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“Not what?” I ask, my voice weak.
“In love with him,” she hisses. My expression says it all. Rolling her eyes, she shakes her head.
“Jesus, Char,” Dee says with a laugh. “Of all the people in the world, him?”
“What’s so bad about him?” I protest. “I think we’ve proved he didn’t murder his last girlfriend—”
“The dude keeps chicks locked up at his mansion. For the purpose of fucking them!” Jess all but yells.
“No, he employs the services of several women to meet his needs.” I narrow my eyes at her, annoyed at her overreaction. “They could’ve left at any time.”
“Bullshit, and you know it,” J
ess retorts. “Those girls were brainwashed into thinking he needed them, when in actual fact any one of them could’ve been replaced at the drop of a hat.”
“There aren’t any girls now, anyway,” I say quietly. “He asked them all to leave.”
Except her. Brynne.
Jess sighs and reaches for my hand. “I’m sorry if I sound harsh, but you could do so much better than him.”
You don’t even know him. Nobody really does. Except me.
“Can we change the subject?” I plead. If I have to listen to her go on about him for a second longer, I’ll do something I regret.
“Yes,” she agrees, sounding relieved. “So, what next? You’ve been cooped up in that mansion for two months. You must be dying to let loose.”
Strangely, I’m not. I don’t miss the nights out with her and Dee, or any of my life from before. Not even Nick. I certainly don’t miss the job hunting and never getting anywhere. I sigh as reality sinks in. I have no job, and if I don’t write this story, I’m no closer than before to getting one.
“What is it?” asks Jess, taking a sip of her vodka and lime.
“Just the reality that things haven’t changed,” I sigh. “I have to write the story. I don’t have much of a choice.”
“And so you should. It’s not like it shows him in a bad light, for God’s sake. People still think he murdered her, even though she’s back. The tabloids will be falling all over themselves to buy that story from you.”
She’s right, but I don’t care about the money. A secure job would be good, but even then, the only thing I really want is unattainable. At least doing the story will mean seeing him again. My heart jumps at the thought.
After leaving the girls, I head right over to his house. If I put it off, I’ll find excuses. I need to do this now, before I lose my nerve. I pull up outside those familiar gates and press the intercom button. Marina answers, sounding surprised to hear my voice. I half expect her to tell me to leave, but then the gates swing open.
As I exit my car, I wonder if he’s watching me. I glance at the mansion, picking out at least ten windows he could be standing at. I straighten up and walk up the concrete path toward the door. My head held high, I’m hoping I look confident because inside I’m a mess.
I get to the front door and find Marina waiting for me. She gives me a small smile, allowing me inside.
“I was hoping you’d be back,” she says. I’m shocked, and I don’t bother trying to hide it. “I may not be the easiest to get along with, but I do have his best interests at heart. You’re good for him, Charlotte.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. “Does he know I’m here?”
She shakes her head. “He’s in his office.”
I stand outside the huge double glass doors, trying to compose myself. For Marina to say that to me means a lot and makes me wonder if he’s been difficult to live with since I left. The thought gives me shivers.
“Are you coming in, or are you just going to stand there?”
His voice cuts through the silence, making me jump. So much for exuding confidence. I place my hand on the knob and turn, pushing the door open.
He stands next to his desk, his hands in his pockets. I ignore my pounding heart and move toward him. He looks just as good as when I last saw him. The light shadow highlighting his jaw makes me wonder whether he’s been sleeping. Maybe he’s been thinking about me. Or Brynne.
The thought of her brings me crashing back down to reality, burning my hopes of somehow being with Jaxon along with it. Is she still here? Are they together? My stomach twists. I search his face for answers and find nothing.
