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Plastering on a smile, I say, “Hey, baby. I wanted to use a blanket I thought I had up here in the spare bedroom, but I can’t find it. How are you?”
He stares for an unnatural amount of time, and I squirm.
“How am I?Let’s see, my fiancé has been a loose cannon all week, she’s been telling her family and only God knows who else that I’m hiring hitmen, and I have reporters and detectives up my ass sideways. I’m great, Andrea. Thanks for asking.”
He shoves past me without another word, nearly storming into his office before slamming the doorbehindhim. I run down the stairs as fast as I can. When I reach our bedroom door, I step inside and slam it shut as well.
Fuck him.
Chapter 10
It’sbeenafewdays since I found the papers in Christopher’s office. My thoughts are consumed with how all of this connects and Christopher’s level of involvement. I can’t trust my family right now. Well, I can’t trust anyone except Addy, but I can’t get in touch with her. I’ve tried calling her every day with no answer or call back.
I’m so worried that I want to go check on her, but considering she lives at my parents’, that’s easier said than done.
We agreed to let each other know what we find. I’m worried that Andrew got to her and convinced her to help him instead of me. If that’s true, I have no one. My fiancé more than likely hired a hitman to take out a longtime friend, and my family is helping him…
I can’t fathom a world where all this is possible, let alone probable.
Last night, Christopher surprised me with a date. He came home early and asked if I wanted to go out. I was shocked stupid for a minute before my brain kicked in and had me agreeing to go.
Part of me yearning to go back in time, so I put on my best cocktail dress and touched up my makeup. He wore a sharp suit with his hair perfectly styled. It reminded me of how attracted I’ve always been to Christopher. Even as a teenager, I thought he was so handsome.
He took me out to a fancy uptown bar, and it was a surprisingly nice time. The whole evening he acted like his old self, and there was no mention of Swank or Mr. Dark Eyes.
He talked about work and asked me how things were at the studio. He was attentive and caring, always having his hand on my lower back to guide me. He even pulled out chairs and opened doors for me.
He was the man I fell in love with again.
We danced and drank, and I let myself forget about all the craziness and uncertainty for a night. On the way home, I was giddy and a little more than tipsy. I shouldn’t have let my guard down like that, but I ache for the old us, and I thought I might have a small taste of it.
My poor, sad self drank everything he gave me. I deluded myself into thinking my life wasn’t in shambles and Christopher was the man I was still in love with. Because when we got home, that reality came crashing down the moment we stepped inside.
“Are we going to have any problems, Andrea?” he growled out when we got home last night.
“What do you mean?” I stumbled slightly as I tried to get my bearings after the abrupt change in his tone.
“It will take a while before the police close this investigation and move on. I need to know you won’t say anything to compromise that. Are we clear?”
He yanked off his tie and headed for the bar to pour himself another drink. I stood there in utter stillness, shocked. Soon, I was unfortunately snapped back into my new reality, and I bite out a brisk “crystal clear.”
It was a devastating ending to what I thought was a perfect night.
My heart aches today as I remember everything from the night before, and I’m terrified because I no longer know the man I’m supposed to marry. I’m realizing more and more that I obviously never really knew the true Christopher.
Dwelling on this isn’t getting me anywhere. I need answers and a plan to keep myself and my sister safe. Because even if she’s turned against me, she’s still my sister, and I’m not leaving her here to fend for herself with these bastards.
Thankfully, I’m back at work, and the day has moved right along. I need the distraction, and to be in the one place that brings me comfort right now. It’s finally lunchtime, and I have a plan. I need copies of those papers I found in Christopher’s office. I need proof, and this is as good as I’ve got right now.
So, I get a cab home and make the first steps to taking my life back into my control. I tried Googling the name of the company I found on the papers, but I didn’t have much luck. There is virtually no digital footprint of that company. It’s like it’s aghostaccount. Google led me nowhere, so I’m going to get creative.
I throw a twenty-dollar bill at the cabby and jump out of the car. I don’t have much time before I need to be back to work, and I also don’t want to risk getting caught. He shouldn’t come home anytime soon, but he seems to be full of surprises lately.
I quickly unlock the door, toss my purse and keys on the entry table, and run up the stairs. His office door is slightly ajar, and I creep in like I expect him to be lurking in the corner.
Come on Andrea. Get a grip.
I go straight to where I found the book with the key last time and panic when I don’t see it. I’msureit was right here. I scan again and again, hoping I just missed it.
