Page 30 of Reverence

“You still think this is about a thank-you?”

He stepped closer.

“This is why I fucking loathe you. You’re so goddamn dense, and I often wonder how you’re supposed to watch my six with that intelligence level of yours.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Your mother’s dense.”

The words had barely left my mouth before his eyes blazed and somehow, that only fuelled my own rage.

“You’re the most misogynistic bastard I’ve ever met. Your outdated ideology about women makes me fucking sick. You’re just like every other man in the Bureau.”

“Mention my mother again and I—”

“You’ll what?” I cut him off, stepping closer.

I kept enough distance between us to avoid having to crane my neck just to look at him. I refused to stand beneath him as though he were some kind of god.

“What the fuck are you going to do?” He said nothing, obviously. “That’s what I thought.”

I scoffed.

“Why did you even come here? Why do you insist on being such a fucking pest?”

“I came here because I clearly overestimated you.” His jaw ticked. “Why did I ever think we could have a civil conversation?”

“I’m never going to have a civil conversation with you outside of work. Never.”

I spat the words between us.

“So forget about that stupid fucking thought.”

I stepped around him.

“You’re like a disease, honestly. Just fuck off.”

For some reason, he looked genuinely taken aback.

Only for a second.

Then his expression hardened again.

He nodded once, shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, and turned on his heel without another word.

I watched him walk away, anger simmering beneath my skin.

I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself and rein in the emotions threatening to consume me.

Because somehow, despite everything, his words had gotten under my skin.

And I fucking hated that.

Nine

Amala

The city that never slept stayed true to its name, hustling and bustling despite the hour.