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Remorse flooded Joey’s features. “I’m sorry, Liam. I didn’t mean to let it happen—”
“It’s fine,” I pressed, putting a palm between us, urging him to keep his cool. “Just tell my client in there that I had to step out. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Still battling his inner conflict, he nodded, likely aware it was the least he could do. “I will.”
With a single nod and my anger brimming beneath the surface, I left as quickly as possible.
The frustration only powered my steps more, making me rush down the street. I didn’t even consider getting in my truck and driving over—not when my focus was solely on getting to that office.
I needed to know what she wanted. Why she was determined to find out more about me.
I gave her more than enough information to work from. She didn’t need every gritty detail of my past, especially not when I wanted to keep it hidden.
Thankfully, I kept the name of the local paper in my head and remembered where I had seen the sign downtown. Before long, that familiar office building came into view with all of its imposing size, and I headed straight for the front door.
When I was greeted by a receptionist who likely wondered why I was in such a hurry, regardless of her friendly smile, I asked if Cora was in.
“You’ll find her on the tenth floor. The elevator is just to your left,” she answered, giving me a somewhat weary eye. “May I ask your reason for stopping by?”
I steadied myself with a deep breath, aware that I had to keep myself together. There was no sense in worrying her or causing her to call security on me. “I have some follow-up responses about an article she’s putting together. I thought I’d hurry and drop them off for her.”
Seemingly happy enough with my response, the receptionist eased up and nodded. “I’m sure she’d appreciate your urgency. Have a nice day.”
I thanked her and wasted no time heading to the elevator. All the while I waited on the way up, my anger mounted until it started to burn beneath my skin.
Regardless of how things ended between us, I never thought I had given her a reason to despise me so intensely. I didn’t think I gave her any reason to doubt my merit or desire the opportunity to ruin my image.
While it seemed like an extreme conclusion to arrive at, her wanting my time in Rose Valley to come to a sudden halt seemed like the only motive.
If she managed to figure out what I had gotten up to in the city, there was a high chance everyone would think lowly of me. At the very least, they’d second-guess associating with me in any way, and that would mean my tattoo studio would suffer immensely.
Even worse, if Cora managed to dig herself in too deep, I’d have no control over what would come next for her. Meddling in that world didn’t end well for most, especially for the unsuspecting.
I may have pushed her away, but it was for her own sake, and I didn’t want anything to happen to her. But if I were unaware of just how much she knew, then I’d have no way of warning her.
It didn’t make any sense, but I had to know exactly what she was trying to accomplish.
The elevator dinged the moment I arrived on the tenth floor, which shattered my train of thought.
Focused back on what I needed to do, I pushed through the doors and looked around the floor full of cubicles. Typing and clicking computer mice echoed throughout the room as the writers and editors were busy working away, hardly paying any mind to my presence.
There were too many rooms beyond that point, and I lacked the patience to find her office myself.
Stopping someone as they got up from their desk, I murmured, “Do you know where I can find Cora Barlowe?”
The man peered at me through his glasses and nodded. He pointed to one of the office doors on the right side of the floor. “It’s that one. You should see her name plaque on the wall.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, pulling away to charge across the room before he could say anything else.
Sure enough, her name was engraved in a thick, imposing plaque beside the door. She was a head reporter, apparently. She was an important figure in the office, and surely that meant she was good at her job.
That didn’t bode well for me.
Not bothering to knock, I went right inside, sights set on only her.
Cora glanced up from her laptop, brows furrowing, when she noticed me standing there. I could just imagine how intense my aura felt to her.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
