17 17 | I need you

VINCE

I walked out of my room, scrolling through the message exchanges between me and Joyce.

I couldn’t sleep after blatantly texting her I need you in the middle of the night. But I kept waiting for a reply. Maybe my message had made her panic. It ought to. I would’ve panicked as well. I shook my head, cursing myself at the back of my mind.

The clattering of dishes reached my ears as I strode down the stairs. Olivia was sitting by the island while Carla, my cook, prepared breakfast.

Without making eye contact with Olivia, I said, “The lawyer will be here in an hour. You can talk to him in the study.”

“Will you not be there?”

“No. It’s your personal matter. I’m helping you all I can but the matter ends there.”

“Something about you has changed, Vi.”

“I think so too.” I turned to her, my brows furrowed and a small smile tugging at my lips. Shrugging, I said, “But is the fact that I’m not open and willing to do your knickers bothering you, Liv?”