Page 201 of The Heart You Kept

PHILIPPE

“Good morning, Philippe.” Alora smiles as she walks out of her house.

“Good morning, Miss Sorenson.” I open the car door for her, she slides into the back seat and I walk around and get in behind the wheel.

“If you could please give me a lift to work and then I won’t be needing your services any longer.”

“Ah….” My eyes meet hers in the rearview mirror. “I’m here for your safety, Miss Sorenson.” I pull out from the curb and onto the road.

“I’m not in any danger, Philippe.”

“But you had a tracker in your handbag, remember?”

“Did I, though?” She narrows her eyes. “Or did Edward plant that in my bag so that he would have an excuse to have you follow me around?”

Stefan and I exchange glances.

“Edward and I are no longer together and he has you following me so that he can keep track of me.” She looks out the window as she talks, seemingly detached.

That’s why he’s been a lunatic lately.

“You broke it off with him?” I frown.

“No. He broke it off with me, so you can understand how infuriating it is that he still has you trailing me everywhere I go. I am not his possession and I won’t be treated as such.”

“Ahh.” I’m unsure how to answer.

“Today will be your last day with me.”

“I’ll have to check with Mr. Prescott.”

“There is nothing to check, Philippe,” she fires back. “If you follow me tomorrow I am calling the police and having you charged with stalking. What he is doing is illegal and I will no longer stand for it.”

“Yes, Miss Sorenson.” I nod. “I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you.”

“Just call him and get it over with.” Stefan lights a cigarette as we lean up against the car.

I give a subtle shake of my head, why do I get all the good jobs? I dial his number.

“Yes,” Edward answers.

“Miss Sorenson has let us know that this will be our last day with her.”

“No.”

“She said she’s calling the police if we turn up tomorrow.”

“So let her call the fucking police,” he snaps. “Somebody is tracking her.”

“She thinks that you put the tracker in her bag.”

“Why the fuck would I put a tracker in her bag?”

“To control her.”

“Stop insulting my intelligence. Stay. With. Her.”