Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I’ve never been so open with anyone about this before, not even my sister. Now feeling uncomfortable with how free I’m being with my words, I point to a rainbow that has formed in the horizon as a distraction.
“Look. A rainbow.”
Phoenix angles his head so he can see what I’m pointing at. He leans in closer to me so that he can get a better look, and his greater mass seems to take up all my air space. I can only smell him, the faint scent of his aftershave and the spicy fragrance of lotion on his arms.
He’s so close I can feel the warmth emanating from his body. I’m drawn to him, uncertain of what that means and why.
He looks down at me with intensity in his blue-gray eyes, and I get lost in them for a moment, as if I’m in a trance.
My heart races in anticipation as he leans in even closer. But then he quickly pulls back and sits back against the seat, his gaze once again focused on the passing scenery of his window.
I’m left to my thoughts, wondering what that was all about, and why the closeness between us felt so… right.
Finally, with enough awkward silence to strangle me, Phoenix seems to snap out of it, looking back at me. I swear I can feel his gaze burning a hole through my skin, but when I look up at him, I see his glare softening.
My heart is still racing, probably too fast. Feeling even more uncomfortable because I don’t know what to say, I look out my window, hoping he can’t hear the intensity of my heart.
“So why’d you stay?” he asks. “Once you realized he couldn’t give you what you needed. What you deserved.”
I keep my eyes on the rainbow peeking out from the dark clouds. “Stuck.”
“Never again, Ani,” Phoenix says with such intensity I’m forced to look back at him. “I don’t want you to ever feel that way again.”
Chapter
Nine
Ani
When we enter Olympus Manor, Phoenix lets out a deep breath, his eyes close for a moment too long, and then he says, “Before you head to your room, I want you to come upstairs to the attic with me. I want to show you something.”
I inhale deeply and follow him into his attic, all too aware of how awful the exchange between us was only one night ago. It feels like a lifetime has already passed us by since I snuck up on him.
I was afraid of him. Afraid of the unknown. But now…
I’m not.
The darkness swallows us whole the second we step in the stairway. It’s like I’m standing on the edge of a precipice, not knowing what’s next. He’s taking me to his special place. He’s showing me a part of him that he keeps hidden from others. I’m not taking this trip up the stairs flippantly.
My heart is pounding, my palms sweaty. Phoenix’s power and influence within these walls is palpable. Deep down, I know that once I take this step, there’s no turning back. It’s a scary thought, but also strangely liberating.
He’s letting me inside his lair.
I take in the shadows of the attic, feeling a strange hunger for something I can’t quite explain. I stand still, allowing my eyes to adjust to the room’s deep gloom. As they do, I’m surprised by the vastness of the space before me. Now that I’m truly taking the time to absorb everything rather than fleeing so quickly, I see more. This is no ordinary attic; it’s an entire world kept hidden away from prying eyes.
The walls are lined with ancient artifacts of the Godwin family, mysterious boxes, and stacks of books that reach all the way to the ceiling. The air is thick with age, knowledge, and Phoenix Godwin.
I turn to find Phoenix standing silently in the corner—watching me as if his presence is some sort of guardian angel protecting this place from intruders. His eyes burn into mine as if he can sense every thought running through my head, and he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
But I don’t even know what I’m thinking. Chaos is swirling inside my mind.
He remains still and silent until eventually taking a seat at the station of monitors and control board and motions for me to do the same. He studies me intently as I shift in my chair, unsure of what he expects. I take in all the security footage of Medusa Enterprises and feel like a fly on the wall. I see everything within the building. Every room. Every crack. People are moving about and have no idea that I can see what they are doing.
“This is what I do,” he says in a low voice. “I watch.”
I nod slowly, still trying to comprehend the gravity of his words. “Every day? Up here by yourself?”