The Monster at My Feet novel Chapter 26

She didn't think for a second that a man everyone was desperate to network with would ever give her the time of day.

But the robotic driver's face suddenly contorted into something resembling an actual human expression.

He looked like he was fighting off a stroke.

"Miss Vance, you can contact Mr. Graves directly."

Sylvie looked at the driver.

Then she looked back at Caspian, who was staring down at his lap and had only made eye contact with her for exactly one second.

She hesitated, unsure if she should speak.

But Caspian reached out, picked up a pen and a notepad from the console, and tapped his pale fingers against the paper.

"Your number."

Wow, he was incredibly easy to work with.

Sylvie happily scribbled down her cell number. She watched as Caspian took the slip of paper, his fingers lightly brushing the edge before folding it securely into his palm.

She pulled out her phone and tilted her head. "Mr. Graves, could I get your number too?"

His chest heaved as he took another deep breath.

Was he losing his patience?

Caspian pressed his lips together and picked up the exact pen she had just used.

As he wrote, his cuff shifted, exposing the bruised and battered knuckles of his hand.

The cuts had already scabbed over, stark and violent against his pale skin and protruding veins.

It gave his hands a strange, beautifully ruined aesthetic.

It was bizarre. How did a man with his status end up getting into fistfights?

Sylvie stared at his hand, only looking away when he set the pen down and immediately curled his fingers back into a defensive fist.

He had written his name and private number.

His handwriting was elegant, just as striking as he was.

It was a little weird that he didn't just type it into her phone, but she didn't care.

She cheerfully tucked the paper into her pocket.

When she looked out the window, she realized the car had already pulled up directly in front of her dorm building.

Quentin got out, walked around, and opened her door.

Sylvie had never experienced this level of service. She waved happily at both of them. "Bye!"

Quentin gave her a stiff, formal bow.

Caspian seemed to whisper a faint "Goodbye," but she couldn't quite catch it.

Sylvie turned and walked into the dorm building.

The second she unlocked her door, she froze.

It was a physical piece of her that he was allowed to keep. Something he could touch.

It was euphoric.

She was so close.

He had promised himself he would stay away, but he was already breaking his own rules.

He wanted to lock the doors and never let her out.

No. He had to stay away from her.

He was a psycho.

...

Quentin sat in the driver's seat, waiting in silence for his boss's next order.

The morning board meeting had already started without them, but nobody in that boardroom would dare begin until Mr. Graves arrived.

Finally, the heavy, ragged breathing in the back seat steadied.

When Caspian spoke, the gentle, timid facade was entirely gone.

His voice snapped back to its usual freezing, impatient cadence.

"Quentin. Was I acting like a human just now?"

Quentin blinked.