Chapter 156
Chapter 156:
“The penthouse has a leak,” Dallas said, his face arranged into an expression of grave concern. “And a termite infestation. Very bad p>
Eliza crossed her arms. “Termites. In a steel and glass skyscraper sixty stories in the air p>
“Mutant termites,” Dallas said, without so much as a flicker. “Very aggressive. They fly p>
Azalea dissolved into laughter behind her.
𝗗і𝘴со𝘃𝘦𝘳 h𝘪d𝖽eո 𝘨𝘦𝗆𝘴 o𝗇
Dallas shot his daughter a brief, quelling look before his gaze returned to Eliza — and softened.
“I wanted to be closer to my investments,” he said, looking directly at her.
Eliza felt the heat rise to her face. She knew exactly which investment he meant.
“You are stalking me,” she said, though her heart was doing something thoroughly unreliable.
“I am co-habitating in the same building. Totally legal,” he countered.
“Brownie?” Azalea extended the plate between them, shattering the tension with cheerful efficiency.
Dallas took a brownie. “Thanks.” He stepped back and pulled the door open wider. “Coming in p>
Eliza looked past him into the apartment. The layout was a perfect mirror of her own — the same walls, the same bones, the same windows. Like a reflection of her life, but emptier. He had moved into the space directly across from her sanctuary.
She stepped inside.
The apartment was sparse. Unopened boxes were stacked everywhere.
“You have no furniture,” Eliza noted, taking in the empty living room.
“I have a bed. And a coffee maker. Essentials,” Dallas said.
Azalea dropped onto a beanbag chair in the corner — the only piece of furniture besides a floor lamp. “It’s cozy. Minimalist p>
Eliza turned to face him. “Dallas, really. Why are you doing this p>
Dallas glanced at Azalea with a subtle tilt of his head. “Go check the… water pressure in the bathroom p>
Azalea rolled her eyes with theatrical exhaustion. “You two are so obvious. ‘Go check the water pressure.’ ‘Go buy milk.’ Just kiss already.” She marched off and pulled the bathroom door shut behind her with a pointed slam.
Alone, Dallas stepped into Eliza’s personal space. The air between them shifted.
“Anson knows the building’s general location,” he said, his voice dropping. “My security team tracked him. He used a shell company to rent a car and stayed just outside the primary surveillance perimeter, but we flagged him circling the block yesterday. He didn’t get inside — but he’s testing the boundaries. I’m not taking chances p>
Eliza felt the color drain from her face. “What p>
“So you moved in to play bodyguard?” she asked.
“I moved in because I sleep better when you’re within reach,” he admitted.
The vulnerability in his voice hit her harder than anything else could have. He wasn’t trying to control her. He was anxious. The formidable Dallas Koch was losing sleep because she was four miles away.
“You’re crazy,” she whispered — but there was no heat in it.
“About you? Yes,” he said.
He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her jawline.
“Can I borrow some sugar?” he asked softly. “For real. I have coffee but no sugar p>