Protege King by Lisa Renee Jones

Author:Lisa Renee Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Alana

Present day

“Do not walk away from me, Alana.”

I rotate to face him, shocked to find him closer than he was moments before, close enough to lean in and cage me against the door, even if he has not yet. It’s déjà vu from the last time we met. Only he’s a man now. Correction—a devastatingly handsome man, and a powerful one, at that. Which I know, because as ashamed of it as I am, I’ve kept up with him. I’ve Googled him far too many times to feel good about myself.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to see him again.

“What is this, Damion?” I ask, my voice rasping from my throat. I still can’t believe this is happening.

“You look beautiful, Alana.”

I laugh without humor. “Do you know how many times you’ve told me that in my life?”

“I meant it every time.”

“Of course, you did,” I say shortly.

“I mean it even more now. You look good, Alana.” He motions to the sitting area to his right. “Come sit with me.”

Not a chance, I think and I dig in my proverbial heels. “I want to know what this is. Why did the studio send me here?”

“West Enterprises is the studio,” he says. “We’re now the majority stockholder, and I sit on the board.”

I feel as if I’ve been slapped. Obviously, Google has failed me. “You got me the TV show,” I say, and it’s not even a question. Maybe that’s why I haven’t embraced the show. It just always felt off. I knew it all seemed too good to be true.

“You got you the TV show.” He motions to the living room and tries again. “Come sit and talk to me.”

“What is this, Damion?” I demand softly, determined to repeat my question as many times as I have to until he answers.

“Let’s sit, Alana.”

My name is silk on his tongue. I was too, is all I can think. And while that was a long time ago, ten years ago now, with him this close, it feels like yesterday. Despite all that happened between us, which was so much more than I ever imagined that morning so many years ago, his voice, his eyes, his everything still lights me up and burns me where I stand. It’s an uncomfortable feeling for him to hold this power over me when he holds so much else over me, as well.

He’s watching me, waiting for my answer, and the bottom line is no different than it was a few minutes ago. He owns me, more now than ever. I cannot refuse his request. I nod my agreement when I really want to walk away and leave. I used to crave this insane, wild array of emotions he stirs in me. Now they feel like devil’s candy. Temptingly delicious, but most certainly the end of me.

He takes a step backward and offers me space. He’d have to give me a football field if he expects me to actually breathe when he’s around. He’s the kid next door, I tell myself.

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