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“So fucking beautiful.”
Definitely an angel.
She pulled out of her spot and out of the parking lot, passing me. I watched until her taillights disappeared in the darkness.
Who the hell are you?
Never mind.
Instead of going back inside to find out more about the mystery woman, I removed the card from my pocket and dialed the number for my driver. Ten minutes later, he was pulling up and I still hadn’t cleared my mind from thoughts of her.
* * *
I was restless last night. Barely slept more than a few hours because my mind kept circling back to the woman from Chapter House. There was also the very heavy reminder of why I was back home.Arranged marriage.By late afternoon, I was still anxious so instead of allowing my mind to remain in a loop of thoughts I couldn’t do anything about, I decided to burn some energy. Ez was calling by the time I was a few hours into my routine at the hotel gym.
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing?”
“Running.”
“Running?”
I hated the question mark at the end of the word.
Why are you running?
Is your mind unbalanced?
Are you searching for something to ground you?
As much as I understood the lingering questions, questions that could possibly only exist in my mind, I also understood where the inquisition was rooted. My past behaviors. Living with a sibling who was diagnosed with a mental disorder at such an early age, fourteen for me, forced everyone around me to be guarded. My brother loved me but he was always concerned.
I changed the direction of things because I didn’t want to travel down that road. Over the years I had become an expert at diversion.
“I’ll be back in my room in ten minutes.”
“Good. Can you be ready in an hour?” I glanced at my watch. It was just after four.
“I can.”
“We meet Christian at six.”
“Where?”
“His family’s estate.”
“No.”
That left us exposed and made me uncomfortable.
“My idea, not his, Lias. We can’t be seen together until we figure out what’s next. Don’t want anyone getting the same idea I have before we can lock it down. I also don’t want him at our home. Christian wants this alliance just as much as I do. He won’t do anything stupid. If he does, we’re prepared.”
There was a plan in place. I expected nothing less from Ez. Our father hadn’t always done right by others with business but not for lack of knowledge of how to do good business. His training now lived in Ez. Our father was a brilliant man. His greed however sometimes overpowered his intelligence.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. One hour. A ride will be waiting for you.”
