Page 76 of Off Limits Mogul

“Who the hell does she think she is?”

“Right?”

“She gets paid to clean the pool, not double as an investigator.”

We may not have been friends for long, but Michaela always has my back.

“Tough luck, bitch. I live here. You don’t.”

We laugh.

“All that to say, every aspect of Rhys’s life is well taken care off,” I say. “There’s only so much tanning I can take before I start feeling like a grape turning into a raisin. I rearranged my few belongings in the wardrobe half a dozen times already. If I don’t find something to do, I’m going to scream.”

“It’s no surprise you’re alone during the day, but what about evenings? Don’t you spend them with Rhys?”

I shake my head. “He’s been working late for the past three days.”

“But he comes home?”

“It’s almost as if he has a sixth sense.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess I was a little naïve and didn’t fully understand Rhys’s COO position,” I say. “His schedule is as busy as the President’s.”

“But even the first in command goes home at some point.”

“He comes back late. I wait for him on the couch, but always fall asleep.”

“What about the morning before he leaves for work? That might be a good time for you guys to connect,” Michaela says.

“I swear to God, the man moves around like a ninja. Either that or he leaves for the office before the roosters wake up. Everyday, I wake up to an empty house.”

“Text him and tell him you’re eager to spend the evening with him.”

“I already did that.”

“What did he say?”

“He gave me an airtight excuse for his absence.”

“Which is?”

“We’re gunning forwards with this new revolutionary project. It’s eating more time than I expected, so I have to play catch-up at the end of the day.” I pretty much memorized the message.

She furrows her eyebrows.

“What?”

“It sounds like he’s avoiding you.”

“I refused to admit it to myself, but you’re right,” I say. “After the bike ride, his mom invited us over for dinner. After getting ready, I met him downstairs in the kitchen and I could tell something had shifted. His walls were up. I was so dead set on provoking him. Now I regret flashing him.”

“Oh shit.” My best friend’s eyes are so apologetic.

“It’s like I can’t help it. I always find a way to screw things up with Rhys.” I let out a sigh. “Maybe I misread him?”

“From what you described, it seems unlikely,” Michaela says. “Women can fake it. Men can’t.”