Chapter 12: Why Did You Call My Assistant?

Sarah looked at the coordinates and frowned. Amanda really knew how to threaten and throw her weight around. Clearly, she knew Sarah valued her friendship and this ultimatum had left her with no choice but to rush to the interview to be on time. It was in the next city over and even if she started right then… She hurried out of the campus and into the parking lot where there were cabs for hire freely, but despite running up and down, she found nothing even on ride-sharing applications.She stopped walking and had an epiphany. Luca! She had never erased his number from her phone. She didn’t know why, but at that moment, she was grateful that she hadn’t. She dialed him and then hung up. Why would she ask Luca to help her? Sure, he had a lot of resources at his fingertips. But they weren’t even on good terms; then again, she had no one else to call. She knew Luca enough to realize that despite everything, he would find a way to get her to that interview. Before she could dial him again, Sarah’s phone went off. Her screen flashed Luca’s name. “Luca!” Sarah cried in relief. “I really didn’t think you would answer. Well, I knew you would answer, but I don’t know if you can help me. I need a ride—” “Since when are you and Luca friends?” the voice on the other end spat out. Blood left Sarah’s face when she recognized William’s voice. “And why call my assistant when you could ask someone who is not a distraction in your life?” Sarah’s chest tightened and her eyes stung with tears of frustration. “I can’t do this with you right now, Mr. Colton. I need help and I need it now. Why do you have his phone? Give him the phone, Mr. Colton. Please, I am begging you.” William sighed. “Where are you?” “At the university.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Where do you need to go?” William sounded calmer, like he was taking control of the situation. She was not sure how that made her feel, but she did feel all the pressure melt away. She gave him the location. Sarah heard a flutter of activity on his end. “Stay where you are. I am going to text you in a few minutes.” “But—” “He is busy with work, so don’t bother him,” he explained. “Just sit tight and I will be right there in a bit.” And then William hung up. - - - - - Sarah was jumpy. Her knees kept bouncing and she chewed on her fingernails. She felt guilty for the twenty minutes she had spent sitting outside the university since she called William. She texted Amanda that she was waiting for a car, but never said who was taking her. Sarah heard the car before she saw it. She was already up on her feet and jogging to it and, when he stopped a few feet from her, Sarah felt her heart hammering away in her chest. Her stomach filled with butterflies and her skin tingled in anticipation of his touch. It was involuntary but ever so present. The door clicked and unlocked; Sarah wasted no time jumping inside. “Thank you,” she breathed. William nodded and turned the car around to start for the highway. This was when she placed a hand on his knee. William tensed up as she said genuinely, “No, William. Thank you. Really.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he swallowed. His fingers clenched the wheel. “Yeah,” he mumbled and slowly turned his head to her. “Next time, just call me. Don’t call anyone else.” Before she could respond, his focus was back on the road. He turned on the radio and she knew to slowly remove her hand from his leg. His hand covered hers immediately, anchoring her hand in place. Sarah gasped in surprise as his fingers flexed over hers, and he linked their hands together. She hated the way her body responded to him; her heart picked up speed and her hand trembled. “William,” she said breathlessly and tried to slip her hand free from his. “I can’t… you know me…” She shook her head and bunched herself into a ball in her seat. She rested her chin on her hand and sighed. “I thought you were here to help me,” she mumbled. “That doesn’t mean I won’t use the opportunity to help myself, too.” He chuckled. She gulped. “Don’t make this hard for me, William. I told you...” she stopped short, not wanting to broach the subject again. William grunted and turned up the volume so that the music drowned out any possible conversation. They continued like that to the next city over. When William stopped in front of the company’s building, he looked at the signboard and frowned. “William...” she began, knowing he would comment. “Can you promise me something?” “I will make no promises before I hear the conditions,” he said. “What is it?” “Don’t say a word,” she told him. “This was sprung up on me and I need you not to ask questions right now.” He looked at her in concern. “Are you being coerced to come here?” She gulped. “I… I have a feeling you might need to…” She licked her lip and tried to think of a good way to say what he might do. He might barge in to make things easier for her, or make it extremely difficult for her to get into this company. “What am I to you, Mr—William?” She cleared her throat to mask her mistake. Of course he caught it. She waited for him to say something about her slip of tongue, but she was pleasantly surprised when he didn’t comment. He slid his arm up and used his thumb to push a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you want to be to me, Sarah?” he asked softly.