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Proposal

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Chapter 10: Proposal (Christian's POV)

"How long have you maintained this floor as a library?" I asked the agent as we got out of the elevator and walked ahead to the double oak wood brown doors. 

The agent, Jeremy, pushed the doors open, holding them for us. 

I gestured for Jules to walk in first and while glancing at me over her shoulder, she did. 

"We've kept this as a library for about two years now, I believe. With a publishing firm, if required, the library can be maintained, that is if the owner wishes, of course. But it can be removed easily as well." 

"All right, that's good. How often do people come by?" I questioned. 

"We have some people come in during office lunch breaks to get work done or even office hours if they need a quiet place. Plenty of college students as well since the building sits between Colombia University, as well as New York University." 

"Can we take a look around?" Jules asked, turning around to face Jeremy and me. 

"Of course. I'll be waiting downstairs in the lobby, this is the last floor as it is," Jeremy nodded with a smile before leaving. 

Without waiting for another word from me, she turned right and walked down the first aisle, her eyes scanning as many books as she could spot on each shelf. 

I began walking down the next aisle, keeping a shelf between us. 

Only, instead of looking at the library, I was looking at her through every little gap in the books. 

Paying attention to my surroundings as my job demanded, I focused and noticed that this library was one of the best I'd ever seen, each shelf reaching to the high ceilings, each row full of books, so much so that books were stacked on top of each other as well. On the other side of the library were individual desks against the wall, as well as small round tables for groups of people, and among that, one long rectangle table of rich wood with a jade green lamp for each chair. 

When I rounded the corner, I stiffened and stilled before I crashed right into Jules. We stood still, staring at each other silently. And for a second, just for a split second, my world stopped and every feeling came back to me at once, and everything felt right again, like all the things I'd lost had come back to me. 

"Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda," I mumbled under my breath repeatedly, roaming around the library aimlessly, searching for the copy I wanted to read. 

It had been at least fifty minutes since I arrived at the New York Public Library and I couldn't find the book anywhere. Despite asking around, people either didn't know where I could find the book or they had given me the wrong directions, even college students from Audrey's classes while she was in her second year of college. 

Groaning softly, I stopped in place and pushed my black-rimmed squared yet rounded glasses up to my head before resuming my search. Reading the spine of each book, my finger stilled upon a copy that read 'Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda. F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald.' 

I grabbed the book, but before I could even slide it out of its place, someone tugged at it from the other side. My brows furrowed and I tugged at it harder, but before I could snatch it up, whoever was at the other end beat me to it. With a huff I paced to the end of the aisle, turning the corner to see who the fuck it was, but when I rounded the end, I crashed right into the person I least expected to see here. "Red," I greeted with a single nod before stealing the book right out of her hands. 

"Asshole," she nodded, snatching the book back. 

"I need that," I said. 

"So do I. Good thing I found it first." 

"No, you didn't," I scoffed lightly, reaching for the book again. 

"Um, yes, I did," she bit out, holding it behind her back. 

I glared at her, breathing in through my nose. "Give me the book." 

"How about no? I need it for my essay, you'll just have to wait. What do you need it for anyway?" 

"To read," I deadpanned. 

"You think you're so funny, don't you, Lukov? You think it's cute?" 

"I think it's very cute," I argued relentlessly, reaching for the book. 

She took it in her other hand before I could touch it and brought it forward, out of my grasp yet again. 

"Jules," I warned. 

"Christian," she mocked, glaring right back at me. Spinning on her heels, she began walking forward but tripped over her own foot and stumbled backward when I grabbed the strap of her bag and yanked her back until her back was firmly pressed against my chest. 

I ignored it as my breath hitched and whispered in her ear, "Come on now, Red, don't be a bitch. Just be a good girl and hand me the book." 

She laughed dryly and elbowed me harshly in the ribs, causing a puff of air to escape me before she stepped away and turned to face me again. "I am a bitch, Lukov, I thought you'd learn that lesson by now." 

I glared at her, "Oh trust me, I did," I gritted out. I noticed her eyes doing a quick scan of me, taking in the black pants I wore with a faded chocolate brown crewneck, my sleeves hitched up to my elbows, and my glasses pushed up to the top of my head. 

"Why are you at the library anyway? Can't find a job?" she teased me. 

"Very funny." 

She smiled sarcastically, "CEO in training isn't a real job, asshole." 

"No. But CEO is," I countered wittily with a smirk, moving forward and reaching for the book again only for her to swat my hand away. 

"Oh, finally stole your father's place, did you? Congratulations." She stuck a hand out. 

I took it and pulled her into me, stealing the book out of her other hand and putting an arm around her waist, pinning her in place as I stared down at her in amusement. Every inch of her body met mine. "I'm no thief," I smirked. 

"You lie very well," she taunted with a scoff. 

I leaned down instead, bringing my lips to her ear. "Thanks for the congratulations, Red. It means the world." 

She clicked her tongue in frustration and shoved me away, reaching for the book. 

But of course, I lifted my arm above my head, pulling it out of her reach. 

"Christian, I need it. Just give me the damn book. If you want to read it, you can find a copy somewhere else or read it after I'm done." 

"But I want to read it now," I shrugged as she went on her toes, struggling to even touch the book. I was undeniably tall at six foot four and right now, she visibly hated it and I truly adored that look on her face. It pissed her off, the way I towered over her, the way I dangled the book in her face only to snatch it up before she could reach it. 

Resisting the evident urge to curse at me, she sighed and stared at me, folding her arms across her chest. "What will it take for you to give me the fucking book?" 

I hummed in thought, stepping closer to her and tipping my chin down to meet her gaze while she lifted hers to meet mine. I looked her up and down once, taking in everything from her faded converse to the flared-out jeans, up to the black tank top she wore with an old casual and oversized white button-up she wore on top, leaving it unbuttoned. "I'm afraid I can't just give it up. Instead, I'll offer you a proposal." 

"I'll humor you," she shrugged in agreement nonchalantly. 

"You can read it with me." 

She eyed him warily with doubt, suspicion, and confusion all at once. "With... you?" 

I nodded, humming just once. 

That was the first of many days that I spent in a library, reading endlessly with Jules as we sat on the floor rather than a table, knees touching, arms brushing against each other's, wearing each other's glasses, instead of our own and one too many stolen glances at one another. That one day was enough for me to realize I didn't hate her, what I felt for her might have been something else entirely. 

"Ms. Declan?" I prompted. 

"Yes? she asked, tearing her gaze away from mine and scanning the books instead, using them as an excuse to avoid my eyes. 

"Shall we go for lunch?" 

"What?" 

"It's lunchtime. We just have one more building to take a look at after this. Do you think you can handle lunch with me?" 

She shot me a glare. "You don't think I can handle you, Mr. Lukov?" 

"No, in fact, I think in the time we've known each other, you've handled me very well," I paused to gesture towards the exit. "Shall we?" 

She led the way out and we used the elevator to go back downstairs. 

"A library wasn't on Natalie's list, was it?" I inquired, trying my best to stay professional. 

"No. But the employees would love to have one. To work in peace, to catch a break, to grab a book. It seems like a good idea," she answered with a small shrug. "The way Natalie works, she'll end up with no employees working for her and a whole bunch of them hating her." 

"Well, you out of all her employees are more than welcome to get a different job." 

Hesitating, she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye before mumbling, "And work for you again? That's not funny." 

As the elevator doors opened, I replied, "I wasn't joking," before strolling out nonchalantly, stopping to briefly have a word with Jeremy before we left the building and headed to a restaurant nearby called Atlas. 

After we were seated at a table by a waiter and placed our orders, she could only fidget and look everywhere except at me. 

She must have been too far into her own head to reject my offer for lunch because I definitely expected her to object to it. 

Maybe she wants to move to a different table. 

I sighed in annoyance, reading her discomfort and hating that she felt that way around me. "If just being around me bothers you so much—" 

"It's not about you, Christian," she interrupted, rolling her eyes and turning to look out the window. "Not everything is about you." 

After dwelling for a moment, I asked, "Trouble in paradise?" 

"Lots of it," she exhaled, still avoiding my gaze. I was probably the last person she wanted to turn to for advice or help after what happened. She obviously didn't want to confide in me whatsoever. 

But I couldn't resist and asked, "Can I help?" 

She watched me with narrowed eyes upon my offer. 

"Relax. That doesn't mean I will," I scoffed softly, rolling my eyes. 

Distance was better for us. 

"I wouldn't ever trust you enough to ask for your help anyway," she bit back. 

"You look like you're in trouble, that's all," I mused. 

"I bet you're relishing it," she muttered. 

"Oh, I sure am. Is it your parents? Or Alex?" 

She glowered at me. 

I put my hands up, mocking surrender, enjoying the rise I brought out of her. "Just let me know if I can help. No promises though," I smirked. 

"Don't worry, the last thing you need to worry about is me coming to you with my own problems," she replied with a soft scoff. 

"Well, if you do, you better make a good proposal. You know well by now that I don't do things unless there's something in it for me." 

"I know, Christian. You do things that only have something in it for you." 

We stared at each other, both our gazes hard and filled with hatred. 

"Enjoy your meal," the waiter replied, serving our food and then walking away. 

A lunch with Jules is far from enjoyable.

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Chapter 10

men with glasses. I repeat. MEN WITH GLASSES. >>>

how does everyone like the story so far? I know each book is different but it's hard to tell how you guys are feeling when you guys don't comment as much lol

WHICH IS TOTALLY OKAY AND UNDERSTANDABLE Y'ALL DONT WORRY

but that's why I like to just check in and make sure everyone is liking it so far, that way I feel more motivated but your comments always do it for me so pls comment <333

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