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I swallowed hard as I eyed the clock at the counter. “It’s 1:15 p.m. I need to leave. So, Dec, can I see the pictures?”
He went still across from me.
“I’m so excited to see them,” I added.
He widened his eyes and covered his mouth. “Oh shit. I forgot them at home. I’m so sorry.”
My eyes filled and I turned my head, putting my handbag on my shoulder.Did he ever really have them?I doubted it. “I need to get going. Thanks for lunch.”
“I could bring them by your house later,” Declan said, his gaze flicking over me.
I screamed inside, but shook my head and he squinted. “No. Maybe it would be better if I don’t see them. I think the videos and photos will probably just upset me,” I lied, my only defense hoping to curb his satisfaction in my disappointment.
He studied me, then nodded. “Well, I’ll hold onto them until you feel you’re ready.”
I bit my lip hard and stood. “Sure,” I muttered bitterly.
Declan frowned but stood. “I love you, Tiger Lily.”
I flinched as he leaned in and I turned away before his mouth made contact with my lips. Dipping my head to hide my scowl, I walked briskly out of the deli.
Who was that Declan?I didn’t know what I did to make him want to hurt me. I waved my hands frantically and managed to flag down a taxi. While I wanted to try to make sense of what happened, I knew what I needed right now was to be away from him. His lies. His cruelty.
Breathe, I told myself as I sat in the back of the taxi and it sped off down the road. I folded my arms around myself. My mind started to race. Did he do that to hurt me? Why did he enjoy hurting me? My phone buzzed.
A call from a number I didn’t recognize. I hesitated. Would Declan go through the trouble of borrowing a phone? I didn’t know. Still, I took a deep breath. The residue of his violence covered me, and bile rose in my throat. My heart pounded as the phone continued to chime. I could always hang-up, I thought.
I cleared my throat and answered, “Hello?”
“Hello, Lily. This is Fiona from Barneys New York. How are you today?” she asked.
I released my breath. “Hello? Sorry. I didn’t order anything from Barneys. I think you have the wrong number.”
“Well, I was informed to contact you by Mr. Crane. Are you familiar with him?”
I sat up straighter. “Yes. I know Mr. Crane. What is this about, Fiona?”
“I’m calling to set an appointment for you to meet with me for a new wardrobe. If you could make it today or tomorrow after 4:00 that would work best. Now I’ll need your size—”
New wardrobe?“Excuse me,” I said interrupting her.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and winced, having forgot the tenderness there. My nerves jittered as I thought on Gregor’s story of Jonas seducing Maggie with expensive gifts. Pulling her into a lifestyle she wasn’t able to maintain when he left her. This seemed to be Jonas’s modus operandi, his usual way he treated his companions. My stomach churned. I didn’t want to be thought of as or treated as any of his other women.
“Mr. Crane never mentioned this to me. I’d need to speak with him.”
“I understand. But could you perhaps make the appointment now and then speak with him?”
I licked my lips. “I apologize, but I’ll need to speak with him. First.”
“Okay. Please call me back ASAP if you can though. I’m usually booked, but I was asked to set an emergency appointment for you.” She said her tone light.
“I’ll try to speak with him right now,” I said thanking her and hung up. I shook as I pressed Jonas’s number. After a couple of rings he answered.
“I called your desk at work, but you were out. I tried your cell but it went to voicemail,” he began.
My tension eased a bit. He tried to reach me. “I didn’t receive a message. I had an appointment outside of work. I’m on my way back there now.” My stomach lurched. I didn’t like lying, but I knew I wouldn’t tell him what happened with Declan. I hadn’t thought it all out myself. Partially out of pride, and fear of what he would or wouldn’t do to him.
“Have you been crying?” his voice softened.
