Love consumed her in flames but she emerged untouched
Chapter 0115

Chapter 0115

I had been on my way back to my office to do some additional work, just the usual for me of anevening. I hadn’t been paying attention to where I was going as I was reading an article on myphone, and it was only when I felt the impact to my chest that I realized Bailey was there. Thesecond I realized she was falling, I quickly went into action, and leaped forward, grabbing her andpulling her to me, my heart pounding in desperate fear filling me that she was going to fall all theway down the stairs.

But, thankfully, I had her in my arms, as I lowered myself onto the top step, Bailey still in my arms,both of us trembling. Her eyes had been clenched shut, but she slowly pried them open, looking atme with what could only be described as a look of horror and embarrassment.

She jumped back, as if my touch was repulsive to her. And I had to say I was a little hurt by that, buttried hard to ignore it. “Are you okay?” I asked her, trying to check her over. As she quickly movedherself from my embrace, to sit herself next to me. How do I seem to replace myself in these messes?

She nodded. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I noticed a loose strand of her hair fallingover her face, and I don’t know why, but I found myself reaching out to gently brush it back, but Isaw her eyes widen at me as I did. Did I do the wrong thing? Should I not have touched her? Wasshe hurt? Now I was more worried she might be hurt. Yet her big brown eyes look up at me, and Iswear my heart pounds harder in my chest as she looks at me, not saying a thing.

“I think I may have been pre-occupied too.” I told her, not wanting her to take all the blame. Then asI looked at her, I saw tears leaking from her eyes. Had she been crying before? Or was it throughwhat had happened? I am sure I had stopped her falling, so she shouldn’t have hurt herself badly. Iam sure of that…

She shrugged, going to stand up, but I reached for her hand without even thinking, wanting to checkshe was okay. “Bailey, you look like you have been crying, is everything okay?” I asked softly. “Did

you hurt yourself when I stopped you falling? Are you hurt?” questions seemed to blurt from mymouth. Making me sound like a blathering fool right now, but I was desperate to know if she wasokay...

As she lowered herself back down to sit down alongside me on the top step, she shook her head. “Iam fine. Beta Asher. Really, I am.”

I had to say I was missing all of Zion’s sly comments right now, because no doubt he would haveplenty to say right now. But, since he had left me earlier today, he had yet to return, and as much asI had said I would be glad of the peace, his absence was beginning to bother me…

Though, Bailey’s lack of information bothered me too. She didn’t seem fine. There was a wobble inher voice, but I don't know if that was simply because she was shaken from nearly falling down thestairs. That would make sense. But, would that make her cry? I am not so sure that it would.

“Bailey, I know I have not made the best first impression, and I doubt I ever will. I am not the bestwith people. But, please, Eden is desperate for me to make sure you are okay…” I paused,contemplating if I should be honest here or not. “And, in truth, I want to make sure you are okay too.Me, not Eden. Me. I know there are somethings you are not sharing with us…” I faltered slightly,unsure how to word what I wanted to say, while Bailey looked at me, a little confused, a little scared.Could I blame her? No… because in truth I think they were a safe estimate of how I feel right now,and little rarely scared me.