Page 146 of The Addict

I found myself thinking about what tonight held in store for me. Would this change the way I felt about Noah? What did him asking me mean?

Have fun. I just need to have fun, and enjoy my time there, no matter what happens.

I smiled.

Should be an easy enough task to accomplish.

Chapter forty-one

I Sew Myself Shut

NOAH

Iwas about done straightening my tie when there was a soft rap at my bedroom door.

“Coming, mother,” I called out, leaving the small article of clothing to hang loosely around my neck as I went to open the door. She always helped me with those things anyhow.

By the sound of the feather light knock, I expected the face of my mom to appear in the door’s opening. To my utter surprise, David stood staring back at me from the hallway, like an impractical reflection of myself. He was wearing a suit and tie as well, looking perfectly gentlemanly for tonight’s occasion. I stiffened at his presence, keeping my hand tight on the handle of my door, waiting for someone to make the first move.

“What do you want?” I asked, my eyes staring fiercely into his.

David cracked a smile. “I just came in to remind you how crucial tonight will be for my career.”

I glowered at him. “What makes you think I care about your career?”

He chuckled. “A few things come to mind.”

I snarled, starting to close the door. “If I haven’t told anyone already, what makes you think I will talk now?”

David’s hand shot through the crack of the door, holding it open. His strength was no match to my own, despite how hard I tried to close it. “You won’t. I know that,” he said, his lips curling.

I ripped the door open, nearly knocking it off of its hinges as it slammed back against the wall. “Then what do you want! I screamed.

David leisurely entered my room, staring at the door as though he was irritated that I may have damaged it. “I just want to make sure no one…else…takes the liberty of conversing about our business.”

I snorted. “Business? Is that what they call rape now?”

David growled and shut the door behind his entry. I stumbled backwards, catching myself on the side of a shelf before I fell to the ground. David grabbed me by the sides, yanking me upright before I even had time to stable myself.

“I know you’ve told someone,” David hissed into my ear. “I can feel it all around you. The guilt radiates from your skin.”

I trembled slightly. “I’ve told nobody.”

“You’re not telling anyone, do you hear me? You can’t tell anyone!”

“You’re a liar, Noah,” David imparted with a dark, twisted smile.

“I learned from the best.”

He clenched his fist. “Who did you tell?”

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone!”

“No one.”

David’s eyes pierced into mine like a feral lion looking into the eyes of its kill, dragging my deepest, most fearful thoughts forward into the light.

“Who?” He demanded.