Conditional Love

Chapter 23

**|Sang's POV|**

I usually take great care of getting ready, going through my ritual, pumping myself up, making myself come off as confident even if I don't feel like it. Today, I move a little faster, feeling like one of the boys are going to show up and somehow stop me.

My dinner consists of a turkey sub, and then I have the music blasting as I go through my clothes searching for something to wear. I look at my three dresses. Since I wore soft pink dress the night I slept with Gabriel, I quickly put it back, the memories too strong. That leaves me with the bright pink and the black dress.

Tonight I needed to pop. I go with the bright pink. I hang it on my bathroom door and hop into the shower, quickly washing up and shaving. Then I get out, wrapping myself in one of my fluffy towels, and blow dry my hair, using a technique I learned on YouTube to make my hair curl.

Another twenty minutes later, I finish applying my make-up and toss on my dress, checking my small clutch to make sure I have everything I need. I throw on my heels and nod to myself as I grab my keys and head out.

The sun is still settling down so I don't worry as I walk down the block to get to a main strip so I can flag down a cab and with the way I'm dressed it doesn't take one long to pull over to pick me up.

I rattle off the address and lean back, enjoying the passing scenery as I try to calm my thoughts.

Everything is just so...wrong. No, not wrong. Not really. Just different.

Sleeping with Gabriel was fine. It happened before we began working together, but Mr. Blackbourne is right. I'm distracting them. They are here for a job, to improve on the company and to find who's threatening me.

I have to wonder if the deleted file was from the same person who threatened me. It would be a great way to get me fired. Mr. Corsan would never trust me again. And telling him I was late, giving them time to use my computer would not have gone over well. I"ll have to put together a report on what happened anyways.

Looks like the boys are distracting me just as much as I am them. Ever since they came into my life, I've been making choices I shouldn't have.

I shouldn't have slept with Luke.

I should have pushed Nathan away.

So why didn't I?

They're pushing me in a direction I've avoided to go in my whole life and it's beginning to scare me. I mean...Gabriel braided my hair today. I reach up and pat the top of my head, still feeling the braid there despite it being gone now.

No one has ever taken the time to do my hair. I always just do it myself. And yet he didn't hesitate.

Or Nathan taking care of me. Oh, this isn't just about what happened yesterday...in his office...with his tongue...and his mouth...and his fingers.

Damn.

No. This is also about him getting me to relax when he took my picture. He played music and he helped me to relax.

And Luke. He's making everything fun and colorful. He brightens everything up with his silliness but I know he can also be serious and intuitive. Maybe too intuitive.

They're all finding their way inside my soul.

I didn't want that.

I release a slow breath.

"Everything's alright. You're alright," I whisper as the cab pulls in front of the club, a line already forming outside but it's still early enough that it isn't too long.