#Chapter 144: Something in the Way

Agnes Elijah’s grip on my wrist was firm as he pulled me out of the design department. My heart hammered against my ribs, not knowing what to expect. Was he angry? Had he seen the article? Had Olivia done something else? The blood from my pricked finger trailed down my palm, warm and sticky. Without a word, Elijah led me down the corridor and pushed open the door to the nearest bathroom. I stumbled in after him, surprised and confused. “Your finger,” he said simply, nodding toward the crimson droplet forming at the tip. I blinked down at it, almost having forgotten in the confusion. “It’s just a prick. Happens all the time when I sew.” He ignored my dismissal and guided me to the sink, turning on the cold water. “Let me see.” His touch was gentle as he held my hand under the stream, washing away the blood. The sting of the water made me wince, but I didn’t pull away. There was something oddly intimate about the moment—Elijah washing my wound, his fi