Tormented

11. Love Me

Lucy pov

I can't tell him that we were talking about my nonexistent feelings for him...nonexistent?

My mind questions me.

I shake off the thought and bring my attention back to the situation at hand.

"I'm Mason and we were just talking about how you-"

I cut him off so he doesn't make my life anymore awkward than it has to be.

"You're my boss and that I'm a new employee, he pretty much explained to me what to except, with being here for the first time, and everything." I ramble out the lie.

"Oh." James says, clenching his fist, and squaring his jaw.

He saw right through me.

Damn.

"I'll just head for my room..." I say trying to escape.

James grabs my upper arm.

"No. You're not." He drags me to the hallway, leaving Mason standing there.

James pov

Seeing her stand there and talk to that guy, just set something off in me. But being her friend, I can't push my boundaries.

Fuck the boundaries.

I open a random room, and we enter what looks like a supply closet.

She rips her arm out my hold and I look down at her.

She's so beautiful. But since I've been friend zoned, she can't be mine.

I didn't think this friend thing through.

She could go out with that Mason guy and I wouldn't be able to do a thing, because I'm her friend. I don't why I ever agreed to it. She's all I want but she's everything I can't have.

I close the door and turn back to look at her again.

She looks at her feet.

Oh yeah, she lied about what they were talking about too. That could mean anything though. I just don't want her keeping secrets from me.

"Lucy," I say finally breaking the silence, "What were you really talking about?"

She still looks down.

"I can't say."

I grind my teeth.

"Why not?" I ask, feeling my jealousy rage.

Why can't she tell me, what she told to him?

"I just can't."

What does that mean?

"Why?" I ask, again.

She looks up at me and I see the anger in her eyes.

"I don't have to tell you're anything just because you're my boss doesn't mean you can invade my personal life, even if we're friends, I choose to tell you things I want you to know, not the other way round." She snaps at me.

I don't want her mad at me.

"Lucy, I don't even want to be your friend anymore, I can't just sit around while you have a boyfriend, I'd tear me up inside. I want you, Lucy, to be mine. Please." I say, desperately trying to get her to understand that, whatever I'm feeling, it's taking me over and she's the only cure.

My only cure.

She shakes her head.

"It's not happening, James, and if you don't want to be friends, then we can simply be people who work together. End of story." She states.

"Besides," she continues, "you don't know how you feel."

She slips behind me and I grab her wrist.

"Why can't you just accept us?" I ask.

She looks back at me.

"Because right now, I'm not sure if I need this job more than I need you."

I let her go and she leaves. I stand, trying to process her words.

She doesn't need me like I need her. She doesn't want me.

I squeeze my fist.

If she doesn't need me now, I'll make her need me. I'll make her want me. And most of all, I'll make her love me.

I shake my head.

But how...?