Chapter 94
Myra stood frozen in Tony’s arms, her heart racing as his words pierced through the silence, each one sharp and precise, cutting straight to her insecurities. His tone was cold, but his gaze was searing, intense, as if he could see straight through her.
“You… You don’t understand,” Myra murmured, her voice barely a whisper, as she struggled to free herself from the tight grip around her waist. The feeling of helplessness washed over her as she tried to push him away, but his hold only tightened, his presence looming over her like an unyielding force.
Tony’s laugh, low and dark, echoed in the confined space of the restroom. “No, Myra. I understand perfectly. You do care. You wouldn’t be reacting like this if you didn’t.”
Myra’s chest tightened. She could feel her emotions swirling, a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and something deeper—something she had been too afraid to acknowledge. The fact that he could read her so easily, that he saw through her every pretense, left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. And the worst part? She couldn’t bring herself to deny it.
“I didn’t come here because of you,” she tried, her words faltering as she looked anywhere but into his eyes. “I came because I… I had to talk about work. That’s all.”
Tony tilted his head, his fingers brushing against her cheek as he turned her face back toward him. His touch was tender, almost deceptively so, and it made her heart skip a beat. “You don’t even believe that yourself, do you?”
She wanted to protest, to push him away and tell him that he was wrong, but her voice failed her. What could she say to explain the pull she felt toward him? What could she say when everything about this situation screamed that it was wrong, yet her heart betrayed her?
Tony’s eyes darkened, a flash of frustration crossing his features as he took in her struggle. “You don’t love me, Myra?” he asked again, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “Then why did you look at me the way you did? Why did you kiss me back?”
Myra’s breath hitched as she closed her eyes, a tear threatening to slip from her lashes. Why did she kiss him back?
“I didn’t…” she began weakly, but Tony pressed his lips to her forehead, cutting her off.
“You don’t need to say anything, Myra.” His voice was soft now, almost gentle, but the undertone of his words made her shiver. “I’ve been patient, haven’t I? But you’re the one who’s been playing games, pushing me away and then coming closer, not knowing what you want.”
His words hung in the air, and Myra felt as if the ground beneath her was slipping away. She wanted to scream at him, tell him to leave her alone, to stop toying with her emotions. But the truth was—she didn’t want him to go. Not really.
“Why do you keep doing this?” she whispered, barely able to get the words out. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Tony exhaled, a sharp, frustrated sound, as if he had been waiting for her to ask that question. He took her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes once again. “Because, Myra,” he said quietly, “I can’t leave you alone. Not when I know you feel the same way.”
Myra froze, her breath catching in her throat. She wanted to deny it, wanted to tell him that he was wrong, but deep down, she knew he wasn’t. She could feel it in the way her heart pounded when he was near, the way her body responded to his touch, the way her mind raced with thoughts of him even when she wasn’t with him.
She was trapped—by her own feelings, by the man standing before her, by the fear of what would happen if she let herself give in.
Tony’s expression softened, though his grip remained firm. “I’ve been patient, Myra. But I’m not going to wait forever. So, tell me… will you let me in?”
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she searched his face, as if she could find some clue that would make it easier for her to make a decision. But all she could see was the depth of his desire, the undeniable pull between them that was impossible to ignore.
“I… I don’t know,” she whispered, the words escaping before she could stop them.
Tony didn’t say anything at first. He simply looked at her, as if studying her, before he pulled her even closer, his lips hovering near her ear. “You don’t need to know everything right now. All you need to know is that I want you. And I won’t stop until I have you.”
The finality in his words sent a chill down Myra’s spine, and yet, a part of her couldn’t deny the allure of what he was offering. But as he held her, she realized something—no matter how much she wanted to give in, she couldn’t. Not like this. Not when everything in her told her it was wrong.
“Tony,” she breathed, her voice trembling as she finally pulled away, forcing some distance between them. “I can’t… I can’t do this.”
Tony’s eyes flashed, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t try to stop her as she stepped back. Instead, he looked at her with a mixture of frustration and something darker—something she couldn’t quite name.
“You’ll change your mind, Myra,” he said quietly, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside of him. “I’ll make sure of it.”
And with that, he turned and walked out of the restroom, leaving Myra standing there, her heart pounding, her mind reeling. The silence that followed was deafening, and as the reality of what had just happened settled in, Myra realized that she was standing at a crossroads. Where she went from here—what she chose to do—was entirely up to her.
But deep down, she knew that whatever decision she made, it would change everything.