Complicated Identity

DAKOTA

Lowering my gaze to look at the rose necklace I'd just picked from the floor, I straighten, placing the necklace on Dashiell's desk with shaky fingers. He stalks towards me, his brows furrowed. I'm panicking inside, but I won't let him see it.

"Give me an answer, Dakota," he drones, stopping in front of me.

"I... looked through the drawer. I was curious... that's why I took it out," I tell him with bated breath. He stares at me for a moment, stoic and unblinking.

Then he silently takes the necklace from me.

"I shouldn't have done that... I'm sorry," I breathe.

With his shoulders slumped, he returns the necklace to its original position and turns to stare at me. There's a crease in his brows, and his eye seems to have lost its shine. Unable to hide my curiosity, I decide to take the bull by the horn.

"Does it belong to your lover, perhaps?" I ask. His frown deepens.

"Why do you think so?"

"I mean...it looks like a woman's jewelry," I tell him.

Heaving a sigh, he sink