Chapter Seven
THE WORLD IS STILL hazy when I sense, rather than hear, Hexius saying something as he slowly pulls away.
I watch him straighten his shirt, and I realize only when he’s done that he’s watching me watch him. Eep.
“Remember what I told you.”
He cups my chin to give me a swift, hard kiss...and then he’s gone, the door already swinging shut in silence before I have a chance to catch my breath and tell him that I actually can’t remember what he said earlier.
Embarrassment starts creeping in as I slide off the desk on unsteady legs. Is this...normal? For my would-be husband to suddenly up and leave like that? I know he said something earlier, and I know it’s my fault that I don’t remember what he’s said...but that doesn’t excuse him.
Right?
My body is still humming, but that only makes me feel...guiltier.
I just...I just feel like we’ve jumped the gun, and everything’s moving too, too fast.
Breathe, Sam, breathe.
I try calming myself down, but all I can suddenly think of is how I’m still wearing his shirt...and nothing else. I feel like crying and wanting the ground to swallow me up as my gaze falls on the torn remnants of my underwear on the floor.
Shame threatens to engulf me, and I end up wrapping my arms around myself as if needing protection from my own thoughts.
I try distracting myself by looking around his office, and the first thing I notice is how the entire space seems more designed to serve as a battle room than a billionaire’s workplace.
Honestly, the books on the shelves say it all: Machiavelli’s The Prince, Plato’s The Republic, and you can’t be a future dictator war hero if you don’t have Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, and in Mandarin at that!
I move to another shelf, which showcases what seems like his company’s newest prototypes related to preter science and technology. There’s even this—oh no.
Is that his phone?
I reach for it right away, thinking that I’ll have to look for him and hand it over to Hexius in case of emergencies. But as soon as I look down and see what’s on his screen—
Eleven missed calls...from Brandy?
And a message from the same person: I’m ready to talk.
My chest feels like someone’s wrapped steel bands around it and started tightening. Is this why he left me all of a sudden? Is this why I’m now alone? Is it because he’s with her?
My hip hits the edge of his desk as I accidentally stumble backward, and the next thing I know, something crashes to the floor and shatters—
Why is nothing going my way?
A shimmery kind of mist explodes in the air. It doesn’t smell like anything, but since I also know that’s how cyanide ends up being every killer’s favorite M.O.—
Not good, Sam.
I drop to my knees, frantically trying to gather the pieces, but my hands won’t stop shaking. The label is in French, because of course it is.
Dissimulateur d’Odeur - Usage Professionnel Uniquement.
I think that means this whatchamacallit is for professional use, but other than that, I’m completely clueless.
This is so you, Sam!
Even though my day job requires me to be quick and light on my feet, it’s as if I always lose control of all of my limbs where a certain shifter king is concerned.
I step out of the room while I start rehearsing in my mind how to explain my latest mishap to Hexius. It’s very possible that whatmachallit is another prototype and something I’ll never be able to afford to pay back. But maybe we can work out a deal?
The important thing here is that I’m owing up to what I did. And of course I’m not using this accident as an excuse to search for him and see if he’s alone or he’s with—
Oh.
I’m still in the hallway when my steps slow into a halt. Hexius is in the living room, but he’s not alone. Instead, it’s my worst fears come true. This may be my first time to see the other woman, but I know.
I just know it’s her.
Brandy.
She’s taller than I expected her to be. And more beautiful, too. But even so, there’s still a part of me that stubbornly clings to hope. This doesn’t have to mean anything. For all I know, Brandy’s just here to talk about Alphonse, and—
That’s why she’s suddenly touching his cheeck with her hand?
I think I’ve seen enough.
My whole world feels like it’s spinning off axis as I turn and make my way back to his room. Or maybe...I’m the one out of balance, my whole system out of whack...because I’ve just realized that there’s no way I can compete with Hexius’ first love.
I mean...what’s that thing I often hear people say?
Ah, right.
First love never dies.
And that...sucks.
For me.
But...I’m not going to be bitter.
You can do this, Sam.
My heart might be bleeding right now, but I know I can be happy for them.
In time.
But for now, I just have to go.
Yes, that’s right.
That’s the goal right now, and I focus on this like my life depends on it. His suite is no longer a haven. Instead, I feel like I’m trapped behind enemy lines, and I need to look for the quickest escape route like I’m living out one of the many action flicks I’ve done stunts for.
Focus, Sam. Focus.
I slip back into my old clothes. Analyze the basic layout like it’s a maze to decode. Service corridors. Maintenance access. Secret passages—aha!
There’s a part of me that wans to look back one last time, but I shove this thought away as soon as it occurs.
Just go, Sam! Quickly!
The corridor leads to a service elevator that takes me down to what must be a parking level.
From there, following the exit signs becomes simple enough, though my stuntwoman brain is cataloguing every turn, every potential escape route, every weakness in what’s clearly a very sophisticated security system.
The exit dumps me onto a side street I don’t recognize. I stand there for a moment, gulping the cool evening air and trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do now.
“And so we meet again.”
I spin around, heart hammering, and there’s Alphonse Mercier leaning against a sleek black sedan like he has all the time in the world and exactly zero surprise at finding me here.
Yeah right.
“What are you doing here, Mr. Mercier?”
“Alphonse, please.” Hexius’ brother smiles at me as if we’re family, and nope.
Not buying that either.
“I was just about to go up to speak to Hexius. Perhaps you’d like to accompany me?”
“He’s...in a meeting.”
“Is he now?”
“Yes.”
“And is the person he’s meeting with someone we’re both acquainted with?”
I don’t answer, but this only makes him look at me thoughtfully.
“How loyal you are to him already.”
And that’s when I realize...
“You followed her here, didn’t you?”
Instead of answering, Alphonse straightens off to open the passenger door. “I assume you need a ride?”