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“Sir, she was here early this morning but left after about ten minutes.”
“She must have gotten an earlier flight. Darn it. Why didn't she tell me? Did she leave any message?”
Sid is shuffling; I can hear the movement against the phone.
“Sid?”
“She said that maybe you should have taken out the trash when you left instead of leaving it there for her to see.”
“What does that mean?” I stand up and pace around my office. What happened this morning? “Do you know if she left to go home?”
“She went to the coffee shop down the road, but I think she was arranging to go home, sir.”
“Thanks, Sid.”
“Oh, and sir, just to let you know, Alicia came down about half an hour after Lily did.”
“Thank you, Sid.” I hang up my cell. What was Alicia doing in my apartment? I dial her number and wait for her to answer, but it goes to voicemail. I call again. Alicia is the bane of my life. We dated for a while, but she was too clingy, possessive, and a bit psycho. She sends me messages about hooking up; I know I should block her, but I just haven't thought about it. It's harmless, right? I know where she is, so I storm out of my office. “Cancel all my appointments for today; I'm not back in the office until Monday.”
I don't even give my assistant, Britney, a chance to say anything. I catch the elevator and ride down to the ground floor. Britney is so good at her job; I pay her a lot because I'd be lost without her. There's a car waiting for me when I step outside; how did she get a car that quickly? I don't think I want to know. Climbing in, I close the door behind me. “Take me to the Hughes Center.”
“Certainly, Sir.” I push the button on the privacy window and lean my head back against the headrest. Alicia has gone too far this time. I try Lily's cell again, but it goes straight to voicemail. Maybe she's in the air. I need to find her and make sure she knows about Alicia. I hope this doesn't mean I've lost her.
When I arrive at the Hughes Center, I walk inside and head straight to the elevators. I don't need a security badge; everyone knows who I am.
I get off at the fifth floor and storm through the open-plan office space until I reach Alicia's corner office. The door is closed, but I don't care. That door is not going to stop me from seeing Alicia and getting her to talk.
I push the door and step inside her office. She's sitting there smiling at me. “I was expecting you, but perhaps not so forcefully.”
“What did you do, Alicia?” I demand.
She stands and walks toward me. I move out of her way, but she still keeps coming closer.
I hold my hand up. “Stop, Alicia. What did you say to Lily?”
“I basically told her that we weren't expecting her that early.”
“And? I know there's more with you, Alicia.”
She smiles at me and reaches out a single finger, running it along my shoulder. I move out of her way. Her touch makes me shiver, but not out of enjoyment - out of sheer annoyance.
“I just told her that you don't stick with just one woman and how we've been seeing each other for months. I also told her that you don't chase women.” She's smiling, and it looks grotesque on her.
“I didn't chase you. I'd never chase any woman who is spiteful, thinks she's the shit, only gets with rich men so she can have all the niceties in life. I can't believe you said those things to Lily; she's sensitive and loving, all the things you're not. If you've ruined this relationship for me, Alicia, then I am going to tear down your life piece by piece. Don't think I don't know who pays for your apartment. That's right, your married man. That could make quite a splash in the news, don't you think? So you'd better stay out of my life unless you want me to tell the world and tell him how many men you're also sleeping with.”
She stands in front of me, her mouth wide open. She can't believe what I just said.
“You wouldn't dare; we dated while I lived there too.”
“Yes, we did, until I realized how callous you were and how I realized that you were a whore. Living in that apartment shows your true self; you are nothing but a prostitute, Alicia.”
She gasps as she realizes the door is still open, and everyone can hear us.
“And give me back my key card. You are never stepping inside my apartment again. I'll make sure Sid knows that, and the next time someone enters when I'm not there and he finds it's you, he will call the cops. I'm serious.” I hold out my hand for her to return the key card. She goes to her purse and gets it out. She slaps it down into my hand and then turns away. I see tears in her eyes, but they do nothing for me, not when I know that she has ripped Lily's heart to pieces.
I turn and walk away from Alicia. I can't get away quick enough. Next stop is the airport.
The plane touches down, and all I can think about is getting to Lily immediately. We disembark, and luckily, I get through quickly as it's my private jet. I get in the car, which I'm sure Britney has arranged for me. I give the driver Lily's address and keep calling her cell.
