Chapter 6
Six
Vicky
Iwait for the door to close and a few seconds more for him to walk away, then I turn my anger on Carol.
“Did you tell him about the job?”
“Yes.” She looks abashed.
It’s my job, not his. It’s my new life, away from him. It makes no sense that I care if he knows, but… I do. “Did you tell him who it was with?”
“No. I… told him it wasn’t my place to say.”
I straighten my robe in relief, my shoulders losing a touch of tension. “Okay.”
There’s a heavy pause, then she hisses in a breath. “Um… actually I think I did let it slip.”
Damn. Or… whatever. I can’t decide which I should go with. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, but that doesn’t stop it bothering me. It’s my job, damn it.
Carol hunches, looking miserable. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s just… he’s…” She doesn’t meet my eyes.
“What?”
“Well, he’s…”
“Carol, please. Just say it.”
“Charismatic.” The word comes out in a rush. “Irresistible. There’s something… magnetic about—”
“I get it.” I didn’t need the reminder. Though she isn’t wrong.
“He seems to really care. He was worried about you…”
She trails off again, like she’s already said too much.
Carol’s lovely, but she’s a talker. Presented with the force that is Alexander Reyes, it was only to be expected he’d get what he wanted from her.
I can’t blame her, not really. Besides, she got me the job in the first place.
It’s not really mine, after all. It’s as much hers.
“He seemed…” she continues, hesitating as she searches for the word. “…disparaging.”
“Of?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
“Your work. Like he didn’t think you actually did any. Had any.” She cringes. “So I told him to show him how wrong he was.”
Figures. Typical of him. “I understand.”
“I was defending you,” she finishes in a small voice.
“Got it.” I arrange my face into something approximating gratitude. “Thank you. Sorry he came here.” That was another question. How the hell did he find me? “I… uh… don’t suppose you told him I was here?”
“What? No!” She looks horrified. “Didn’t you?”
“No.” But Alex has always been resourceful. I suppose there were only so many places I could go. All right, one place I could go. “Don’t worry about it.” I give myself a little shake. “I’m going to take a shower. Try and warm up.”
“I’m really sorry, Vicky,” Carol says to my back.
I flap a hand in acknowledgement, walking into the bathroom.
I know I should stop and comfort her, but I’ve reached my emotional limit for the moment.
I need time to process that Alex just walked in here, criticized me for going running—of all things—then demanded that I return home because I was being petty.
So very Alex.
Except he came, and before ten at night, in this sleet, in that ridiculous coat.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was rattled by something.
I’d say I was, too. Even just seeing him makes me tremble in a way I can’t credit just to the chill.
The shower warms me slowly, the cold having sunk deep into my bones. Yes, Alex, I would have preferred to go to a gym. Seven hundred dollars in a bank account doesn’t make that viable.
Damn him.
Damn me for walking out with only pennies to my name. If it wasn’t for Carol, I’d be totally screwed. I’ll have to apologize for being abrupt. She didn’t deserve it, she didn’t really do anything wrong. I just wish she hadn’t told him about my new gig.
I mentally list the projects I have. A wealthy client who has me running background checks on his daughter’s new love interest. An internal expenses fraud investigation for a small construction firm.
And now HM I could really use more. But in three months, I’ll be in a stronger position.
Then I can send Alex his twenty grand, and remove that noose from around my neck.
But I’m deflecting. It’s not about the jobs, or the money. It’s about Alex walking in here, not asking me to come home, but telling me to. Showing some degree of care, in his own emotionally stunted way.
I hadn’t expected that.
God, I hardly expected him to notice I’d gone. He didn’t notice when I was there.
Funny how that works—leave, and suddenly you exist.
I pour some shampoo and work it into my hair, lathering harder than necessary.
Nine months of my life I gave Alex. Willingly, too.
I may have walked away, but he left weeks and weeks ago.
My parents are dead, my brother I never speak to, my friends half-forgotten as I focused on my failure of an engagement.
All I have left is Carol, and the scraps of a career. Not much to show at twenty-eight.
Yet it was the right decision to leave. I’m not second-guessing it, however much I still respond whenever that bastard is in the same room as me. I hate my body for that. Traitor.
He’s not going to let me go quietly. I realize that now. And I’m damn sure not going back into that meaningless relationship, not after I’ve finally found the courage to walk away. I need to be strong, be prepared that he’s going to try again and again until he finally gives up.
Won’t that be fun.
At least I blocked his number. Good decision, right move, pat on the back to me.
And I’ll just continue to ignore that I… liked that he was here. That some twisted part of me wanted him to come. Wanted him to fucking acknowledge my existence, for once. Even if it was to walk in and say, “Here, puppy. Heel.”
That’s the most twisted part of all.
I almost followed him out.
The weekend is full of Star Trek Next Gen—after I’ve set things right with Carol—and a deep dive into the HM it’s a paranormal romance.
I didn’t know he could read anything without a financial analysis on it.
“You can’t just barge in here while I’m working!” I begin as I cross to him, finishing while I’m standing over him.
He sets the book down, nonchalant, and looks up at me. That damn half-smile, and my anger loses about thirty percent of its certainty. Easy, charismatic, magnetic. Carol was so right. This is the reason it took me five months to leave him. And those eyes.
Focus, Vicky.
“We didn’t finish our talk on Friday.”
I stare at him. “Why now? You had all weekend if you wanted to intrude on my life!”
“I assumed Carol would be here. Besides, I thought you might need time to reflect.”
He says it so coolly, like I’m the one being unreasonable.
I force myself to take a breath, to turn away, to walk to one of the other chairs. But at the last second, I don’t sit down. That would suggest we’re going to have a heart-to-heart. So not happening.
Not even convinced he has a heart.
“Why are you here? And don’t tell me it’s to finish a conversation.”
“Actually, I’ve come to invite you to a social event.”
I gape. I blink. I close my mouth and stare at him. “Alex… Do you understand what it means when a fiancée leaves her ring on a piece of paper in the center of your bed, then packs three suitcases and doesn’t fucking come back?”
He waves a hand airily. “Couples fight all the time—”
“It means she doesn’t want to go to a goddamn social with you!” I take a breath. “And we’re not a couple. It means that, too.”
He lets his hand fall to rest between his casually spread thighs, tilting his head and regarding me like I’m curiously and amusingly insane.
“It’s in a couple of weeks,” he says, like nothing I’ve said makes any difference. “By then, I’m sure we’ll have put all this behind us. I just wanted to ask if you were free.”
“Gosh, so considerate. I’ll just get my calendar.” I cross my arms and don’t move.
“Friday twenty-fourth,” he says. “Eight o’clock. Black tie.”
“Fascinating.”
“It’s at the Metropolitan Club.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it’s on Pluto. I’m still not coming.” I pause. “If it does get moved to Pluto, you should definitely go.”
He grins at that, like he’s enjoying me. “I’d have just sent you a text, but… you don’t seem to be getting them.”
“Really?” I say, feigning indifference.
“If you unblock me, I wouldn’t have to disturb you in the middle of your day.”
He actually has a point there.
“If you didn’t come and bother me at all, you wouldn’t have to either.”
Which is more to the point.
He pushes himself up, and I take another pace back, keeping plenty of space between us. He pauses, watching me. “It’s good to see you.”
Perversely, it’s good to see him too. “Get out, Alex.”
He inclines his head, turns, and walks toward the door. Pauses with a hand on the handle. “See you in two weeks.”
The nerve of the man. He didn’t even make it a question.
“‘No’ is like ‘yes,’ but it means the opposite.”
“It’s a big event. It would mean a lot to me.”
“Why don’t you take that PA of yours? The one you spend more time with than you spent with your goddamn fiancée. What’s her name? Nina?”
His eyes flicker, like he’s considering it. “Rita. She’s not my PA, she’s my Chief of Staff.”
“Yeah. Take her.”
“It’s not her I want, it’s you.”
I look at the wall behind him. “I’m washing my hair.”
His lips curve on one side. “Thanks for making the effort to get dressed, but there was no need. I’ve always liked those penguin pajamas on you.”
He opens the door while I’m still trying to come up with a retort.
“Friday twenty-fourth. Eight o’clock. Take care of yourself.”
The door closes behind him, and I grit my teeth.
It’s either that, or scream at it.