CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The drive to Declan’s office wasn’t very long, and minutes later, we were pulling into a well-lit underground parking lot that was far more luxurious than any parking lot needed to be.
The space was a lot larger than it had initially looked from the outside. Steven immediately pulled into his designated spot, then got out, coming around to the other side of the massive SUV to help me climb down.
The building was a high-rise in the bustling center of downtown.
And while I’d never been to this particular building before, something about its location seemed familiar, though I didn’t know why.
Perhaps Declan had mentioned something about it, and the memory of whatever he’d said stuck with me?
Either way, I found it odd, and a prickle of unease washed over me as we entered the elevator and made our ascent to the top floor.
I exited the elevator into a spacious lobby that was beautifully decorated in warm, inviting tones and comfortable-looking furniture. There were brightly painted artworks on the walls and lush greenery, in the form of tiny ornamental plants, in every corner.
Steven—having accompanied me into the building since this was my first time here, and I had no idea where I was going—gently tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to my left, where a pretty receptionist with neon blue hair and dark, smoky eye makeup sat eyeing us with a broad smile.
Slowly, I approached her desk, returning her eager smile. Though mine was more nervous than anything else.
“Hi,” she blurted before I had the chance to say hello. “You must be Miss Hart. Our boss is expecting. Go straight down this hallway—” she pointed to her left “—and it’s the last door on your right. ”
“Oh, um,” I glanced at Steven, who gave me a reassuring nod. “Thank you.” I started to move on, then paused, turning back to her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
The receptionist beamed up at me, bright blue hair glistening in the soft entryway lights like sunlight on a summer sea. She was young, possibly just out of college, and her bubbly personality went well with her eccentric look.
“I’m Gabriella, but everyone calls me Gabby,” she chirped.
“I’m Melodie. Nice to meet you, Gabby,” I said warmly, and her return smile was so wide, my cheeks ached on her behalf.
“Likewise. Looking forward to seeing more of you, Melodie.”
And with that, she turned her attention to Steven, and the two struck up a conversation that had them both leaning their heads together and whispering conspiratorially. Though what they could possibly have in common was beyond me.
Steven was an older white man in his early fifties. He was incredibly fit for his age, with buzz cut hair and a commanding presence. He spoke softly and was infinitely patient, and something about his overall disposition reminded me of my dad.
Gabriella, on the other hand, was maybe twenty-one. Though, to be honest, she looked a lot younger. She was of Korean descent and sported a wide array of piercings and tattoos, to say nothing of the aforementioned blue hair, which was cut short and framed her elfin face beautifully.
Yet, the pair giggled and whispered enthusiastically amongst themselves. So, I left them to their own devices and continued in the direction Gabby had pointed me.
The office layout was significantly bigger than at first glance.
There were cubicles and offices that branched off from the main hallway, two floor-to-ceiling glassed-in conference rooms that sat right across from each other and at opposite ends of the long hallway, and a narrow walkway leading up a set of stairs that marked ‘exit’.
Which I was almost positive led to a helipad on the roof.
Because, of course, Declan had a helicopter. I didn’t even need to ask.
I was slowly getting accustomed to his world, and I’d come to realize that billionaires spent their money on a lot of stupid shit. Like a helicopter. And in Declan’s case, a dozen luxury cars, despite the fact that he rode his motorcycle damn near everywhere, and had a driver.
Given that it was nearing the end of the day, the office was mostly empty, save for a handful of staffers glued to their computer screens.
In a distant corner of the room, an excited-looking woman with the most beautiful Senegalese twist braids I’d ever seen was busy hurling black and gold paint at a giant white canvas.
I slowed my pace to take in her form, because in another life, she would have been an excellent pitcher with that throwing arm of hers.
She must have sensed me watching her, because she paused mid-hurl, shot me a playful wink, then went right back to paint-bombing her canvas.
I quickened my pace again, halting only a few feet away as I stumbled on the cracked door of—‘Millicent Gills - Executive Secretary of the CEO’.
From what little I could see through the half-opened door, Millie’s office was decorated with a lovely pink paisley print wallpaper, gold furnishings, a fluffy pink carpet, and the biggest wall-mounted shelves to ever come out of IKEA.
Seriously, that thing took up the entire wall, and was decorated with delicate gold figurines, interspersed with books of all shapes and sizes—most of them with pink covers—seashells, and a gold-framed photograph of what I suspected were her children.
There was no sign of the infamous Mrs. Gills milling about in her office, but I did hope to meet her in person before I left.
I knew from our many video calls that Declan’s office was right across from Mrs. Gills’, so I tore my gaze away from Millie’s exquisitely put-together office and walked right into a familiar strong chest.
I was so caught off guard that I stumbled back, and strong hands gripped my biceps to keep me upright.
“Melodie?” came an all too familiar voice.
My stomach tightened, and as if on instinct, I immediately took two steps back before looking up into the eyes of my ex-husband, a shock of confusing emotions rushing through me.
“Mellie, what are you doing here?” Seth asked, and I was aware of a ringing in my ear, though I wasn’t sure why that was happening.
He stepped toward me, and I stepped back, backing up into a closed door behind me. I’d gotten turned around somehow, and Millie’s pastel pink office stared accusingly at me as bile burned the back of my throat.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
I knew I needed to say something, but I just stood there, breaths shallow and my mouth hanging open as a cluster of confusing emotions bombarded me at once.
“How did you even know where I work?” he continued.
So, that was why this felt so familiar. Though he’d told me where his office was located, I was never allowed to come here for any reason.
It was one of Seth’s many rules about keeping his home and work life separate.
Of course, I knew now that was bullshit.
He simply didn’t want to upset his mistress, turned, baby mother.
He reached for me, and I stumbled back into the door that opened suddenly, revealing the tall, redheaded Irishman that I was quickly falling in love with.
Declan’s appearance helped soothe the rising anxiety in me, and I was finally able to exhale the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
“Oh, there you are, darling,” Declan said, stepping out into the hallway and leaning down to brush a soft kiss across my lips. “Gabby called and told me she sent you my way, but I figured you might have gotten distracted, so I was just coming to find you.”
“Darling?” Seth bellowed, and Declan froze, only just noticing the third figure standing in the hallway with us.
Declan had positioned himself halfway in front of me, but his bulk did nothing to block the daggers Seth was shooting at me.
Declan straightened and turned to face Seth, tucking his hands into the pockets of his neatly tailored slacks.
His navy blue shirt was rolled up to his elbows, displaying his strongly corded forearms and vibrant tattoos.
My mouth watered at the sight of him, and I had the brief thought of dragging him into his office and having my way with him, but his sharp tone brought me up short, snapping me back to reality.
“Mr. Torres,” Declan said, his voice firm. “I do hope you’ve prepared for our meeting, since the discussion will be about you and your performance at this company.”
“Fuck that!” Seth growled. “Why the fuck are you kissing my wife?”
Though his expression hadn’t changed, Declan’s shoulders tensed, and he shifted so he could look at me.
“And did you just call her darling?” Seth bellowed again. “Melodie, what the fuck? Did you fuck my boss just to get back at me?”
I ignored Seth, stomach cramping with nerves and uncertainty. I wasn’t afraid of Seth. We were divorced, and there was nothing tying me to him anymore. But I was wary of how Declan would react. I had no idea they knew each other, let alone worked together.
Declan’s eyes hadn’t left my face, and I stared back at him with a confused mix of trepidation and despair.
“This is Seth?” Declan asked calmly. “As in, the Seth… your ex-husband?”
I conjured up enough brain function to execute a stiff nod, because words somehow seemed impossible at the moment. I was confused.
Declan’s eyes drifted skyward, and he murmured Seth’s name low to himself, repeating the name over and over as though trying to turn it over in his mind. Then his eyes snapped to mine again.
“Seth?” Declan echoed again, his expression a mask of confusion. “But his surname is Torres. Yours is Hart.”
“She never took my last name,” Seth blurted out. And something about his condescending tone had all my hackles rising, and I was instantly ready to bite.