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“Yes.” He sits back in his seat, turning it and gazing in my direction. “It might sound really cutthroat, but we need to make the most of Pemberton’s bad fortune.”
“Before it turns into ours?”
He shakes his head. “Things aren’t that bad. We’ll be okay, whatever happens.” He gets up, moving around his table and leans on the edge, facing me. “I just…”
“You want to prove yourself?” There I go again, speaking without thinking. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? And for Christ’s sake, don’t tell me it wasn’t your place to say that. You hit the nail right on the head… as usual.” He crosses his legs at the ankle and folds his arms across his expansive chest. “We lost a few clients when Dad died, and I took it personally.”
“That’s understandable. It must have felt as though they didn’t trust you.”
His eyes light up. “That’s exactly how it felt… as though they thought the business would crumble without him, and probably this building with it. They weren’t willing to take a chance with me.”
“More fool them,” I murmur under my breath, but I wonder if he’s heard me… especially when he tilts his head slightly, his brow furrowing. He doesn’t comment, though.
“The thing is, we don’t need lots of new clients. We couldn’t handle that much work. If we can just pick up one or two of Pemberton’s bigger accounts, like Ecstatic Sports, it would make a world of difference to how we’re perceived.”
“And it’s all about perception, is it?”
“In this business, yes. Perception is everything.”
I get up and he pushes himself off of the desk, uncrossing his arms and stepping closer.
“I’ll get back to work,” I say, looking up at him.
“Are you okay?” He stares down into my eyes, and while I wish I could tell him I’m very far from okay, it’s all about perception, isn’t it?
“I’m fine.”
He frowns, and I sense he doesn’t believe me, but he steps back, letting me leave the room.
I might be tired – both physically and emotionally – but I’m dragging out that moment when I have to leave. I don’t know whether my stalker will be watching me, whether he’ll be outside the office, at my apartment, or somewhere in between. It could be Cole, or it could be anyone, and the uncertainty of all that is playing on my mind and giving me a headache.
I can’t stay here all night, though, and I power down my computer, opening the bottom drawer of my desk to pull out my purse.
“I thought I heard you turning off your computer.” Hunter’s voice makes me jump, and I look up to find him standing by the door to his room. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because I’ll take you.”
“But you can’t.”
“Why not?”
“It would mean leaving my car here. How would I get to work in the morning?”
“I’ll come get you.”
I shake my head, standing up. “I’m sure you’ve got better things to do. Really. I’ll be okay.”
I know he thinks he’s helping, but I can’t let him do this. His kindness will be my undoing, when I know what I want, and that he doesn’t. Tears well in my eyes and before he sees me cry again, I grab my purse and run.
“Livia! Come back!” I hear his voice, but ignore him and bolt straight for the stairs, ignoring the elevators, and heading down to the parking garage, where I hurry to my car, opening it as I approach and jumping in. With shaking hands, I start the engine and slam the car into reverse, backing out of the parking space, and then driving up onto the street.
It’s busier than usual, the traffic much heavier than I’d like, and my journey is full of stops and starts, which gives me time to look around, and get more and more nervous with every passing yard. I can’t see anyone looking at me, or pointing a phone in my direction, but I feel like I’m being watched… being followed.
As I get closer to home, the traffic eases a little, and I’m able to speed up, driving faster than I usually would and eventually parking outside my apartment block. I turn off the engine, taking a few deep breaths before I get out, grab my purse, and run as fast as I can into the building. I don’t look back, I just run, and once I’m inside, I go straight up to my apartment, opening the door, slamming it shut behind me, and locking it before I slide to the floor and burst into tears.
