A near sight

Taylor

The cold air stung against my damp skin. My wet dress clung to me, still heavy from the water poured over me inside the hotel when the fire broke out.

Devon had insisted the medic take a look at the cut on my leg, and now, as I sat on the edge of his sleek black car.

The scent of smoke lingered faintly in the air.

He stood a few feet away, talking to one of the security men. His jaw was tight, his hair a little ruffled, his sleeves rolled up. I shouldn’t have been watching him. I knew better. But somehow my gaze wouldn’t let go.

He looked different under the streetlights, less like my arrogant boss and more like the man who once kissed me like he meant forever.

When he turned back toward me, my chest tightened.

“Does it hurt?” Devon asked, voice low, careful.

I shook my head, though the sting was real. “No. I’m fine. You don’t have to keep hovering.”

He leaned on the hood beside me, his body warm even through the chill air.

“Hovering?” His tone carried that teasing curl he knew got under my skin. “I call it making sure my employee doesn’t sue me for an accident.”

“Oh..Please,” I muttered, staring at my hands. “If I wanted to sue you, I’d have done that the moment you embarrassed me at the promotion party.”

He chuckled. The sound sent an unwelcome flutter through me. “You still remember that?”

“How could I forget? You smirked the entire time like ”

His voice softened. “Maybe because you looked at me like that.”

I looked up, confused. “Like what?”

“Like I still mattered.”

That was unfair. Cruel, even. My breath caught in my throat as his words sank in. I tried to pull away, but he shifted, his hand landing beside mine on the car. The space between us shrank to almost nothing.

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” I whispered.

“Why not? Because you’ll start to believe them again?”

I hated that my pulse betrayed me. Hated how his nearness could still make my heart race like I was nineteen again, standing in that rain-soaked alley, promising him I’d never leave.

“I don’t believe anything you say,” I managed, though my voice trembled. “Not after what you did.”

His eyes darkened. “And what exactly did I do, Taylor?”

I looked away. “You know what you did.”

He exhaled slowly, straightening up, as though wrestling something inside. Then he changed the subject, abruptly, like he always did when things got too real for him to handle.

“So,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets, “you still haven’t told me who the father is.”

My head jerked up. “Excuse me?”

“The pregnancy,” he continued, tone too casual. “You said you had to go home earlier. Something about taking care of someone. I assumed…”

“You assumed wrong.”

“Then tell me,” he pressed. “Why the secrecy? Is he..”

Before he could finish, a sharp voice sliced through the night.

“Devon!”

I stiffened instantly. I’d recognize that tone anywhere, loud and dripping with disdain.

His mother, Paulina.

She came out from the hotel doors, every inch of her shining with power and her diamond earrings flashing under the lights. Two assistants trailed behind her, one holding her purse, the other her phone.

Her gaze found me, and her lips curved into the kind of smile that could slice skin.

“Oh,” she drawled. “Of course. Wherever there’s trouble, there you are.”

I stood up, wincing slightly from my bandaged foot. “Mrs. West, it’s not what you think…”

Ever since I knew Paulina she hated me deeply and never fur once came to Devon's house when I was married to him. Except for his father who loved me dearly and even supported me while I was passing through the divorce. I didn't know why he cared for me.

She cut me off with a raised hand. “Don’t. Speak.” Her eyes swept over me, from my damp hair to the torn hem of my dress.

“You’re a mess. And a liability. Devon, this…” she gestured at me like I was dirt.. “this is who you were protecting?”

Devon’s face was unreadable,calm. He wasn't any damn thing.

“She got hurt,” he said simply. “I couldn’t just leave her there.”

“Oh, how noble,” his mother snapped. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Heroism? Or stupidity?”

Something in me broke. “You don’t have to insult me,” I said quietly.

Her attention snapped back to me. “Insult you? My dear, I’m not insulting you. I’m stating a fact. You don’t belong here. You never did. You’re nothing but..”

“Mom.” Devon’s voice was sharp this time. It was the first real crack in his composure.

But she ignored him. “If I ever hear your name attached to my son again,” she said, stepping closer until I could smell her perfume.. heavy, floral, suffocating.. “I’ll make sure your employment is terminated. Permanently.”

“Mrs. West…”

She turned to leave, muttering something to her assistant. I felt the words before I understood them.

“Get her file. We’ll find a replacement by morning.”

“No,” I whispered, taking a step forward. “Please, I need this job..”

But before I could reach her, Devon’s hand closed gently around my wrist.

“Don’t,” he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an authority that made me stop.

Tears burned my eyes. “Why are you just standing there? She can’t, she can’t do this..”

He looked at me, and for a fleeting second, I saw something raw in his eyes. Something almost like regret.

“She can,” he murmured. “And she will. But I’ll fix it.”

“I don’t want your help,” I snapped, jerking my hand free. “Every time you try to ‘fix’ something, it gets worse!”

He didn’t answer. His gaze flicked over my face, lingering on my trembling lips, the way my fingers clenched against the car. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

The silence pulsed between us.

“I don’t want your pity,” I whispered.

“You think that’s what this is?” His voice was quiet but rough, like he was holding back too much at once. “You have no idea what I’m trying to stop right now.”

Before I could reply, headlights swept across the driveway. A familiar blue car pulled up near the curb.

Lara stepped out, breathless, her eyes wild with worry and then, my heart stopped.

Little Ashley peeked out from the back seat, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

The sight of her, of them, shattered every word I’d been about to say.

Devon followed my gaze, his expression hardening as realization flickered across his face.

“Taylor,” he said slowly, his voice dropping, “what the hell is going on?”