Forever You

a few
more hours.”
I shifted my weight, folded my arms, and took a few steps closer to her. “So, you’re telling me that
nothing happened between us?” I asked.
“No, nothing happened. I just wanted to make sure you were going to be ok. You were obnoxiously
drunk,” she said as she looked down at the floor.
Her voice had become soft and pained. Who is this girl, and why the hell would she help me like
that? I was intrigued by her; not only by her beauty, but by her kindness. I could tell she had a
gentleness to her; an innocence I’ve never seen in a woman before.
I picked up the glass and looked at it. “What is this?” I asked.
“Just drink it, and you should start to feel better in about 15 minutes,” she said with a smile.
It was only a small smile, but it caught my attention in more places than one. She said she was
going to pour me some coffee before she left. It’s beyond me why this girl would even bother after the
way I just spoke to her. She reached into the cupboard to grab the cup as it fell out of her hands and
onto the floor. She cursed as she bent down to pick it up. I walked over to her because I didn’t want
her cutting herself.
“You’re going to cut yourself,” I said.
She didn’t listen, and she wouldn’t stop picking up the broken pieces.
“Stop,” I commanded in a harsh voice.
She still didn’t listen, so I had no choice but to grab her wrists and force her to stop. I turned over
her hands to take the broken pieces from them. I took in a sharp breath when I saw the scars along her
wrists. Our eyes met, and she quickly pulled away. She stood up, and I continued picking up the
pieces as she grabbed her purse.
“I’m sorry for the mug; I’ll replace it for you, and I hope you feel better,” she said as she headed
for the door.
I threw the broken pieces in the garbage and followed after her. I couldn’t let her leave. I didn’t
want her to leave. I still had more questions.
“Wait,” I said. “At least let me pay you for your trouble last night.”
She turned and looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes.
“I’m not taking your money.”
Shit, I had to think fast. I wasn’t about to let her leave.
“Then at least have a cup of coffee before you go,” I said.
I was relieved when she agreed and sat down at the island. I poured her a cup of coffee and placed
it in front of her. I picked up the glass of what she called ‘a hangover cocktail’ and forced it down. It
was disgusting, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at me as I was drinking it. I leaned over
the counter and looked at this beautiful woman sitting across from me.
“Why on earth would you help me like that? What if I was a rapist or murderer?” I seriously asked.
She threw her head back and laughed. “You couldn’t rape or murder me even if you wanted to. You
were so far gone last night; I could barely get you home.”
I ran my hand through my hair because she wasn’t taking what I was saying seriously, and she could
have been in danger if it was anyone else besides me.
“You shouldn’t be doing those kinds of things; it’s not safe in this city for a girl to be doing shit like
that,” I said with agitation.
She put her elbow up on the counter and leaned her head on her hand as she stared intently at me
with a smirk on her face. I got the impression she thought I was joking, so I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Are you even listening to me?” I asked.
Instead of answering my question, she lightly laughed and got up from the stool.
“Thanks for the coffee, but I need to get home. Have a lovely day, Mr. Black, and next time, don’t
drink so much,” she said with a smile.
Damn that smile. I followed her to the elevator and asked her if she had a name.
“It’s Ellery Lane!” she yelled.
I stood there and watched the elevator doors shut as the beautiful woman known as Ellery Lane
disappeared from my sight. I swallowed hard as I ran my hands through my hair. I raced up the steps
to my bedroom. I threw on a pair of jeans and took out a shirt from the drawer. I grabbed my shoes
and raced down to where my Range Rover was parked. I climbed inside, put on my shoes, and pulled
out of the garage. That’s when I saw her get into a cab around the corner. I discreetly followed the
cab to her apartment. I parked the Range Rover across the street and watched her as she got out and
waved bye to the driver. I quickly typed her address into my phone. I sat there and watched as she
walked into her apartment and shut the door. I felt like a stalker. What the hell was I doing? I asked
myself as I pulled away from the curb.
I didn’t want to think about Ellery Lane anymore. She was a nice girl who made sure I got home
safe. I’m still baffled as to why she thought it was a good idea to help a total stranger like that. Is she
oblivious to the dangers in the world?
I had some paperwork to catch up on at the office, so I headed there instead of going back to the
penthouse. Being Saturday, the building will be quiet, and I’ll