Alison Storm

Chapter 25

Rhys

Allie has officially lost her mind, hasn't she?

Why would she think I'd ever use her to get an advantage in life? That's stupid and cruel, and something I would never do. She's my girlfriend, for heaven's sake, not some sugar mommy or my manager.

"I cannot work for you, even if I did accept your help, Allie," I say with a sigh, slowly removing my hands from her face.

Just when my hands are about to leave her completely, Allie covers mine with hers, pressing them back to her jawline. "You did before. Well, you thought you did, technically. It didn't stop you from falling in love with me or anything, really. So, if that's your reasoning not to, then you better forget about it as quick as the excuse entered your brain."

"That's not it." It was a reason, but she is right, I did somewhat work for her father before. It wasn't legit, so we all know I had to find out, but for me it was for a short while.

"Then what is it, Rhys?"

"What happens if we break up?" Her face falls, her eyes filling with tears so now I feel like an asshole on a whole different level. "Not saying we will, love. But what if?"

Allie shakes her head. "Don't think about that." The tears that were building up are now falling from her eyes, running down her rosy cheeks. I wipe them away as quick as they fall, but they just keep on coming. "If you think about a possible breakup...then why are we even in a relationship in the first place?"

"I cannot not think about what happens after, Allie. My life without you will never be the same again, so how can I not fear what happens if we break up?" Her eyes close as she inhales a little shakily. "I wouldn't be able to still work at the same building as you, and then I'd have to start all over again. The older I'd be, the more difficult it would be for me to even find another job. And I cannot afford to not work."

"I still think you shouldn't even see that as an option," she says, taking yet another deep breath before she continues. "But going with that, I can promise you, Rhys, you will always have a job to go back to. Because even if we were to break up, and you truly wanted an out of the Storm House, you'd have to hand in your resignation. And I wouldn't let you quit. As the CEO, I can easily put you in somewhere else. That way you don't have to see me and still have a job. I am not a monster, Rhys. I have some idea how important work is for anyone that didn't grow up like I did. And I would never be this cruel to leave you stranded, jobless and with worries as to where your next meal would come from."

Allie's hands leave mine, this time not pressing them back to her face when I remove them. She takes a step back, her back now hitting her bedroom door.

"I'm not sure why you worry so much about a breakup when, for me, it's not even worth thinking about. Because, to me, Rhys, you're who I'd want to spend the rest of my life with. And perhaps that's crazy given that I'm only nineteen, and because we've only been dating for a couple of months. And trust me, I grew up in a pretty healthy household, with two very loving parents that are more of a role model to me than you could ever imagine, so saying I'd marry you and want to spend all my life with you means a whole lot coming from me. They're not stupid, irrelevant promises. Not when I grew up watching my parents fall deeper and deeper in love with every single day, setting my standards higher than you could ever even comprehend possible."

"You mean that?" I ask a little anxious still.

She nods. "Every single word, Rhys. I can put up a contract to promise it if you'd like?"

I can't believe she really has me laughing in a conversation like this. Full on having to lean my head against her body to somehow hold myself up and not lose balance, that kind of laughing. "Only you would put something like that into a contract."