Do I need anyone’s permission to kiss her?
Dora had been smirking at her annoying colleague, enjoying the way her sharp words seemed to chip away at his ego. But his next sentence made her freeze mid-smirk. Her mind went blank, and she stood there, stunned, as the weight of his words sank in. Before she could react, Austin appeared beside her, his presence as commanding as ever. He casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
“Any problems here?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with authority. He glanced around the room, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “I’m happy to answer any questions about kissing my wife. But…” he paused deliberately, letting the tension build, “do I need anyone’s permission to kiss her? If so, maybe we should all share how you kiss your partners.”
The room fell silent, the kind of silence that feels heavy and suffocating. The only sound was the faint rustling of people shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Austin’s words hung in the air, daring anyone to challenge him. No one did. Instead, the onlookers quickly averted their eyes, pretending to be engrossed in their work. A few even hurried back to their desks, their curiosity overshadowed by the fear of crossing their boss.
Ignoring the shocked gasps and the sudden flurry of activity, Austin turned to Dora. His tone softened, as if they were the only two people in the room. “We missed our morning tea. I thought I’d bring you one. I know how grumpy you get without it.”
Dora was too stunned to respond. Her mind was racing, trying to process what had just happened. How dare he call me his wife in front of everyone? She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her composure. But before she could say anything, Austin was already walking away, leaving her standing there with a cup of tea in her hand.
When she finally snapped out of her daze, anger surged through her. She stormed to her desk, ready to throw the tea in the trash, but something stopped her. The cup, it was the same one her anonymous friend used to bring her. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Was it him all along? She shook her head, refusing to let herself dwell on it.
I need to get out of here. This is my only chance to escape. Think clearly, Dora. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.
But before she could make a move, Nathan intercepted her. “Since you’re taking a week off, we’ve had to reassign your work,” he said, gesturing for her to sit down.
Dora frowned. “A week off? I didn’t apply for leave. I submitted my resignation.”
Nathan hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Well, since your husband-I mean, Austin, is your boss, your resignation isn’t valid without his approval.”
Dora’s eyes widened. What? She felt like the ground was slipping out from under her. “Nathan, let’s just focus on work, please.”
Whether by coincidence or design, Nathan stayed with her until lunch, preventing her from leaving. Just as she was about to make a run for it, Austin showed up, his timing impeccable.
The sight of his smug smile pushed her over the edge. She grabbed his hand, surprising him, and dragged him to the parking lot. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, shoving his hand away.
Austin shrugged, playing innocent. “We don’t have much to eat here. How about we go out somewhere nice?”
Dora gritted her teeth. “You know exactly what I’m asking.”
He avoided her question, unsure of what he wanted himself. All his past suspicions about Dora cheating on him now seemed uncertain. He wasn’t even sure if his mother had orchestrated everything. He needed time to figure it out, which was why he’d withdrawn the divorce. But when Dora agreed to it, he was shocked. Thankfully, the judge had ordered them to stay together for six months.
“You know what I’m asking,” Dora repeated, her voice sharp.
Before Austin could respond, his phone rang. “Hello, Paulina,” he answered, his tone softening.
Dora frowned. Paulina again? She crossed her arms, trying to ignore the pang of jealousy that shot through her. She hated how easily Paulina could command Austin’s attention, how effortlessly she seemed to weave herself into his life.
“I’ll come by this evening,” Austin said. “And yes, I’ll eat. Don’t worry.”
Hearing him fuss over Paulina made Dora’s blood boil. She turned to leave, but Austin caught her wrist, still talking on the phone. When he finally hung up, he asked, “Where are you going?”
“I thought I was interrupting your moment,” she snapped, trying to pull away.
“Are you jealous?” he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Dora laughed bitterly. “You’re free to hook up with whoever you want. I don’t care.”
Austin’s expression darkened. “So you wouldn’t mind if I hooked up with someone else?”
“Not at all,” Dora said, but her words were cut off as Austin pulled her close and kissed her.
“How dare you!” she shouted, wiping her lips in disgust.
“You said you wouldn’t mind,” he replied, smirking.
“I said anyone,” Dora shot back.
“But you never said that didn’t include you,” Austin countered.
“Don’t touch me, you jerk!” she screamed, but instead of backing off, he pulled her closer. Her anger, fear, and the racing of her heart made her look even more irresistible to him. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. “So, are you joining me for lunch, or are you still planning your escape?”
Dora stared at him, shocked. “How do you know that?”
“What do you want?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“You,” Austin said simply.
Before he could say more, his phone rang again. Seeing Ronan’s name, he answered quickly. “What’s wrong?”
“Something’s off,” Ronan said. “George is near the hospital where your friend is staying.”
Austin’s expression hardened. He let go of Dora but kept a firm grip on her arm. “Have lunch with Sienna for now. I’ll meet you later. And don’t even think about running away.”
Dora yanked her arm free, glaring at him. “What’s going on?”
Austin’s face turned serious as he listened to Ronan. “I have a bad feeling about this,” Ronan said. “You’re not going to like what’s happening.”
Austin’s jaw tightened. “Tell me.”
There was a pause on the other end, and then Ronan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “George is meeting someone at the hospital. I think it’s your mother.”
Austin’s grip on the phone tightened. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I saw her car. She’s here.”
Austin’s mind raced. What is she doing with George? He glanced at Dora, who was still glaring at him, her arms crossed. He couldn’t let her out of his sight, not now. But he also needed to deal with this.
“Stay there,” Austin said to Ronan. “I’m on my way.”
He ended the call and turned to Dora. “Change of plans. You’re coming with me.”
“Like hell I am,” Dora shot back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Austin stepped closer, his expression was cold. “You don’t have a choice. This isn’t just about us anymore. Something bigger is going on, and I need to know you’re safe.”
Dora opened her mouth to argue, but the intensity in his eyes stopped her. For the first time, she saw genuine concern in his expression, and it threw her off balance.
“Fine,” she muttered, though she didn’t mean it. She had no intention of sticking around, but for now, she’d play along. She needed to know what was going on as much as he did.
As they walked to his car, Dora couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. Austin’s presence, his protectiveness, the way he seemed to know her every move, it was all too much. But deep down, a small part of her wondered if she could trust him. If maybe, just maybe, he was telling the truth.
But trust was a fragile thing, and Dora wasn’t ready to give it to him. Not yet.
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