19. SARAH
Nerves rattle every square inch of me as I repeatedly tap my pencil on my desk, guilt increasingly eating away at me. Even going out with Natalie and Vanessa last night didn’t help much with putting my mind at ease. If anything, it just made me feel guiltier for keeping my pregnancy a secret from them as well.
Not being able to tell Paul that I’m pregnant with his baby is taking a toll on me, both physically and mentally. I haven’t been able to sleep more than a few hours, and when I do fall asleep, I wake up drenched in sweat from the same nightmare. Greyson standing over me, laughing menacingly, with his laptop in his hand, pressing upload for the world to see…me.
I cringe, internally shaking my head.
Thanksgiving with Paul’s family last week was perfect. I might have been a little overwhelmed at first, being in a home with people I don’t know, but that feeling was soon replaced with warmth. Whether by Mrs. Weston, Tina, or even his brothers, they welcomed me into their home as though I were part of their family.
It felt…strange, but in a good way. It was an unfamiliar emotion that I hoped I might be able to feel again someday.
And it was becoming increasingly apparent how much Paul wanted me in his life. I mean, the man has pretty much spelled it out on a billboard for me, but with the ominous blackmail cloud hanging over my head every single day, I haven’t opened my eyes to see what being with Paul would mean clearly.
But now I know it would mean being with someone who makes me feel like all the bad days are behind me. Like there is hope and happiness just waiting for me at the end of the tunnel, as long as I take his hand and walk through it with him by my side.
So, enough is enough. It’s time to put an end to this blackmail bullshit because I won’t stand by and let someone like Greyson Black drag me, Paul, or our baby down with him.
I won’t let it happen.
I just need to think harder, and a plan will come. I know it will.
I press my palms to the side of my head and close my eyes. Think. Think. Think.
“Are you sure you can get into the professor’s computer to change my grade?”
The low, husky voice to my right breaks me from my haze.
“Are you kidding? I doubt he even has a password for that ancient piece of junk. It’ll be like taking candy from a baby.”
I peek over my shoulder to see a guy I recognize from the basketball team. I’m not sure, but I think his name is Glen.
“How much will it cost me?” the guy in the blue hoody asks quietly.
Glen glimpses around, ensuring no one is eavesdropping. My eyes are glued to the textbook before me, pretending to be skimming the pages.
“Two hundred and fifty. And you need to keep your mouth shut. If I go down, you go down,” Glen threatens.
“Yeah. Yeah. I won’t say anything. I just really need to pass this class. I won’t get into law school if I don’t.” I notice the guy wearing blue fidgeting nervously with his hair.
“Like I said, it’s a piece of cake. There are only five minutes left of class, and I need more time than that to do this. During our next class, I’ll be able to access his hard drive as soon as he’s hooked up to the Wi-Fi. As long as his device and my device are both using the same Wi-Fi, it’ll work. So, don’t worry. You’ll be passing this class by the end of the week.” Glen pats the guy on the shoulder reassuringly.
“Thanks, man.”
So Glen is a little computer whiz. Huh. I wish I knew how to hack into computers. It might come in handy, especially with… That’s it!
“All right, I’ll see everyone in the next class. Don’t forget to turn in your essays on your way out,” the professor announces to the students, eagerly filing out into the halls.
I quickly shove everything in my bag and run out the door, heading straight to work like a girl on a mission.
Greyson Black is about to regret ever threatening me.
* * *
I nibble on my thumbnail, anxiously watching Greyson’s office door. He’s been in a meeting on the fourth floor for the past hour, and I should have snuck inside his office the second he left, but nerves have been taking over me, leaving me hostage to my desk chair.
But it’s now or never.
I pick up the stack of papers in front of me with shaking fingers, clutching them to my chest, and take a deep breath.
I can do this.
Straightening my shoulders, I stroll toward his office, stopping beside Gianna’s desk. “Has Greyson come back from his meeting? I have some contracts I need him to sign.”
She looks away from her computer and at me with a smile. “No, I don’t believe he has. Shouldn’t be much longer, though, I would imagine.”
I nod. “Would it be okay if I leave these on his desk?”
“Of course.” She motions toward his door. “It’s unlocked.”
“Great.” I throw on a smile and quickly enter, shutting the door behind me. My back rests against his door as my eyes rove around the space, my chest blooming with anxiety.
His office is suffocating. Intimidating.
With its bare walls and dark features throughout, it reminds me of a prison cell. There are no personal touches or something that would give anyone a clue as to who the office belongs to. It’s isolating. And I’m ready to get the hell out of here.
But first…
My eyes scan over his desk, immediately spotting his laptop, and a sense of hope washes over me at having luck on my side for once. Taking a few steps over to his desk, I drop the stack of papers on the corner and pick up the laptop cautiously. Opening it, I quickly see a password is needed to get in, which I figured, but I’m not worried, now knowing what Glen can do. Tucking the laptop under my arm, I turn to leave, placing my hand on the doorknob when I hear voices on the other side of the door.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Oh, Mr. Black. How did the meeting go?” Gianna asks loud enough for me to hear.
Sweat breaks out on my forehead as I bite my bottom lip so hard that a drop of blood hits my tongue. The metallic taste instantly makes my stomach churn.
But I cannot get sick right now. I need to hide. And fast.
Sweat builds on the back of my neck as I look around, immediately realizing there’s no closet to hide inside. I reach for the nearest window, trying with all my strength to shove it open, but it’s stuck.
Without thinking about it, I place the laptop on his desk, exactly as it was before, then walk to the other side, move the desk chair out of the way, and crouch down before the small space. I crawl under and sit, bringing my knees to my chin, and pull the chair toward me just as the door opens.
Holding my breath for dear life, I hear footsteps entering the room, and then my biggest fear comes true as Greyson pulls out the chair and sits in it, letting out a long sigh. He pushes forward, leaving only an inch of space between me and his body. My eyes stare directly at the center of his knee. A tremble explodes inside me, knowing what this man can do and how bad this will be for me if he finds me here.
Suddenly, the desk above me vibrates.
“Hi, Dad.”
He leans back in his chair, kicking his legs to the side.
“Yes, everything is running smoothly. No issues to report.” He sighs. “Okay. Goodbye.”
My breath hitches as he sits up, slamming his phone to his desk. “Fucking imbecile. If he thinks I’m taking over this miserable place, he has another thing coming.”
My heart pounds so loudly beneath my chest that I fear he might hear it.
A soft knock sounds at the door.
“Come in,” Greyson says with irritation sharp in his voice.
“Hi, Mr. Black.” Gianna’s soft voice fills the room. “I don’t mean to bother you, but could you help me with some boxes that were delivered? I figured you would have no problem lifting them.”
She’s helping me.
“Of course. Let me get my things together. I need to be heading out.” I see his hand grab his backpack on the floor beside him, hear the zipper being undone, and immediately know he’s putting his laptop inside. All of this was for nothing. He pushes his chair back, steps around the desk, and walks toward his door.
When his door closes behind him, I feel air fill my lungs as I take my first big breath in too long.
Knowing I need to quickly get out of here, even without his laptop in my hands, I unfold myself from under the desk and stand, straightening my skirt. Just as I pass the side of his desk, my eyes spot his phone. His phone that he must have left behind since he was in such a hurry. His phone, which he’ll most likely realize soon enough, is missing, and he’ll need to retrieve it.
It looks like this wasn’t all for nothing, after all.
My fingers wrap around his phone and swiftly shove it inside the confines of my bra for safekeeping. And then I move out of his office like my ass is on fire as I grab my things from my desk and know exactly where I need to go next.
* * *
“Hey, Glen!” I enthusiastically wave my hand from the corner of the hall where I’ve been hiding out like a total creep as I spot him approaching the players’ only entrance at the arena, and I run up to him, evidently out of breath.
He tilts his head, observing me, eyebrows pinched together. “You’re Paul’s girl, right?”
“Umm.” I smooth out my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “Listen, I don’t mean to be rude, and I hope you don’t get upset.” I motion for him to follow me, away from prying ears that may walk by. “But I heard your conversation in class earlier today with that guy about getting into the teacher’s computer.”
His brows raise defiantly. “What? You plan on telling or something?”
“Oh. No. No. No.” I shake my head adamantly, waving my hands. “I just wanted to see if your services were open for other people, too. I would, of course, pay you,” I add.
Even knowing I don’t have a single penny to my name after last week’s paycheck from work covered my rent and a few groceries, leaving nothing left.
He purses his lips. “What do you need?”
I swallow. “Well, there’s something on someone’s computer and phone that I need erased. Like completely expunged. Is that something you can do?”
He nods. “Usually. Depends on the security factors and…”
“And?”
“And on whose computer and phone do you want me to hack into?”
“Oh.” This could be a slight problem. “I don’t know if I can say that without it getting back to him, and if it got back to him, that would create a lot more trouble for me.”
He sighs. “Listen, you’re Paul’s girl, and I’m tight with Paul. So what gets said right now stays between us.”
I nod. “I appreciate that.” I glance nervously around the empty hall, fearful that the two guys I cannot risk finding me here like this will walk into view any minute.
“Look, I have a game I need to get ready for, so—”
I whip the phone out of my coat pocket and hold it out for him to take, which he does, scrutinizing it.
“Who does this belong to?”
Just say it.
“It’s Greyson Black’s,” I rush out.
His eyes momentarily widen. “How the hell did you get this?”
“I was just in the right place at the right time,” I offer with a quick shrug.
He examines the phone in his hand, flipping it over. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You want me to hack into Greyson’s computer and phone and delete something off of it?”
“Yes…”
He runs his fingers through his hair, a loud swoosh of air leaving his lungs. “And what do I need to delete?”
I open my mouth but pause, suddenly realizing that in order to delete the video, he’ll need to watch it.
This was the worst idea I’ve ever had.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “You know what, forget I said anything.” I start to reach for the phone in Glen’s hand, but he stops me, gently pulling the phone from my reach as he places his free hand on my shoulder.
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what I should be looking for on his devices.” He looks me dead in the eye, and I realize he’s right.
My shoulders slump. “A video,” is all I say, looking down at the ground, my cheeks heating up. Maybe this was a stupid idea, but I’m running out of options.
He removes his hand from my shoulder, nodding, knowing exactly what kind of video I’m referring to.
Shame fills me.
His fingers grip the strap of his sports bag. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to hack into this.”
Dread fills me. “But I thought if I got you his device and you just connected it to the same Wi-Fi…”
He shakes his head. “Greyson has one of the best security systems on his laptop. I can only imagine how difficult it will be to get into his phone. I’ve never seen someone so paranoid about people getting into his things.” He shoves the phone into his pocket. “This isn’t the same as hacking into the teacher’s ancient computer with no security features. That I can get into no problem. But this is Greyson. He doesn’t play around.”
My eyes mist over as I nod, defeat weighing down on me. “I understand. It was worth a shot. Thanks anyway.” I turn, but Glen gently grabs my elbow to stop me.
“Let me see what I can do tonight, okay? I can try to get into his phone and see if it’s also connected to his laptop. It might not work, but I can try.”
Optimism suddenly outweighs the defeat taking over my heart.
I give a half smile. “Thank you.”
He has us exchange numbers before he walks off and passes through the entrance, leaving me hopeful for the first time in months.
The video may not be erased yet, but with a bit of luck, it shouldn’t be long until Glen can hopefully take care of it. And then…then I can finally tell Paul everything.
A smile forms on my face as I pull out my phone.
Sarah
Is an offer for a second date still on the table?