I Could Read Minds But Never His Sincere Love Chapter 10

I Could Read Minds But Never His Sincere Love Chapter 10

I stopped dead in my tracks. A tight ache seized my chest.

“Ms. Hayes? Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

I got my desk set up and took a picture of it for Julian.

[Well? Pretty good, right?]

Two knocks. My assistant came in with Miles behind her.

“Ms. Hayes, Mr. Sterling would like to retain you.”

I put my phone face down and nodded. “Send him in.”

I gave Miles a polite smile. “Have a seat.”

“Hazel, you’re back. I…”

“Mr. Sterling. Let me see the paperwork.”

I cut him off and slid a bottle of water across the desk. He stopped. Then he handed the file over.

Somewhere between one page and the next, his voice started up in my head.

[Hazel, where did you go? Why couldn’t I find you?]

[Hazel, are you still angry? I know I was wrong. I know.]

I shut the folder before his mouth was all the way open and gave him my sweetest smile.

—

“Sorry, Mr. Sterling. IP isn’t my area. If you don’t mind, I can refer you to my boyfriend.”

“You… you have a boyfriend?”

All the color drained from his face, and his voice cracked on the last word.

“I do. This is exactly his area of expertise. He’s picking me up after work, so you’re welcome to talk to him. If you’ve got the time, Mr. Sterling.”

His mouth opened. I beat him to it.

“Mr. Sterling, if that’s everything, I have work. There’s a coffee shop downstairs.”

He let out a breath and said nothing. His thoughts, however, were screaming.

[Hazel, why? Why are you like this with me? Why do you have a boyfriend? Are you lying to me?]

He’d finally opened the door, and it was too late.

Downstairs, Julian walked Miles through the case like the professional he was and told him exactly what to do. Miles wasn’t hearing a word of it.

He watched me the whole time, and his thoughts came in a constant stream.

[Hazel, you’re different. Why won’t you look at me?]

[Hazel, is this him? The way you smile at him hurts to look at. You

—

haven’t smiled at me like that in years.]

[Hazel, it’s so good to see you. I’ve dreamed about you every night for two years. Hazel, do you really not love me anymore?]

Hazel this, Hazel that. He was getting on my last nerve.

I couldn’t help myself. “Mr. Sterling. You might want to actually listen to this.”

That was when I saw his eyes had gone red around the rims, and there was something wet caught in the corners.

They finished. Miles gathered up his file and left, looking like a dead man walking.

Julian’s face fell, and he turned away from me.

“What? Are you mad?”

For once in his life, Julian set his jaw and gave me nothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laughed against his shoulder.

“Don’t bother hiding. I can hear you.”

He caved instantly.

“Why was he staring at you the whole time!”