9
It was kind of weird sitting on Seth’s couch with a stranger in the apartment. Sal had said he was going to make sure she was safe. Somehow she’d missed the part about Sal bringing others to watch over her.
There was no way she was going to be able to relax here. Connor, her bodyguard, looked in her direction every time she moved. And if she winced, because of her ankle, he asked if she was okay. Charlene wanted to tell him she wasn’t. She felt like she was being suffocated.
Pulling out her cell phone, she called the one person who she knew could distract her. “Hi Sofia. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Is everything okay?” Sofia asked.
“Yes. Just…dandy.” Just bored out of my skull.
“You don’t sound it. What’s the matter Charlene? And don’t waste my time by saying nothing.”
“Have you been to Seth’s home?” she asked.
Sofia chuckled. “I wouldn’t refer to it as a home. More like a showplace,” Sofia snickered. “I don’t think we will be able to visit once Liliana is older. I’d be too afraid she’d break something.”
“I know. I’ve been sitting on the couch afraid to move. Can you picture being the person he hires to dust this place? She must be petrified every time she touches anything.”
“Funny thing is, Seth doesn’t seem to be attached to any of it. I think it is just there because he didn’t want to put any effort into designing the way he likes it.”
“Maybe he likes it like this?” Stuffy and boring.
“Possibly, but I doubt it. The Lawson men are…hard to understand. But when you do, you find there is so much more to them than you imagined. There is only one way to learn about them, too,” Sofia said.
“And how is that?”
Sofia chuckled. “Ask.”
“I just did,” Charlene said.
“Not me. Ask Seth,” Sofia stated.
“That is a lot harder. See, Seth isn’t here. He’s traveling on business. And you have…”
“A baby to put to bed. Why don’t you give him a call?” Sofia suggested.
“And say what? Hi Seth. I’m sitting on your couch and bored to death. Want to talk? I’m sure that conversation will be short.”
Sofia sighed. “Charlene, what’s going on? This isn’t like you. You never have a problem talking to strangers, never mind someone you know.”
“This is different. He’s my boss.”
“So is Dylan, but you don’t seem to have the same issue. Do you…like Seth?”
“Of course I do. I work for him,” she stated.
“Okay, so you like him. Got it. And now you’re at his home and bored… or wishing he was there with you?” Sofia asked.
God I hate you sometimes.
“Maybe a bit of both,” she admitted.
“So you called me because you don’t have the guts to call him?”
“I’m not afraid to call him. Just there is no reason to. He’s working, remember. I don’t even know where he is. If I call he’ll think something is wrong and…”
“He’ll answer the call. Which is what you want.”