The Beast

Chapter 6

Chapter Six
Another Birthday

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

HANNAH

Lev's text message was displayed on my lock screen, front and centre for me to see. And even if I could pretend I didn't see it, my guilty conscious wouldn't let me go to sleep if I ignored the request.

Come upstairs. Bring your IPad.

Nervously biting my lip, I shakily unlocked my phone and sent, Is there something in specific you'd like me to look at? It's late. Maybe I can come tomorrow morning?

Heart stammering, I watched as his reply came. I could sense his disapproval through the screen. No. Come upstairs.

With a defeated sigh, I closed my phone and laid it face-down on the couch. I didn't bother arguing that I just got home from my second job, or that I haven't eaten since breakfast. All my excuses would fall on deaf ears.

It's been a week since I stepped foot into Lev's apartment, and since then, we messaged every day. Most times, I would send him colour schemes or decor pieces. He answered professionally, albeit, uncaring. We stuck to a rigid script, but there were moments when he asked if I was drinking 'that poison.' I figured he implied my collection of energy drinks.

However, today was the first day that he requested—no, demanded—that I come upstairs. Professionally, I needed to visit the site again because I hadn't finished gathering measurements of all the rooms. But personally... the possibility of seeing Lev made me heart crash with nerves. The man was intimidating.

His face never showed an ounce of kindness. Truth be told, the only expression I've seen him wear is indifference, boredom or annoyance.

So, it was really nerve-wrecking when his eyes followed my every movement with that kind of expression. I couldn't get a read out of him. Was he studying me? Judging me?

I wished Nico was home to give me advice, but unsurprisingly, my best friend and roommate went to a club with his other friends, despite it being Sunday. I could call Quinn, but I haven't mentioned that Lev, the same man from the club, was now my client. Heck, I haven't even told her the extent of my history with him, not that it's much.

You're going to be twenty-one this year, Hannah. Grow a pair, get off your couch and go upstairs. What could go wrong?

He'll pull me into a closet again, and I'll feel things a professional shouldn't.

But my mind keeps going back to that day. Him vaguely implying the relationship he had with his sister, which I related to. It was the first time he appeared a little more human.

With that reminder, I nodded to encourage myself before jumping off the couch. Since I only got home ten minutes ago, the first thing I did was face-plant on the couch, so I was still dressed in my double-layer outfit that successfully protected me from the cold today.

When I stepped out of my room twenty minutes later, I was freshly showered and dressed in black slacks. I considered slipping into a blouse, but it nine at night, so I settled with a periwinkle long sleeve shirt. I chose flats instead of heels, but internally hoped that my outfit was professional enough.

Phone in pocket, I picked the IPad and energy drink off the kitchen counter before striding out of the apartment. I tried to walk with poise, but as I rode the elevator down to the lobby, the urge to throw up worsened. It wasn't until I stepped into Lev's private elevator that I messaged Nico.