Page 117 of CHOICE Lover
Damn Sable. He can hear her saying,I had to tell them something.
He dares a glance at Electra, who’s staring at him with wide eyes. “Who is Sable? He doesn’t have any friends,” she says, and it stings about as much as he deserves. Granted, he’s attended his last several lunch encounters as himself, and no one seemed to notice anything different, so he has that going for him.
He clears his throat. “Thank you for pointing that out, Electra.” He directs his attention to Oro1, seemingly the most reasonable one of the bunch.The only person from the present besides him.“As you’re aware, Electra is from the past, and she requires an identity.”
“Of course. It is truly our pleasure to assist in these sensitive matters,” Oro1 says.
Res6 resists an eye roll. Oro1 means he’s glad to take the excessive fee they’re charging him, despite his help with the reincarnates and his secrecy.It’s for a good cause, Sable told him.Just think—you can tell Electra how your fee funded IDs for reincarnates who weren’t lucky enough to wake up to exorbitantly rich people like you.
“I can speak for myself,” Electra says. “You can leave the room if you don’t think you can keep quiet.”
James’s brows lower as he leans forward. “Electra, if you are uncomfortable in your current arrangement, I’m positive my K8 would welcome you with open arms. Just say the word. Your safety is of utmost importance to Oro1 and me.”
“Oh, I’m not living with him anymore. I’ve made friends. It’s not that hard.”
Instead of correcting her—because technically James just called Sable his friend—or correcting James, whosuggested he might hurt Electra, which will never happen again, Res6 sits there flabbergasted like the ineffectual lump he is.
James leans forward. “Are you certain you’re safe?”
She waves him off. “Yes, I’m fine.”
That spikes a new fear in him. Who is she staying with? He’s been focusing on her absence, but he failed to consider the danger she’s putting herself in. That should have been the first thing he thought of. He’s now torn between demanding that she come home with him for safety and respecting her need to prove she’s a valid individual, as referenced in her breakup letter.
That doesn’t stop him from reaching out to grab the arm of her chair and dragging it toward him. “If her current residence doesn’t work out, she can come back home to me. End of discussion.”
“Electra, ultimately it’s up to you,” James says. All three men’s attention shifts to her.
Res6 braces, sensing he’s moments away from doing something rash and out of character, like throwing her over his shoulder and storming out. Maybe all those romance books are getting to him.
She turns to him. “You want me to come home?”
Yes! Desperately!“Only if that’s what you want,” he says, watching her subtly deflate. It isn’t enough. A few words in a tense meeting won’t be enough. He knows this, which is why he has a plan. This isn’t the time or place to make his move. Still, for good measure, he throws in, “I respect your choices and I understand you need to be valid on your own.”
Her eyes widen.
Yes, I read your letter, he thinks, silently conveying his understanding.
Oro1 clears his throat, but Res6 senses he’s on a roll. “James.” He turns to the other man. “Perhaps a dinner is in order, considering our working relationship via Sable. I’ll buy, of course. I’m sure Electrawould love to meet K8.” Feeling back in control, he gestures to Oro1. “Bring him too, if you must.”
Oro1 chuckles. “I realize I’m good-looking, but why does everyone assume I’m going to steal their woman?” He winks at Electra, which makes Res6 bristle.
James ignores his partner, eyes narrowing. “I’ll talk to K8.”
Electra gasps, excitedly gripping his forearm. “Actually, that’s a great idea. I’d love to meet her.”
His eyes narrow in on the gesture. Her touch does more to ease his tightly coiled tension than any of her words might. The room suddenly feels lighter. “Perfect. Dinner, then, and whatever else Electra needs,” he says, attempting not to seem like the worst man in the room.
The words come out so easily, they surprise him. He’d been so against—well, everything. He could mentally tick off a list, but it boils down to her being a real human woman who forced him to confront the broken parts of himself so he could become the man she deserves. Because that’s what happened. Electra happened, and now he wants to be the man she depends on. Who she comes home to. Who she shares all her secrets with. The man who keeps her safe. If only he can get her to see that. Hewillget her to see that.
Res6 sits a little taller, allowing his normally cool countenance to blanket him. There’s no need to act rash. He has everything under control. “What are the next steps?”
After the IdenTECH meeting, Res6 and Electra linger in the hallway, a taut silence vibrating between them.
“Are you really safe where you’re living?” He shoves his hands into his pockets so he doesn’t do anything stupid, like embrace her.
She shrugs. “Yes. Now that I’m getting an ID, I’ll be able to transfer the money I’m making from the column to a Worldbank account and get my own place.”
He fights a grimace. “I said you could come back and live with me.”
