Chapter 8. Whispers Of Failure

Joan POV

I glared at Aaron, who sat with his usual regal arrogance, an amused expression playing on his face. Plucking my earbuds out, I narrowed my eyes at him.

“You scared me,” I snapped, pushing myself off the ground and brushing off imaginary dust.

“Not my fault you decided to block out the world,” he said, his gaze flicking to the earbuds in my hand with thinly veiled disapproval. I cocked my head, annoyed.

“Why were you sitting there watching me like some creep?” I asked, crossing my arms. He shrugged, his dark eyes dragging over me leisurely, setting my nerves alight.

“I liked what I was seeing, so…” He let the words trail off.

I huffed, turned away, and headed to the counter, pouring a glass of water. I could feel his eyes boring into my back, the weight of his attention impossible to ignore.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I glanced at the screen: a text from my editor.

“Please tell me you’ve come up with