Page 111 of The Boss

“That stalker,” Gino looks to me, “texted Juliet again, and I want them found. This last message says ‘I'll be watching,’ which tells me whoever it is won’t let up.’”

Gino hands Drew my phone, and he plugs it into his computer.

“Ryan, call everyone and get them here. I don't care if they’re busy; we’re dealing with this,” Gino says.

Then everyone moves into action, while I remain frozen. I thought that person was done messaging me. The biggest question is, why are they messaging me again?

FORTY-FIVE

GINO

This motherfucker. I thought they would have been over messaging Juliet since they hadn’t sent one in a while.

Looking over at her, she’s stuck in a moment of fear.

I walk to her and immediately hold her, rubbing my hands up and down her arms.

“Jules,” I whisper.

She stares past me.

“Bella,” I whisper again.

Nothing.

“Juliet.” My voice is still low, but a decibel louder.

That gets her to look at me.

“Hey,” I give her a soft smile.

“Why are they doing this?” she asks.

“Because they're an asshole who wants to scare you.” I pause and turn to look at Ryan. “When everyone gets here, come to my office.”

He nods.

I grab Juliet’s arm and pull her out of her office and into mine. I close the door behind us.

I walk Juliet to the couch and sit her down. Then I sit next to her, pulling her in to lean on me.

The next few minutes are spent in silence.

“Gino,” she finally starts, “I don’t know if I can keep doing this. I-if they’re going to continue with the messages, I mean.”

I swallow.

“Why am I the one they’re texting?” she continues, fear and terror lacing her shaking voice. “I haven’t done anything.”

“I know,” I say.

She sighs. “I just can’t risk my life like that. I know it might sound like I don’t care about what we’ve built. But I didn’t sign up for my life to be at risk like this.”

“I know. What do you want to do?” I ask.

“Find this person or persons and hopefully never have something like this happen again,” she replies.

I breathe out a sigh of relief. I was nervous she was going to leave or say she wanted to leave.