Chapter 76 Don't Be Scared
"Nope." Fiona's voice was cold as ice.
Darwin's eyes narrowed, darkening with intensity.
"Why you staring at me like that? Didn't I shoot you a text to turn you down that day?" Fiona shot him a glance.
She'd probably been under Darwin's thumb for way too long.
Now, with him glaring at her, she felt a weird pang of guilt.
"You said no 'cause you were bailing," Darwin said, each word like a hammer, "Fiona, you still trying to run, huh?"
Fiona's heart did a little flip.
She tried to keep her cool, both in her head and on her face.
"No," she said, trying to sound firm.
Darwin felt like someone was jabbing a dull knife into his heart, over and over.
She was lying.
"Then go be the CEO." Darwin's tone was all business, no room for argument.
He was starting to get it—Fiona had a lot she couldn't let go of: friends, family, her career. But he wasn't on that list.
If she took over the energy company, she'd have one more reason to stick around, even if it wasn't for him. As long as he could keep her close, that was enough.
"Mr. Solomon, I can't handle it," Fiona frowned, still pushing back.
"Doesn't matter. I got plenty of cash for you to burn!" Darwin was just as stubborn. "No more breaks for you. Start back at the company tomorrow. Bella's out. You'll sit in on the energy company's prep meetings as my secretary, and once everything's set, we'll make you the CEO."
The CEO gig at the Atlas energy company was a sweet deal.
Lots of folks wanted it.
Announcing Fiona as CEO out of the blue would bring a ton of heat and skepticism.
So, Darwin decided to ease her in, let the tech team see what she could do first.
Once they were on board, the rest would fall into place.
He also planned to hand Tony's Sales Department 1 over to Fiona as the energy company's sales team.
Tony and his crew knew she was capable and wouldn't need much time to adjust.
Darwin wasn't about to spill all this to Fiona.
He wasn't one to toot his own horn.
Fiona silently mashed a piece of meat in her bowl into mush.
He wanted to use the energy company to lock her down for good.
She really couldn't wait any longer.
She had to find a way out of this mess, fast.
"Got it." Fiona lost her appetite and put down her fork. "Enjoy your meal, I..."
"Sit down." Darwin's eyes were dark and menacing.
Under the table, Fiona's hand balled into a fist. "I'm done."
"No, you're not." Darwin drummed his fingers on the table. "Keep eating. You're done when I say you're done!"
Fiona knew Darwin was about to blow a fuse.
To avoid a bigger mess, she gritted her teeth, picked up her fork, and kept eating, slowly.
Neither of them said another word.
But to Fiona's surprise, after Darwin finished a bowl of soup, he went for another.
He also wolfed down a bunch of chicken.
His stomach wasn't great and couldn't handle spicy food.
Fiona wanted to stop him.
But thinking of his bossy attitude, she held back and kept quiet.
After dinner, she dragged her feet and took a bath.
When she came out, she saw Darwin curled up on the bed, clutching his stomach.
Wasn't this just self-inflicted pain?
Fiona wanted to just ignore him and pretend she didn't see.
But she couldn't.
Darwin's usual meds were at her place.
She went to grab them, poured some water, and squatted beside him.
"Your stomach's a mess, and you still ate all that spicy stuff? What were you thinking?" Fiona asked.
Darwin opened his eyes, finally dropping that annoying bossy act. "I thought you'd stop me."
He sounded all pitiful.
Fiona was speechless.
"Take the meds." She handed him the water and pills.
Darwin took them without a fuss.
Then, Fiona went to dry her hair, dragging it out, hoping the meds would kick in and he'd be out cold by the time she got back.
When she returned to the bedroom, he was still curled up but seemed to be asleep.
She sighed in relief, turned off the light, and slowly got into bed.
Just as she lay down, not even a second to relax, Darwin turned over and pulled her into his arms.
She was still cold.
But Darwin was warm.
"You're not asleep," Fiona mumbled.
"Almost." Darwin nuzzled her neck, his hands wandering.
Fiona pressed down his hand.
He immediately intertwined their fingers.
Fiona's heart started racing.
"Don't be scared." Darwin kissed her earlobe, his voice soft. "Just holding you to sleep."
Fiona didn't say anything.
Darwin went on, "Fiona, don't be scared. I messed up before. From now on, I'll treat you right, better than you treated me."
No matter what her intentions were with that work notebook, Darwin saw all the little things Fiona did for him in it.
Even his own parents didn't get him like Fiona did.
He'd move mountains to get back the way she used to treat him.
"I'm not scared." Fiona figured Darwin was half-asleep and talking nonsense.
But who doesn't want to hear sweet talk from their crush?
"Yeah, you're not scared. But you hate me." Darwin tightened his arms, burying his head deeper.
Like if he let go, she'd vanish.
Fiona sighed. "Sleep."
"Stomach hurts," Darwin said pitifully, "Before, when it hurt, you'd warm it with your hand."
Fiona felt a bit helpless.
After a moment, she turned around, and Darwin loosened his grip.
Fiona's cold hand pressed against Darwin's stomach, gently rubbing.
In the dark, Darwin's eyes stayed on Fiona.
Out of nowhere, he asked, "If I were yours, would you give me to someone else?"
Fiona's hand froze for a second.
Then she pressed harder.
Darwin instinctively grabbed her hand and kissed it. "You trying to kill your man?"
His words made Fiona even more uncomfortable.
"You'll never be mine, nor my man." She pulled her hand back. "Alright. Stop talking nonsense. Sleep."
Fiona turned her back to Darwin.
After a few seconds, he hugged her from behind again.
"Fiona, I am yours," Darwin said.
Fiona pressed her lips together.
She pretended not to hear and ignored him.
But in her heart, she told herself, 'It's all fake. Sweet talk.'
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