Chapter 2
CAROL
We walked in silence for another block before stopping in front of a massive, imposing building. Above the main entrance, silver-bordered black letters caught the sunlight:
W&S REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS - REYES'S.
It was a monument to power and success—everything I currently lacked. Will pulled out his phone, bringing it to his ear as he stepped a few paces away to take a call. Even with his back turned, his presence was overwhelming.
He turned back to look at me, and for a second, his gray eyes swept over my body with an intensity that sent a swarm of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. That look... it was hungry. It told me to run, that wanting a man like him was a dangerous game.
I shifted uneasily, tugging at the hem of my jacket.
"Carlos is almost here with the car," Will said, pocketing his phone. "Tell Susan to call me when she gets a chance."
I nodded, feeling a bit dazed.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
Great, he must think I'm a freak. "No, well... yes," I stammered.
"Yes or no, Carol? You have to decide."
I rolled my eyes, trying to find my footing. "The truth? I just got fired. That's why I'm wandering the streets at two in the afternoon like a lost soul."
Will went quiet, his gaze boring into mine. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. "I see."
He opened his mouth to say more, but a sharp horn interrupted us. We both turned to see a sleek black car pulling up to the curb. Carlos, his driver, stepped out and opened the back door, waiting for me to enter.
"Well, I suppose this is my cue," I said, looking up at him. All six-and-a-half feet of him. The way he looked at me made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. As we walked toward the car, I reached for the door, but Will's hand caught mine first.
The contact sent an electric jolt straight up my spine. My whole body tensed. If only he knew what his touch does to me.
"Everything will be solved, Carol," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "I promise."
"I hope so," I whispered.
He handed me the donut box as I climbed into the plush leather interior. He shut the door with a firm thud, locking me inside the cool, expensive scent of his world. Through the tinted window, I watched him standing on the sidewalk, hands shoved into his pockets, his gaze fixed on me as we drove away. For a split second, our eyes met through the glass, and I could have sworn I saw a flicker of raw desire in those tired gray eyes.
I leaned back against the seat, taking a deep breath that smelled of him. My mind was a whirlwind. What was a man like William Reyes doing walking in the opposite direction of his office at that hour? But then again, what did I really know about the secret life of a mogul?
My apartment was small—more of an art studio than a home—but it was mine. Or it was, until today. I barely had time to change into something comfortable before Susan came bursting through the door.
"Yum! These are a lifesaver," she said, grabbing a donut.
"I needed them," I sighed, crashing onto the couch. "By the way, I ran into your father today."
Susan stopped chewing, her perfectly groomed eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "My dad? How?"
"Pure chance," I waved my hand, trying to act like my heart hadn't stopped when he touched me. "He told me to tell you to call him."
She watched me for a moment before going back to her chocolate donut. "I swear I'm going to get fat if I keep hanging out with you."
I laughed, though there was no weight to her words. Susan was stunning—a natural blonde with a killer body and piercing blue eyes she inherited from her mother, though she had her father's stubborn jawline.
"So, what happened at work?" she asked, her tone turning serious.
I told her everything—the disgusting boss, the proposition, the unfair dismissal.
"Ugh, that's vile. He's a pig," she groaned.
"Tell me about it." I got up and headed to the kitchen. "Wine?"
"No, I can't. I have dinner tonight with Dad and Henry," she shouted over her shoulder.
"Oh? What's the occasion?" I asked, returning with a glass for myself. Susan looked uncharacteristically nervous.
"Well... Henry asked me to move in with him. And I said yes."
My wine glass froze halfway to my mouth. "Move in? Susan, are you sure? Your dad is going to lose his mind."
"Dad has to get over it. I'm twenty-two, Carol. I'm not a child. I can't live with him forever, and honestly, I think he needs his own space too, even if he's too stubborn to admit it."
"But you've only been dating for a year and a half..."
"I'm sure, Carol. Really sure."
"Then I'm happy for you," I said, though my voice cracked. Susan noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?" She moved closer, taking my hands in hers.
"Nothing, don't mind me. It's been a long day."
"Don't give me that. I know you. Something else is going on."
I felt the tears prickling at the back of my eyes. The weight of the day finally became too much to carry. "I don't have a job, Susan. And I'm about to be evicted. I have nowhere to go."
The silence that followed was heavy. "But don't worry," I added quickly. "Don't let my mess ruin your big news. I'll figure it out."
"Are you crazy? You're my best friend. Of course I'm going to worry!"
"I love you, Sue."
"I love you too, girl." We hugged tightly, but my mind was already racing toward the only option I had left. "I hate that I might have to call my parents and ask for help."
Susan stiffened. She pulled back, her face pale. "You are not thinking what I think you're thinking."
I shrugged, looking away.
"No! Carol, you can't!" She stood up and began pacing the small room. "Your parents moved to Spain three years ago. You fought so hard to stay here, to prove to your father you could make it on your own. You can't just give up now."
"Do you think I don't know that?" The first tear escaped, hot and bitter. "I remember the look on my dad's face when I told him I didn't need his money. But I have no job, no savings, and I have to move out of here in a week. What choice do I have?"
"When were you going to tell me it was this bad?"
"I didn't want to burden you. You have your own life, Susan. You're moving in with Henry! That's amazing. I just... I need to find some stability."
She stopped pacing and looked at me, her eyes softening. "You are my family, Carol. You've always been there for me. Now it's my turn. We are going to solve this. I won't let you leave."