SIR (by Aria Steele) novel Chapter 12

My eyes widen slightly at his answer. No one calls Mr. Reid ‘David’, no one except me, and his family, he says. So hearing Marcus call him David, it means something.

“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice quieter this time.

He notices, and he loosens his grip on me slightly.

“David asked me to follow you.”

“And why did he need to do that?”

Marcus drops his hold on me completely, and I stabilise myself on my feet.

“You know the answer to that.” Marcus replies. “He decided to check the security cameras from Thursday night, after someone left their phone on his desk.”

I gulp. So David knows. And apparently this Marcus knows too. I should have been more scared, but the way Marcus is looking down at me feels… reassuring. Somewhat.

“So what,” I scoff, brushing the wall-dust off the back of my outfit. “He’s got you following me to make sure I don’t blab or something?”

“You’ll have to ask him the specifics on that. He just told me to keep an eye on you.”

“And you’re just going to follow me around all the time?”

“Only when you’re not at work.” Marcus smiles. “There’s enough security at the office for him to keep tabs on you over there.”

I breathe as my mind spins. I can’t have Marcus following me outside of work. Because then he’ll find out about my other job.

“Take me to him.” I say.

“I’m sorry?”

“Take me to David. I need to talk with him.”

“He’s busy tonight.” Marcus says, folding his arms over his chest.

I mirror his actions.

“I don’t care.” I growl, keeping his eye contact until he breaks. But he never does.

“He’s busy.” Marcus repeats, and I groan loudly, storming off towards my apartment. “Where are you going?”

“Well if I you won’t let me speak to him yet, I’ll have to go home won’t I?” I scoff.

As I walk, Marcus stays silent. And as I walk, I suddenly realise exactly why David is busy tonight.

He’s supposed to be meeting me at The Red Room.

I text Sel on my way to my apartment, keeping the phone tilted away from Marcus’s view, telling her that I have stuff on tonight, and won’t be able to come in, but that I will call her in 20 minutes to explain. She immediately texts me back, I can feel it buzzing in my pocket, but I keep acting nonchalant as I make my way to my apartment.

“Are you going to be sitting inside my flat?” I ask Marcus as I put my keys in the door.

“No, I can watch from outside.”

“Won’t it look suspicious if I have a giant man outside my door all night?” I counter, and he tries to hide a smile at my ‘giant’ comment.

“That’s their problem. My priority is you. I can monitor who comes to the hallway, I can hear if anything happens inside. Just make sure you lock your windows and shut your blinds the second you walk in, okay?” He asks, in a very concerned manner. It makes me feel like trusting him, so I nod.

Then I think that trusting the guy who helps David kill someone probably isn’t the wisest idea.

Either way, I go into my apartment, lock the windows and close the blinds, as instructed. I then lock my front door, look through the peephole to see Marcus standing there diligently, and get my phone out of my pocket, dialling Sel’s number and heading to the bathroom.

In a hushed voice, I explain everything that happened. The office, Trent, Marcus following me. She is shocked to say the very least, gasping, squealing, shouting down the phone at each new thing I say. She now understands why I can’t come in tonight... Marcus can’t see me walking into the building, because if he reports back to David, it will unravel the whole thing.

She obviously has to rearrange my clients, but a few hours later, she says that Reid will only accept tomorrow night, as I’ve already let him down this weekend. I groan when I realise that it means he’s going to be extra harsh on me.

Then I feel a little excited. Then I feel hesitant.

I have decided that tomorrow, I’m going to say I’m going to a friend’s. Sel is going to meet me someplace, and I will convince Marcus that I’m safe with her, meaning he will back off.

Hopefully.

The next morning, when I go to leave for work, I’ve almost forgotten that he’s standing guard, and jump when I open the door to see him standing there. He’s pleasant enough on the way to work, although he protests at getting a taxi, and ends up calling one of David’s company cars for me. I feel outlandish sitting in it.

When I get to the building, I find that Marcus and I are in the lift by ourselves.

“What are you going to say to him?” He asks me.

I know he is talking about David.

“I guess I’ll find out when he’s in front of me.” I reply honestly, as the doors open and I walk to my office.

Marcus hovers while I gather what I need for David, although I assume that once I step into his office, the paperwork will all be forgotten.

Marcus walks me the ten steps to David’s office door, then stands to the side, and gives me a nod, a silent gesture to try and reassure me.

For the first time, I knock.

“Come in.” He says from the other side.

I slowly open the door, and step in. He looks up at me, his face falling in surprise. I never knock.

“Nora.”

I close the door behind me, and walk over to his desk, stopping just before the chair. He stands behind his desk, watching my movement.

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