Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Goddamn it,” I swear, stepping off the curb directly into the street, completely ignoring the bicyclist who veers to avoid hitting me and shouts an insult into the wind. I don’t even glance his way. I push past a cluster of passersby, tearing around the back of the bus, eyes locked on the spot where they were standing only moments ago. I sprint across the intersection, my heart hammering against my ribs like a caged animal’s, then hit the opposite sidewalk, my eyes wild, chest heaving as I scan the storefronts, the entrances to the office towers, and the surrounding areas.
She’s gone.
The sidewalks is a swirling sea of anonymous faces, but none of them are the woman I crave to see. She vanished into thin air, slipping through my fingers for a second time. A dark, terrifying rage curls in my chest, hot and toxic, mingling with the heavy suffocating misery that’s been a constant companion. Alexandria knows. I saw her talking to Romy, helping her. All while I’ve been sitting in my office, drowning myself in vodka, tearing my empire apart piece by piece, making my friends and partners miserable, while my own staff is keeping secrets from me.
I pull my phone back out, my thumb striking the screen with enough force I’m surprised I don’t break the glass. I open the text thread with Alex, jaw clenching so tightly the muscles in my face ache.
Me: My office. Tomorrow morning. 8AM sharp. Don’t be late. I saw who you were with today.
I stare at my screen, attempting to control my ragged breathing, watching as the little gray typing bubbles appear almost instantly. Alex doesn’t panic. She never does; she’s too damn good at her job, too composed, and apparently too comfortable keeping me completely in the dark. A second later, her reply pops up on my screen, cool as a fucking cucumber.
Alex: Sir, yes, sir. Should I come with coffee or your preferred vodka as of late?
I stare at the text, eyes narrowing into slits. She knows I caught them, she’s not even going to try and deny it, isn’t even attempting to fake ignorance. It’s a blatant acknowledgement, and she’s holding all the cards, willing to face the firing squad tomorrow morning no matter what.
Me: Both.
I shove my phone deep into my pocket, turn on my heel, and head back toward Sterling Capital. The city around me feels louder, heavier, and completely suffocating. I still don’t have any answers, and now I’m feeling too restless to sit inside my office for the rest of the day. I don’t know what’s going on with Romy or why Alex is shielding her, but come tomorrow morning, the silence is finally going to come to an end. I’ll get my answers, even if I have to tear my own company to shreds to get them.
CHAPTER FIVE
romy
The paper beneath me is similar to the tissue paper you stuff into bags to give as presents, it’s also the loudest sound in the small, sterile exam room. I’m sitting on the edge, legs dangling, wrapped in a stiff, faded floral gown that opens in the front, and I’m feeling more than exposed. Add in the scent of antiseptic mixed with lavender, and it’s doing absolutely nothing to soothe my hyper-sensitive afternoon stomach.
The reality of it all is sinking in. Across the room, Alex is leaning against the counter, fingers flying across the screen. The sharp rhythmic clicking on the glass breaks the tense silence. When my friend lets out a soft, dark scoff, her jaw nearly going slack jaw at a notification, I bite my lip.
“Who’s texting you?” I ask, shifting on the table, the ungodly paper crinkling under my thighs. “Is everything okay at the office? Do you need to go?” My voice goes tight; an anxious lead weight sits in the pit of my stomach. Alex doesn’t look up immediately. She finishes typing out another reply, locks her phone with a definitive click, and raises her eyes to meet mine.
“A certain brooding billionaire.” A wry, knowing smile touches the corner of her lips, though her gaze is laced with a mix of amusement and protectiveness. “Who also happens to be your baby daddy.” She slips her phone into her blazer pocket.
“Oh god.” I feel the blood instantly rush from my face, my body goes numb, and I instinctively clamp my hands around the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white with the grip. “He... he doesn’t know, does he? Alex, tell me you didn’t say anything.” My voice drops into a panicked whisper. I look at the closed door of the exam room as if he might burst through it.
“Relax, Romy. Take a breath,” Alex tries to soothe me instantly, stepping away from the counter and walking over to the side of the table. The minute she places her hand over mine, the trembling slowly leaves my body. “I didn’t say a word. You think I’d have survived this long as his executive assistant if I couldn’t keep a secret? He has absolutely no idea.”