened, she would just have to live with it. Tears gathered in her eyes. God, I hope I don’t lose him.
She got up and made her way to her room. She went into her closet still wearing her towel. She would not wear anymore sexy clothes for a while. She just couldn’t. Hillborn’s words kept coming back at her and what Morgan had said too. No, she didn’t intend to dress like an old woman but she wasn’t so cavalier about it now. She also would keep wearing that huge apron over her barista outfit.
Now there was the ex-girlfriend. Even if she got away with throwing Hillborn out of her life and that is a big IF. And there was the pregnant bitch to deal with. But after her fuck up, she wasn’t going to blame Morgan. I bet it’s not the first time some woman refused to let him go. Hell, I refuse to! She smiled for the first time in days. I won’t hold it against him. I'll stand by his side if he lets me.
Ellie halted with an outfit in her hands. If he even wants me after Hillborn gets through with his threats
Morgan finally finished the meeting with Chance and Helix. He could barely concentrate on it. It just seemed to go on and on. Funny, how business used to mean everything and now it seemed so unimportant. How could he have changed so much in just a few months? All he could think about was Ellie, of course. It wasn’t all Ellie’s fault either she didn’t interfere on purpose. In fact, she’d been so understanding whenever he had to leave for work. Then this thing with Daphne. That wasn’t her fault at all. He stalked out of the boardroom and made his way to the elevator.
“In a hurry, there Morgan?” Chance called out from behind him.
He turned to glance at him and tapped the elevator button. “I am. And you and I are going to have a talk. But first things first.”
“Miss White should be first.”
Morgan flipped all the way around and stared at his friend. “What does that mean?”
Chance put his hands up. “Just what I said.”
Morgan narrowed his eyes at him.
The elevator dinged and he turned to step in.
Chance had disappeared down the hall with his cell to his ear as the doors closed.
What is it that Chance is insinuating? Did it have anything to do with why she’d been crying when I first got back from New York? He had felt that something might be wrong before he even got back to Philly.
Dammit. He glanced at his watch. Ellie would be getting to work soon. He would go there and he would wait until she spoke to him. It reminded him of the last time he’d fucked up with her. He’d stayed in that diner for hours determined to have his chance to explain. He’d watched her out of the corner of his eye or full on stared at her. He remembered wondering just what in the hell it was about her that turned him on so much. That well…scared him so much. Yes, he could admit it now. Such a petite girl, pretty but not drop dead gorgeous like most of the women he’d fucked.
He never did figure that part out. But he knew he had to have her, be with her. All he did was think of her. During meetings, during flights between countries. During breakfast, dinner. FUCK! All the time and still 3 months now, it hadn’t changed. He had to face the fact that he was in love with Ellie White. It made no sense but there it was.
Now, someone may have hurt her? Or at least that was what Chance had been saying. Or was it that he himself just felt this vibe?
He drove to the other side of the Hunt Hotel. That was a place with memories. One night he would never forget. The night Ellie got under his skin.
The way she’d responded to his words. Did what he said when he said it. And it wasn’t an act. She’d been so natural about it. Other women faked it. He could always tell. Not Ellie, she lived it like she was born to be with him, made for him. She was the woman he wanted. Still was. He could still picture her eyes as she’d sucked him off that night in the hotel. She’d admitted she had very little experience with it. But god damn, she had aced it. The way her mouth felt on him. The look in her eyes as she climaxed when he did. It had been the hottest thing. He still hadn’t forgotten it.
Then there was the night with the straps. Yes, glorious and so right. He couldn’t lose such a rare thing.
Morgan vowed that would have it again. He would make sure to keep this sweet woman. The problem was he just wasn’t sure how.
Ellie rushed to work. The meeting with her counselor hadn’t gone easy. The woman just didn't understand why she was dropping a class she was acing in. Yes, Hillborn kept his end up; she had a straight across A in chemistry. It took forty minutes for the paperwork and to arrange another class to take its place. She would also be behind in the new class. She held firm. She never wanted to see that man again.
She didn't even care that it might hurt her overall average. She was willing to work extra. Hell, she was willing to study night and day, walk on hands and knees every dammed day if she had to. Whatever she had to do to avoid that monster.
Parking, she gazed into her rear view mirror. There it was that damn sedan. She bristled. I am going to find out what the hell is going on. She sighed, grabbed her bag, phone and got out.
The sedan had parked two cars behind her.
Furious and fed up, she stalked over and banged on the hood.
A brown haired man inside looked startled.
Oh ,god. It was Williamson. Who the fuck is he? “GET OUT!” she shouted.
The man looked upset then his expression cooled. He got out. “I know this looks strange but I can explain and about the other day. I am so sorry.”
Rolling her eyes, Ellie huffed, “Yeah, save your sorrys for court buddy! JUST STOP FOLLOWING ME!” she shouted the last words.
His eyes rounded. “W-what?”
“You heard me! I know you are, so don’t try denying it!”
“I-I don’t—?”
“I mean it or I'll call the police.” She raised her phone.
“Ellie?”
Hearing Morgan’s voice, she spun around. “Morgan.” Her body trembled. Shit, what a time for him to show.
His gaze went from her to the man. “What’s going on?”
Ellie felt her cheeks flush.
The man stepped forward. “Mr. Hunt?”
Ellie gasped at this and looked between them. “You know this guy?” She turned to stare at Morgan.
Morgan looked upset. “Yes. He works for Hunt Industries.
Ellie was now totally confused. She looked back over at the man. “So why is he following me?” She glanced at Morgan. And why did he try to kiss me? Although, she couldn’t say this as the Hillborn monster would definitely get out of the bag.
His face looked white and he looked angry. “I’m unsure.”
Ellie huffed. “Well, you know him. What does he do?”
Morgan pushed his fingers through his silky dark hair. “He’s a private investigator.”
Ellie’s eyes widened and she dropped her bag. “What?”
He nodded. “Williamson, get back in the car.”
The man nodded and did so.
Ellie glared at Morgan. “You hired him to watch me?” Her body felt numb. Anger roiled inside her, then it hit her. The man had been following her! For how long? Oh, god!
He focused on her face looking confused and shook his head. “No. I didn’t hire him.”
Blinking rapidly, she let out a breath. “I don’t understand.”
“Chance, dammit,” Morgan seethed under his breath.
“What?”
“Chance put him on it. He just told me this morning, in fact.”
Ellie felt faint. This guy knows! Or he saw her with—the sky whirled around her and she swayed.
“Ellie!” Morgan caught her before she face planted.
Morgan held her and pulled her up to his chest. “Ellie?” He gazed around. Movement caught his eye. He squinted and saw a man, tall and thin slinking into a BMW and taking off. His gaze swiveled over to Williamson who sat behind the wheel of his sedan.
The private detective was glaring at the guy who got into the BMW. His eyes rose up and he nodded his head toward the guy, his eyes angry looking.
Puzzled, Morgan looked back as the BMW burned rubber down the street. He intended to get down to the bottom of this, but first he needed to find out why Ellie looked so afraid.
“ Ohh,” she muttered as she raised her head up.
“Are you okay, babe?” he asked.
Looking around, she seemed lost. “I-I…” Her eyes connected with the detective.
Morgan followed her gaze to see Williamson looked sympathetic and sort of a sad.
Her eyes widened and she swiveled her gaze back up to Morgan. “I guess I forgot to eat today?”
He shook his head. “Well, you aren’t going to work.”
Her eyes rounded. “Morgan. Joanna—”
“—can close for the night if she can’t get someone else.”
“What?” she blinked her eyes at him.
“I'll ask her how much she takes in average for a Wednesday and pay her.”
Gasping, Ellie stepped back. “You can’t just…”
He tilted his head at her. “Just…Just what? Take care of you when you need it?” He tugged her close and placed his mouth next to her lips. “Be with you? Love you? Sink into you and stay there?”
Ellie was shaking as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why are you saying this? You don’t know what…” Her voice trailed away.
He shook his head. “No. I apparently don’t but you're going to tell me.” He took out his phone. “Later.” He tapped the screen. “Tracey? Yes. I need a temp. Barista Café positon.
“Yes sir, for when?” Tracey asked.
“I need her in 30 minutes.”
“W-what?” Tracey spluttered.
“You heard me. Call in one of your steadies and I'll double the price if she gets here in time.”
“Oh, okay. Got it.”
He knew she would get it. He’d used this agency before and he always paid well. “It’s at the Liberty Diner in Philly, downtown.” He smiled and hung up. Hitting the button again, he spoke to Joanna, “Ellie is under the weather. There will be a replacement here in half an hour. Plenty of experience.”
“Okay?” Joann muttered over the cell.
“Good and I'll have my temp agency staff you when you need it in the future, my dime.”
“Wow! Okay!” Joanna laughed over the phone.
“Talk later, Joanna.” He hung up.
Ellie stood and stared at him. “Okay, Mr. Takeover the World!”
He shook his head. “We are leaving and going to my house.” He tugged her along.
Ellie seemed to go along with him and he was surprised, but said nothing. He opened the doors to his car.
Ellie stepped in.
He got in and shut the wing doors. He tapped his console for his cell.
A woman answered, “Plums Catering.’
“Yes, is this Elaina?”
“Mr. Hunt?” she asked.
“Yes. I need a dinner for two. Delivered in 2 hours. 5012 Mockingbird Lane.”
“Yes sir, any preferences?”
He started the car and pulled out in the street glancing over at Ellie. Intending to ask her what she would like to eat.
She simply stared at the street and particularly at the sedan, they passed.
She wasn’t in a state for questions, so he ordered the same meal they first had at the Hunt hotel. “Steak, lobster, all the sides. Cherry jubilee for dessert. Pick a wine that goes with it. No servers. Just the set up.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you Elaina.” He tapped the console.
Ellie looked over at him finally. “You must have a lot of shiny dimes.”
He glanced at her and took a turn. Laughing, he exited onto the freeway. “Some are very shiny and some make things happen.”
Ellie looked away.
Morgan was at a loss. He’d never seen her like this. “Are you upset over my ex?”
Ellie didn’t answer.
“Ellie?”
She slowly looked over. “What?”
“What is going on with you?”
Her eyes widened. “Nothing.”
He rolled his eyes and took an exit. “Something is very wrong.”
Silence.
“Okay. I am going to take care of you tonight. Maybe you have been overdoing everything.”
Ellie sighed. “Morgan—I…” She shrugged. “Yes, I have been I guess?”
Shit, she is just agreeing with me? No argument about me bossing her around? This is so bad. Maybe she’s done with all my fuck ups. I may be losing her and can’t stop it from happening.