Silent Screams (Hollow #1)

CHAPTER 12

Monday’s worse than the usual Monday. A driver splashes me while I walk with Marie to get a morning tea.

And Damon’s mood looks like it went to hell and never left.

Harvey spent most of the day yesterday drawing in his room. I was happy for that fact until he spoke a total of five words at dinner.

So I’m taking a step back, giving him more space then he already asks for.

“Do the words ‘work ethic’ mean anything to you?”

I press a hand to my chest, rattled by Damon’s presence and almost tipping my tea over while he hovers over my chair.

“Um... it does?” I’m not sure where he’s going with this.

I’m allowed a fifteen-minute break. One that I never take because it’s always busy. Today’s an exception.

“Good. Please refrain from leaving when I need stuff to get done.”

I arch my brow, completely unimpressed by his attitude. Seriously, after him opening up to me on Friday and our hands touching, he’s really going to be an asshole ?

“Duly noted, sir.” I grind my teeth so hard to remain calm.

The men in my life these days are going to drive me mad.

My submission seems to appease him. “Book two rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel from Thursday to Saturday of next week in LA. I’m speaking at the Green Earth Revival conference, and I need you there.”

He needs me.

My hand stops taking notes while I look up at him to confirm that I heard him right.

“Problem?”

I shake my head. “Just us two?”

He nods. “Another team is heading to the conference in Seattle this week with Julia. We’re splitting up.”

I finish writing down the details. I didn’t expect to be traveling with him so soon. Especially not with him alone.

“We’re taking the company’s plane. Email me the hotel confirmation once it’s done.”

I tell myself to relax as I open a few drawers before finding his business credit card information in a little black book Katherine told me about. Then I make reservations for the rooms online, surprised he didn’t ask for the penthouse, though this last minute, it’s probably already booked.

I email him the confirmation and, feeling ballsy today, add a message above it.

From: Gemma Ackerman

To: Damon Dreygon

Date: January @ 10:38

Subject: Good enough for sir?

His reply is almost instantaneous, and I don’t wait a second to click on it. It’s direct and straight to the point and somehow it puts a smile on my face .

From: Damon Dreygon

To: Gemma Ackerman

Date: January @ 10:39

Subject: Work ethic: the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward.

I don’t reply. He’s sent me ten consecutive emails, so I have my work cut out for me.

Our light banter put me in a better mood despite the nagging thought that I’m going to have to tell a begrudging Harvey that I’m traveling with my boss next week. Though I know he was supposed to spend the entire weekend with his dad and Hen at a cottage, so he shouldn’t mind.

Damon throws task after task my way, so I eat my fajita wrap at my desk while I keep working.

Because: work ethic.

After taking a warm shower, I’m heating up leftover soup for dinner when I get home. I cut up some bread and cheese, preparing each of our plates.

I’m halfway done with my soup by the time Harvey finally shows his face, freshly showered. His cologne has a dash of cinnamon, and it hits me like a pocket full of memories. The burgundy long tee he’s wearing isn’t half-bad either.

We eat silently, the sound of cutlery the only noise.

“I’m going to LA next week for work,” I tell him when I’m done, taking my plate to rinse it in the sink.

Again, his muscles flex, straining the side of his neck. “Okay.”

I nod, putting my stuff in the dishwasher. “I leave Thursday after work. I’ll be back Saturday evening.”

He says nothing.

“I know you’re leaving Friday with your Dad and Henrik. But... ”

He sighs, and it’s a rare sight. I want to run to him and ask about his troubles, yet something stops me. Perhaps it’s my willingness to give him more space. “Don’t worry—Claire will be here.”

“So if she wouldn’t be, I’d have a reason to worry?”

He shakes his head. “Nope! I’m giving you some peace of mind. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright.” I nod and make my way to my bedroom, where I throw myself on the bed.

I’ve been nowhere but here . He can’t pretend my return to work has caused him to withdraw.

I bury myself in my book, hoping to forget all about my current reality with a certain blue-eyed, blond-haired man.

“So you’re going to LA. Lucky you. I wish I could get away from this cold weather,” Marie says the next day as we’re eating at a sushi joint for lunch.

“The warmer weather is a high incentive.”

“And you get to go inside Dreygon’s plane.” She shrugs, and I don’t comment on the fact that she doesn’t seem like the type to care about that.

Damon’s schedule is fully booked today. He has meeting after meeting with clients, and it’s already four o’clock by the time I head into his office.

“Would you like something to eat?”

“No. I’m good. I have dinner plans soon.”

My eyes land on his and freeze before I walk out of his office, closing the door behind me.

Does he have a date?

Like a loser, I check his calendar and see that he’s blocked it off. He didn’t specify the type of event. Maybe he has a girlfriend? Or more? I never even asked him .

I remind myself it doesn’t, shouldn’t matter.

He’s my boss. That’s all.

An hour later, I end up in the same elevator as Damon and a few other people. Our floor team is really small, so it’s never crowded. Damon and I basically have one full office space section to ourselves. Knowing him, it was most likely done purposely.

As more people fill up the elevator car, Damon ends up right behind me, his hand squeezing my hip, releasing it just as quickly.

I feel like I’m walking on air once Damon and I walk into the parking lot. He makes me feel things. Things I haven’t felt in years. Things I didn’t even feel as a teenager.

And I want to explore. I want to be happy. I want a taste of the girl I used to be.

I’m practically gliding when he walks me to my car, though the coldness of January is enough to bring me back to earth and away from Damon’s fantasyland.

“Have fun on your date.” I tell him as he closes my car door.

Why, why? Gemma you have no right.

He says nothing, absolutely nothing. I see the tiniest trace of a smirk before he turns around and heads to his Tesla, which is the first one right next to the elevator.

Dick.

I don’t know why it matters. I shouldn’t be thinking of another man.