16
Antoine
Aknock on my office door had me glancing up from my phone. “Come in.”
The door pushed open and in walked Piper. It was curious to see her this way. Shy and out of her element. She was usually so full of fire that I couldn’t say two words to her without getting her riled up.
So, when she walked into my office her eyes flicking around the office before settling on me, I watched with a forced calm. Her pupils dilated slightly and her arousal filled the room. Good to know even without memories she wanted me. It wasn’t that much of an achievement to be fair.
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
Damn it. Why did she have to go ahead and call me that now? That’s right. This Piper did not know me. Or have much of a backbone…yet.
“Yes, Miss Billings, have a seat please.” Her last name felt wrong coming out of my mouth. I wanted to take it back but couldn’t.
Piper shot a look at me once more trying to hide that she was checking me out as she sat in the chair before me.
Lounging back in my chair, I surveyed her posture noting every inch of discomfort in her form. There was nothing more than I wanted to do than to put her at ease. However, I was not the one to do so, at least not for this Piper.
“What did you want to see me about, sir?” She crossed one leg over the other and shifted in her chair once and then twice.
“Please, Antoine,” I offered her, earning myself a surprised look. I could look at this like I was being punished or I could look at this like an opportunity to try again. Our beginnings were not what I wanted them to be. I was far more closed off to her than I should have been. The other day proved that when I had to practically shout my feelings from the rooftops for everyone to hear.
“Okay…Antoine,” Piper edged out and then shifted in her seat again. “You can call me Piper then…I guess.”
I offered her a small smile before continuing, “I wanted to see how you were doing? Do you have any questions? Concerns? Anything at all I could be of help with?”
Piper pulled her lower lip between her teeth worrying as she studied me. There was something on her mind. I couldn’t feel her emotions anymore but I could still read her tells. She wanted to confide in me but something was holding her back.
“Please talk freely. I won’t bite,” I gave her a closed mouth grin. “I promise.”
The tension in Piper’s shoulders dropped a bit and she uncrossed her legs, leaning forward in her chair. “I’m just a little confused about a few things.”
“Very well,” I placed my hands on my desk and angled toward her. “I will do my best to clear them up for you.”
Piper breathed deeply before beginning, “First off, why is there so many clothes from past workers in my room? I mean, they’re all my size. So unless you have a specific size and height qualification for this job, that’s super weird. Then there’s the vials of blood I keep finding hidden all over the place. Like who’s blood is it? My blood? Your blood? Is it even human blood? Or is it fake blood for some kind of weekend kink show you guys don’t want me to know about?”
I opened my mouth to try and answer her. I didn’t get the chance.
“Then there’s the basement thing.” She stood from her chair and paced back and forth before me. “I mean, it’s not too weird to sleep during the day and not at night, a lot of people have third shifts but you’re obviously loaded so I’m not exactly sure how that works. I mean, unless you’re some kind of international spies or something…” She paused and looked at me. “You’re not spies are you?”
I shook my head. “No.”
Then she was back to it. “Then there’s also the whole sleeping together in the same room down there thing. Like who does that? Are you guys really that close? I mean, none of you look alike. Well, I guess that’s not true, the twins look alike obviously, their twins. Of course, they would look like each other. Well, except for Drake has this slight crook in his nose that his brother doesn’t and Allister has a more soft disposition than Drake’s in your face attitude. Do you know what I mean?”
“Piper.”
“Huh?”
I reached out to her with a concerned frown. “Breathe.” She pulled in a few deep breaths letting them out just as quickly before sinking back into her chair.
“Sorry. I guess a lot of stuff has just bottled up for me the last couple days. I didn’t mean to unload it on you.” She spoke with her hands as she tried to apologize for her rambling. “I mean, you’re my boss, I shouldn’t be complaining to you anyway. You know what,” she stood and held her hands up. “Just forget it. Forget I said anything at all.”
I called after her before she could get out the door.
“What?” Piper quipped, her hand on the door handle.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get my next words out because the office door opened, forcing Piper to back up. Darren appeared in the doorway. He took one look at Piper and me before locking his gaze with mine. “There’s a Mr. Vincent here to see you about that matter…”