AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Suddenly, it became imperative that no one know we were involved.
I thought again about ending it and closed my eyes in self-disgust. I promised there’d be nootherwise.
I didn’t want there to be an otherwise.
She was perfect.
I love you.
She told me they were friends, but her utterance of those words to Lucky on the phone burrowed like a parasite beneath my skin. What did those words mean to her? How carelessly did she use them?
I searched my memory. I couldn’t remember the last time I heard them.
I heaved myself to my feet. Took one last look at the fragile baby girl who had only me standing between her and the world. Then took myself to my bed with the promise to remain vigilant.
And be ready to end it with Hope if necessary.
Blood tells, and history had a way of repeating itself.
If I had a choice, I would not repeat the sins of my father.
And I had a choice.
Out
Hope
Things with Ares slid sideways but the past two weeks offered precious little time to dwell on it.
And no opportunity to approach him to ask.
His text messages the few times I tried were perfunctory at best. At first, I made excuses. Then I womaned up.
No man’s attention was worth begging for.
Speaking of begging, Ratcliffe was begging for my fist in his face. My eyes widened at the memory of popping Ares on the airplane. Better not to imagine clocking Ratcliffe. But if anyone deserved it, he did. If he wasn’t in my office, he was emailing or phoning with further instructions. He added onto my workload with malicious glee to the point that I had to leave Brayleigh with Lucky for most of my designated week with her.
Finally, the night of the fashion show arrived. The duties that should not have been mine in the first place came to an end. With no time to go home and change, I freshened up in the bathroom.
I jumped back when the door burst open. One of the graphic designers stormed in. Her brows met in a deep V over her flashing eyes and her mouth twisted in a sneer. Seeing me leap back, she came to an abrupt halt, a startled ‘oh’ on her lips.
“Sorry!” she gasped.
“You okay?” I asked, alarmed.
She took a deep, steadying breath before answering. “Yes.” She swallowed and looked away. “I will be.”
“Anything I can do to help?” I prodded, edging closer.
Her eyes flashed to mine, her anger apparent. “Yes. Promote yourself into Ratcliffe’s office and get rid of his pompous, perverted ass.”
The acid in my stomach turned volcanic. “Did he hit on you?”
She held her hands out to the sides. “Of course not! He never does, does he?” She shook her head and brushed past me. “You know I’ve been down to HR no less than three times?” She shook her head in disgust. “Excuse me. I need to freshen up before going downstairs to meet my husband and my kids,” she spat. “If my husband sees me like this again, there’s going to be blood on his hands.”
My pale skin mottled with anger. I, too, needed a moment to collect myself before going downstairs to meet my waiting family.
Ares would be there, too. I wondered if we’d get a chance to talk. Foolishly, I had allowed myself to imagine introducing him to Brayleigh. Lucky and Minty. Maybe even my mom and dad. Now, that seemed woefully premature.
