The day after Elias visits, I still have a job.

I thought I might not. Maybe that’s irrational, but I was horrified that the mayor’s guys would be watching. If they saw him come into my apartment then I’d be totally finished. I’d be broken and poor and I don’t know what would happen to my baby.

Fortunately, I was just overreacting. My coworkers are still being a little distant and weird, but at least I’m still employed. I sit down at my desk in the morning and I work all day long like nothing’s happened.

“I can’t believe they’re being such cocks,” Taylor says to me at lunch. “Seriously.”

“They don’t mean anything by it,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, they do. They’re shunning you.”

I grin a little bit. “Shunning me?”

“Right, like the Amish. Shunning you because they’re a bunch of prudes.”

“They think I’m sleeping with the boss’s son to get ahead. They think I’ll take their raises or something.”

“They’re ignorant,” she says, and then pauses. “You’re not fucking him to get my raise, right?”

I laugh and she grins at me. I shake my head. “Not at all.”

“Good.” She sighs and leans back in her chair. “Fuck all them, Alexa. Seriously, fuck them.”

“Don’t get all righteous for me,” I say. “Not worth having the office turn against you, too.”

She waves that way. “I couldn’t care less. Plus, I’m universally loved. I can do anything I want.”

I roll my eyes at her, but she’s not wrong. Everyone does love Taylor.

I get back to work and try to put it all out of my mind, except every time I think I’m moving on, I keep hearing those words again.

Elias said I’m his. Not just the baby, but me, too. That should have freaked me out, but… it didn’t.

We barely know each other. Well, I guess we know each other better now than we did before. It feels good to hear him say that I’m his, even if that’s a crazy thing to feel. I shouldn’t want to be owned by a guy… but a guy like Elias doesn’t come around very often, and the idea of giving myself to him is very, very tempting.

None of that matters, though. I made my choice. I have to do what’s best for me and the baby, even if I’m just going to give the baby up for adoption in the end. I can’t lose my job and have no money or options, that’s all there is to it.

I make it through the day relatively unscathed before packing my things. Everyone ignores me as I leave and I ignore everyone, which suits me fine. Marnie gives me a little dirty look, but that’s pretty normal for her.

I take the stairs down and as I get into the lobby, something catches my eye. I stop mid-step and turn to find Elias pushing up off a wall he was leaning on and walking over toward me.

My heart spikes suddenly and I walk fast. I don’t know why, but I just do. I hurry away from him, over toward the front door. Irrationally I think that if I’m going to be forced to be seen with him, at least I should do it outside.

He doesn’t call my name. He just hurries and walks alongside me. I glance at him as we leave the building together.

“What are you doing?” I hiss.

He smiles innocently. “Walking next to you.”

“I know, but why?”

“I told you why the other day.”

You’re mine. I keep hearing the words in my head.

“You can’t be seen with me here,” I say.

“Yes, I can,” he answers. “I cleared it up with Buddy.”

That makes me almost stop walking. But I gather myself and press on. “What did you do?”

“I convinced him to leave you alone. You can see me as much as you want now, don’t worry about him.”

I narrow my eyes. “Really? How?”

“Buddy has some… problems right now,” he says. “I offered to help. Well, I threatened not to help if he didn’t stop fucking with you.”

That makes me stop walking. “That worked?”

“That’s the only language my father speaks fluently. If something threatens Buddy, he’ll listen. Otherwise…” Elias just shrugs.

I look up into his deep green eyes and I want to kiss him. I know it’s dumb and we’re still in the city hall parking lot, but I want it. He smirks like he knows what I’m thinking and steps closer.

“Look, it’s okay,” he says. “I get it. You’re nervous. You have a lot going on. But… I can help. Just let me.”

I take a breath and let it out. “It’s not just the mayor,” I say finally, and start walking again.

“What’s wrong then?” he asks.

“My coworkers. They think I’m sleeping with you just to get ahead.”

He laughs at that. “You mean you’re not?”

I glare at him. “It’s not funny.”

“I don’t think I can help with that.”

“Maybe you can try staying away from me,” I say. “Your father might be okay with it, but nobody else is. I don’t need that.”

Just as we reach my car, he stops me. He pulls my arm, turning me toward him, and suddenly he’s close to me. He’s inches away, his hulking body, his handsome face. I tilt my chin up as if to kiss him, almost just by instinct.

“You don’t know what you need,” he says softly. “You get it, Alexa? You have no clue.”

I stare up into his gorgeous face. “Let me go.”

He releases my arm but he doesn’t step away. “I’m what you need. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Oh, yeah? What do you see?”

“Desire,” he whispers. “You want me to fuck you right here in this parking lot. I bet you’d love it, getting off in front of your coworkers.”

I shake my head. “You really don’t know me.”

“I really do. You love the thought of fucking me, of getting in trouble. Deep down, you’re a bad girl, despite this good girl act.”

I turn away from him finally and it’s like tearing myself away from something beautiful. “I don’t think so,” is all I can manage to say.

“Just remember what I said. Fuck your coworkers, Alexa. Take what you want.”

I pause at my door. I look at him one more time before opening it up and getting inside.

He smirks at me before walking away.

I sit there in my car, his words ringing in my ears. He’s right, I don’t know why I care what my coworkers think. If I won’t lose my job over seeing Elias, I want to keep seeing him. I want to have him more.

I want him to fuck me in my car, right here and right now.

Instead, I drive away, more confused than ever.