Chapter 56
Jeremiah
The elevator doors opened to a sharp, minimally decorated lobby with black, polished floors and dove gray wallpapered walls.
My leather wingtips whispered against the floor as I strode toward the receptionist sitting behind the black marble counter against the back wall.
I straightened my suit as I stopped before her, clearing my throat.
She looked up at me, her brown eyes looking me over, from my hair to the fitted black suit I wore. Sadie’s favorite. She insisted I wore it today.
“May I help you?” the receptionist asked, wrapping a piece of her chestnut hair around her finger as she looked up at me through her long lashes.
“Yes, I’m here to see your boss,” I said, leaning against the counter casually as I set my briefcase down on the floor beside me. I knew I would probably have to flirt my way in here because there was no way Anderson would so easily let me in.
She leaned forward in her lowcut blush pink dress. I kept my eyes on hers though, knowing exactly what she was doing. She was falling for what I was putting out. I intended to use it to my advantage.
“And you are?” she asked, the corner of her pink pout lifting slightly.
“Someone your boss will want to talk to.”
“Is that so?” She lifted a curious brow.
“I’m kind of a big deal.” I stretched my neck dramatically.
“I’m sure you are.” She laughed softly. “But I’m sorry, you’ll need to make an appointment.”
I gave her an amused smile. “Trust me. He’ll want to see me.” I leaned forward, pressing my palms against the cool surface of the counter.
She studied me for a moment before reaching for the phone next to her and punched a button. “Mr. Anderson. There’s someone here to see you,” she said, keeping her flirtatious eyes on me.
Her smile dropped as she listened to the other end of the call, before embarrassedly turning her back to me.
“No, I told him that. But he’s insistent,” she said, cupping her hand against the phone as she side-eyed me. Without another word, she turned back toward me and hung up the phone.
A few moments later, the frosted glass door to her right opened and Anderson strode out, looking irritable. I pushed off the counter and stood up straight. His dark eyes landed on me. He quickly turned to his receptionist who was watching warily from her desk.
“Call security,” he said.
I watched as the receptionist’s eyes went from flirtatious to cautious as she sized me up.
“This won’t take long,” I said, putting my hand up, signaling for her to stay put. She looked from Anderson to me with her hand nervously hovering over the phone.
“Jasmine…” warned Anderson, looking from her to the phone.
“I think it would be in your best interest to have this conversation, Anderson,” I said coolly. “In private,” I added, gesturing toward the door he had just come through.
He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly shut it before looking to Jasmine who was still torn on what to do. He gave her a small shake of his head, as if calling off his dogs. She pulled back her hand and watched the standoff between the two men before her.
Anderson reluctantly nodded for the door, pushing it open. I picked up my briefcase and followed after him, down the long hallway to the office at the end. It was almost identical to the lobby, with the same dark floors and gray walls. Once we were both inside, he shut the door behind him.
“What’s this about?” he asked, sizing me up as he stood in the center of his office. His black eyes were sharp. Alert. Ready for another fight. As much as I would like to deck him in the face again, I kept my cool.
“I’m here for one reason,” I said calmly. “To put our shit behind us. This ridiculous one-upmanship has to end.”
Anderson scoffed.
“I mean it,” I said firmly. “I want you out of my life. For good.”
“And what makes you think I’ll stop coming for you?” he sneered.
I brushed past him to the leather wingback chairs that sat across from his large desk. I took a seat and placed my briefcase on the wooden surface of his desk, not caring what paperwork I disturbed. I clicked the gold locks and opened it.
“I suggest you sit,” I said, gesturing to his empty desk chair.
He hesitated for a moment before reluctantly walking around his desk and sitting down across from me. His eyes went from me to the briefcase. I pulled the black folder from inside and slid it over to him.
“What’s this?” he asked, his eyes landing on the black file that matched his eyes.
“Open it,” I said with a shrug.
He sat forward and pulled open the cover. His eyes ran over the glossy photos that sat on top. There were the photos of him and Tanya that my private investigator had given to me.
“So, I had a date with a pretty little thing.” He shrugged. “She just happened to work at your office.”
“Keep going,” I said coolly.
He rolled his eyes and set the photos aside. Underneath was a printed stack of emails.
“Your pretty little thing wasn’t too bright. Sending emails under our server at work. I have to say, you paid her a hefty amount of money to spy on me. Who knew you were so desperate?” I asked with an amused smile.
“Oh, and under those emails are the ones between you and the press. Turns out it’s pretty easy to find out who an ‘anonymous source’ is.” I held up my fingers in air quotations.
“Those aren’t crimes,” he said with a shrug, pushing the papers away.
“Ahhh, but it’s slander. My attorney can prove that easily.” I smiled. “And that’s not all. You haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.” I looked at the folder that sat between us.
He reluctantly pulled it back toward him and found another stack of papers.
“Those are the texts between you and Markus Roane,” I said, watching Anderon’s throat bob nervously.
“Who knew you two were still friends after all these years? I hadn’t read anything about that in your little book.
But then again, I really only skimmed through it.
The writing wasn’t the best,” I said, acting casually unimpressed.
“But this,” I pointed at the papers he held in his hand. “This was entertaining.”
I watched as Anderson’s empty eyes filled with dread as he read over the texts he had sent back and forth with Markus.
John had spent the past few days digging up anything and everything he could on Anderson after my arrest. He had found more than enough to get him in some hot water.
These texts were proof of him framing me, which would land him a decent amount of time in prison.
I knew it. And the way he looked at me now, he knew it too.
“If you ever meddle in my affairs again. If you ever come near me. Or Sadie. Or anyone I know, I will take this to the police. And the dance you and I have been doing all these years will have its finale in court.” I leaned forward and narrowed my gaze.
“I’m telling you right now, it won’t end well for you. ”
He lifted his chin, feigning the pride that was dissipating before my eyes.
“I don’t know about you, but I’d rather move on,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “I suggest you stop trying to destroy me before it destroys you.”
He stayed quiet as his eyes ran over the papers again and back to me. We were in a stalemate. There was nowhere to go.
“Get the hell out of my office,” he said, his voice low.
I nodded and stood from my chair. “You can go ahead and keep all that. As a reminder of what I can do to you. I have several copies anyway.” I turned and went for the door, opening it and walking out without looking back at the shell of a man I had just left.
Walking out of the building, I felt the heaviness I had carried all these years lift from my shoulders.
I looked up at the stone building, as cold as the man inside, and said an internal good riddance.
I knew I would never have to see that scum again.
I smiled to myself. That chapter of my life was over, and a new one was just beginning.
I slid into the backseat of my waiting town car and instructed my driver to go back to the apartment.
I texted Sadie on the way. As we pulled up, she stood at the curb in a yellow floral sundress that complemented her fair skin.
She smiled when she spotted me. I opened the door and grinned up at her.
“You ready to go see baby?” I asked excitedly, getting out of the car.
She looked at me and laughed. “Yes!” She took my hand and I helped her into the car, before sliding in after her. We gave the driver the address for the doctor’s office and settled into the backseat, my arm finding its way around her.
“Is it settled with Anderson?” she asked warily, looking up at me.
“He won’t bother us again.” I assured her.
She let out a long sigh and set her head on my shoulder. I kissed her auburn hair.
“Good,” she whispered.
Thirty minutes later, we were both staring in awe at the monitor.
It was the first time I got to see our baby in person, and it had already grown so much since the last time Sadie came here.
I teared up at the now pronounced arms and legs, but it wasn’t until I heard the heartbeat when the tears streamed down my cheeks.
Sadie looked at me lovingly as she held my hand tightly, the sound of thump, thump, thump filling the room.
It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
On the way home, in my awe and excitement, I had the driver pull over at a baby boutique I spotted out the window. Sadie laughed and watched as I darted out the still-moving car and towards the boutique.
“What are you doing?” she called after me.
“You stay there. I’ll be right back,” I shouted behind me.
I entered the boutique and was warmly greeted by the cashier.
“Welcome! Do you need any help finding anything?” she asked.
“I think I’ll know it when I see it,” I answered with a smile.
She gave me a knowing smile before going back to her notes behind the small counter.
I wandered around the store, really taking it all in. It hadn’t hit me until today just how much life had changed. And for the better. I was free of Anderson. I had the woman of my dreams waiting in the car. We were going to have a baby soon. It was overwhelming.
I ran my fingers over a rack of baby clothes. Everything was so small. So delicate. Suddenly, my hand stopped on a small wooden hanger. I pulled it from the rack and looked at the pink tulle dress that hung from it. This was it. I smiled at it, feeling the tears coming again.
I knew now in my heart we were having a girl. We’d declined the tech’s offer to find out the sex, but I just knew.
The love I had for her grew right there as I walked the tiny dress up to the counter, picking up a pair of matching booties on the way.
“It looks like you found what you were looking for,” said the cashier, carefully taking both items from my hands.
“I did,” I said with a smile as I looked out the window to where Sadie waited.