All Chapters of Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies.: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CHAPTER 11JORDAN “That new PA of yours...”I kept my head down,and my eyes focused on the computer screen as I typed. “What about her?”Mother didn't immediately respond,but I was already used to her weaponised silence,so I refused to look at her as I waited for a response.“I don't like her.”“Too bad…I'm not firing her.”She scoffed,and her heavy perfume assaulted my senses as she leaned forward. “There's something evil about her…I could sense it. She's probably one of those dirty,bloodsuckers.”I finally looked up, making sure to keep on my mask of irritated indifference as I stared into her dark eyes.“Miss Smith is not a vampire,I'd have known that immediately I saw her.” I knew Maze was something though…a hybrid perhaps?I wondered silently. Or perhaps a siren, that—besides her apparent gorgeousness–would certainly explain the way my blood sang whenever she was around,like an invisible magnet was drawing me towards her.Maybe I could ask her,but what if

CHAPTER 13JORDAN I muttered a curse under my breath as my twentieth call went unanswered.My mother was by no means a bluffer,but she'd never actively tried to keep me away from my baby sister–she’d always threatened to,but…I bolted up from the couch as I began to pace around the room.It was almost 9 PM and I'd started the call marathon at exactly 7.But here I was,worried about two different women; Maze.She'd suddenly stopped responding to my texts and although I'd been tempted to call her–or even drive over to her house,I didn't.Tomorrow though,if she wasn't at work,no force would be strong enough to stop me from driving over to Graylin's house,even if it meant having a physical confrontation with him because of it.I raised my phone and dialed mom's number again,this time the call was answered on the third ring and I clutched my phone tighter as I heard my mother's voice in the background.“Jordan!!” Anastasia cheered,her tiny voice filled with excitem

CHAPTER 15JORDAN “Yeah…it was just a silly lie.”Her easy admission undid me more than I wanted,and before I could stop myself, I'd already reached down to grasp her hand.“Why?”Maze shrugged. “I…it just happened,I didn't know what else to do.”“You didn't have to lie for him,he's not a kid.” I told her and she looked away,the pulse in her neck beating erratically.“Is this something you always do?”“What? Lie to protect the man I love with all my heart?”My chest tightened painfully at her response,of course she loved him. Why else would she be wearing his ring?But did he feel the same way about her though? Did she know who he truly was? Why'd Graylin want to marry a girl who…I wasn't sure what she was. Human? She didn't seem like it,but…“Contrary to what you might be thinking,” Maze's voice cut through my inner monologue, “this isn't usually a regular occurrence.”“Are you afraid of him?” I asked and she paled slightly,her lips curling up in a d

CHAPTER 17MAZIKEEN. “I…I do understand you, but then…”“But then what?!”Again,I felt the gazes directed at us,and I adjusted in my seat as I pushed the half eaten salad away and leaned closer.“Lower your voice,Lin.”She seemed to suddenly understand that we weren't alone,casting a look around the filled cafeteria before focusing on me again.“You need to leave him.”“I don't know whether to laugh at that or not,” I replied,my tone drier than I intended. “We're getting married in two months, invitations are getting sent out next week,I can't just cancel everything.”“Yes you can.” She insisted in a calm but firm voice. “You should, please…he's a,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “he's most likely a pedophile.”“No he's not.” I retorted hotly and she slapped a hand against her forehead, frustration oozing from her like a slowly leaking balloon.I could smell it, almost reach out and touch it as it stretched thickly between us.“You know what?” I began wit

CHAPTER 19MAZIKEEN “Wrong?” Jordan scoffed. “It was beautiful between us. You felt it too.”“I'm not talking about…how it felt.” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat as I leaned down to pick up my discarded scrunchie.No man had ever kissed me like that before,not that I'd kissed many. Graylin was the only one I'd ever been with and yet,none of his kisses had ever felt like this—so good it made me want to cry.“Then what do you mean then?” “This?” I waved between us. “It shouldn't exist. I'm about to get married and you…I heard something like this was why your last PA lost her job. Let's not make history repeat itself.”Jordan frowned,his face so beautifully pinched,I wanted to reach up and smooth out the confused crease in the middle of his brows.But instead I pulled my hair up in a bun and moved past him,towards the table I'd sat with Lin and picked up my phone.He followed after me,the rapid staccato of his shoes against the floor, matching the bea