Page 117 of The Billionaire's Virgin

“Can he do that?” Jennifer asked. “There’s so much evidence against her at this point. I mean… is he really powerful enough to be able to manage that?”

“I can’t even go there at this point,” I said. “I just need to know that Jenna is alright. Then I can worry about Sofia and her fate.”

“Of course.” Jennifer nodded. “Of course.”

My phone started ringing again, and I thought it might be Mr. Burton calling back, but then I saw it was Taylor.

“It’s Taylor,” I said urgently. “Can you give me a minute?”

Jennifer nodded quickly and gave me some privacy. I answered the phone immediately. “Taylor?”

“It’s me,” she replied. Her voice was different somehow. It was calmer and more put together and for some reason that made me a little panicky.

“Where are you?” I demanded.

I could hear a lot of noise coming from her end of the line. It sounded like she was in a public place, surrounded by lots of people. Could she still be at the playground?

“I’m in the city,” Taylor replied vaguely.

I heard the sound of a train. “Are you on the subway?”

“Just about to get in,” Taylor replied. “I might get cut off once I do.”

“Are you coming back home then?” I asked desperately.

She paused. “Not just yet.”

“Why not?” I demanded. “Taylor… listen I know you need to feel like you’re doing something, but the best thing you can do right now is leave it up to the professionals. The cops are out there scouring the city, the public has been alerted, and I’ve hired a number of people to go out in search of Jenna. We’re going to find her.”

“I know we are,” Taylor replied.

She was still talking in the same calm voice, and I had to admit, that had me rattled. It was like she had a plan up her sleeve.

“Taylor,” I said. “Listen to me. This is not your fault, okay? This is my fault… I’m the idiot who dismissed the bodyguard. The moment I knew that Sofia was out on bail, I should have hired him back again. I should have put your safety and Jenna’s safety above all else. I don’t know what I was thinking… this is my fault and no one else’s. Do you hear me?”

“I hear you,” Taylor replied. “Reed, I just wanted to tell you something. I wanted to tell you that I love you and I love Jenna. I didn’t really have much of a family growing up. I never knew my real father. My mother was never really interested in being my mother. And my stepfather was, well… you know. The point I’m trying to make is, I never knew what it meant to be a part of something happy and healthy and beautiful. That is until I met you and you introduced me to Jenna.

“I learned more about myself after the two of you entered my life and now… I can’t imagine my life without both of you. Just remember that I love the two of you more than anything in the world and I’m going to make sure that Jenna is returned to you, safe and sound. That’s a promise. Now I have to go; the train’s here, and I need to keep looking.”

“What… no… Taylor… Taylor?”

The line went dead, and I could only stare at my phone in shock, feeling even more alone, empty and helpless than before. Something was wrong with that phone call. Taylor hadn’t called to tell me where she was. She hadn’t called to tell me she was coming home. She had called to say goodbye. She hadn’t actually said those words, but she hadn’t really needed to.

It was there. The goodbye was implied in her profession of love for Jenna and me. It was there in the sad twinge in her tone. It was there in all the things she had refused to say.