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Chapter 56: Time to Pick
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The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 57: Lies, Lies, Lies
I hate lying to my friend, but I'm not ready to examine my relationship with Vincent under a microscope the way Ashley will want and demand. It would take hours. She'd make me draw out a diagram and timeline of our relationship. Lying is easier. For everyone. "Yeah, I was helping my mom.""Stop at the store and pick up ice cream because tonight we're having a girls' night. I get to pick the movie.""But you always pick sad ones." I wasn't one of those women who wanted to watch a movie and spend the entire time crying.Ashley laughs knowing it's the truth. "This is a new one, about a royal who falls in love with a commoner.""Wasn't that made by Hallmark?""Shhh, don't hate. Life is simpler in the Hallmark universe."That she's got right. "Okay, I'll grab the sweets and meet you back at the apartment."We hang up and I take the offramp and exit earlier getting myself closer to the store. I planned to sneak up to Vincent's office, but a night with my best friend would be go
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 58: What the Hell?
What the hell?We haven't talked since the night we got drinks together, but I sent him a text while I sat around the hospital and explained the situation. He said no big deal and wished my father a speedy recovery. After that it'd been radio silence, but I didn't think anything went wrong between the two of us. I don't want to date Levi, but he'd make a good friend. A comrade to have in the office once I move to Marketing. Except he looked at me as if I was the most disgusting creature he'd ever seen.Did I completely misunderstand his text? Has something else happened?... TUESDAY IS NO BETTER. I place another coffee and sandwich by the cold ones, not bothering to pick them up. Vincent still hasn't answered my email, and I refuse to send another until he does. My stomach hurts and tears burn my eyes. I can't continue on this rollercoaster that is Vincent Valiant, but I also can't leave.At eleven, as I'm gearing up for another lonely day and deciding what I want to order f
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 59: We'll Both be Unhappy
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY... New day and all that jazz.It was a bunch of bull if you ask me. If you want a different life, you have to go out there and grab it by the horns, shake it around a bit and then change your destiny. Which is what I'm doing on this new day.Wednesday is my chance to recover the week. I refuse to let it go down as crappy as it started. Vincent was wishy-washy at best and his refusal to answer any of my questions or talk to me about our non-relationship was absolutely grating on my nerves. I wouldn't let it happen again. I've sat around and let him stomp his feet and act ridiculous long enough. It was time for me to take charge.It was go time and for that I owned the perfect power outfit. I picked the short black pencil skirt he always said he hated, but it's the one I wore on our special Friday. I charge into the floor with new determination, finding the lights off in his office. But it doesn't matter. There will be no coffee and no sandwich on his desk th
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 60: Sick Day
His cologne swirls around me and something in his eyes warns me he isn't kidding, but I refuse to roll my chair back. I won't give in to him now physically. I may have lost the battle, but I'll win the war.My tongue itches to lie. To think of something outlandish, but those eyes of his say no. They hold something deep in their depths, a promise."Yes," I say, not giving him an inch. "I have horrible seasonal allergies and only five days of pills left before I turn into a snotty disgusting mess." Let him picture me sitting out here hacking and coughing germs on everything. Blowing my nose every five minutes and leaving little rags all over his workspace.Vincent shakes his head and rears back a fraction as if he's confused. "You promise that's why?"What is it with him and promising?"Yes, what is your problem?" I'm sure he thought I meant it for that moment, but I mean it for so much more. Everything. Why is he so cagey when he answers my questions? Why does he always run of
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 61: Good Taste
The exposed brick walls are painted white and soft music plays over the speakers, but the voices of the people sharing a meal make the restaurant loud."I enjoy it when you take my suggestions," Vincent says, leaning in close once our waitress walks away.He cologne swirls around me and I smile, not telling him the real reason behind my choice. "I figure you have good taste.""That I do." His hand lowers, resting on my knee and disturbing the tablecloth. "How is your dad?"I'm conflicted. Do I push his hand away or thank god for letting him touch me again?"Good. When are you going to meet my parents?" I don't mean that the way it sounds. It's purely so they can thank him for the help he did for my father, but I worry it comes off as if I want it for other reasons.His hand travels up my thigh and then stops halfway. "I'm not a man you bring home to Daddy."His fingers move again and catch in the tablecloth. I look around and then fix it making sure he's covered.I swal
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 62: Lost Underwear
He tugs on the top, lowering my underwear, and I step out expecting them to fall to the ground. But Vincent snatches them, bringing the material to his nose and sniffing quickly before stuffing them in his pocket.I blush and lower my head so he won't notice. A shy girl isn't who I want Vincent to see when he looks at me. I'm supposed to be a strong independent woman who's sure of herself. The man tucks away my underwear like it's nothing weird. Happens all the time."I love when I surprise you," he says, fixing my skirt."What? You didn't surprise me." It's a lie and we both know it."You will be."The elevator stops at the office level and I wait for the numbers to continue higher, but they don't. "Why are we stopping here?"The doors open and Vincent walks me into his office. "I need to check an email.""Now?" He's right, in one way I'm surprised. Although, not in another. Vincent always says work comes first. He gave me his attention earlier, but I guess it's silly to
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 63: They're Not Done
IT'S SO hot where I lie. I try to roll over but get stuck between the covers and a heavy bar that hangs against the side of my body. My fingers reach out expecting cool metal, but I'm met with the warm soft skin of a body. Realization hits me and I open my eyes to a dark morning lying in a bed on top of the city. The sun has not risen enough to light the sky, and the clouds hang low forming a light shade of gray.Vincent moans behind me and his arm tightens, pulling me close. His sheets smell of laundry detergent, flowers, cologne, and sex. I pause for a moment trying to remember this scene exactly—the feeling of completeness I experience being held tightly in his arms. It's a memory I want to hold on to forever.His chest is a solid wall of rock behind me, a silent protector in the middle of the night. I want to lie with him forever and never let the outside world intrude upon the moments we've shared. I breathe deeply, snuggling myself back in Vincent's arms and allow him to cage
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 64: More than One
"I couldn't decide on an outfit in Chicago right away so I picked up a few options. Davis ended up bringing them home with you in the car.""You bought all of these?" It wasn't a full wardrobe by any means, but if the five-hundred-dollar blouse he bought me in Chicago was any indication, these few items cost more than my entire wardrobe in my apartment.Vincent chuckles as I reach out and touch one of the silky fabrics. "I figured it'd be worth my time to have appropriate clothing on hand." I don't miss the way he emphasizes appropriate as if that is his motivation.A week or so ago I may have believed it, but I'm smarter now and starting to figure out he likes my clothing a little more than he'd admit, but maybe he also likes to see me in something he picked out. My hand floats over the fabrics noticing a black pencil skirt with a hint of lace on the bottom. He bought these in Chicago? We'd only kissed once by then. Granted it was the hottest kiss of my life, but things hadn't e
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