Although she was lying through her pretty, perfect teeth.
Sadly, they didn’t make me feel much better. I was thrown by the fact I’d enjoyed myself tremendously. I couldn’t deny it or lie to myself. I’d been more alive than any other time in my life.
Then he’d left the demanding note.
“Thank you. I think I’m going to get this noose from around my neck and email him right now.” I tried my best to sound confident and convinced.
“Good idea. Then we can suck down wine and scope hot guys on Instagram.”
I exhaled and retrieved his card, which I’d taken from Amelia’s desk. When I turned it over, I realized he’d left his personal number in ink on the back. No, I refused to call him. I knew he was very good at talking people into things. I wasn’t going to risk the man working his magic to try to talk me out of something.
“Okay. I can do this. What’s one million bucks. Right?”
“Right!” Amelia pumped her fist.
Why was I sweating all over? I gingerly placed the glass on the table, swirling it a couple of times.
This was the right thing to do. I felt it in my bones, or I’d continue to stress and that was the last thing I needed to do. I took a deep breath and moved to my corporate email, typing in his contact information. After another brief hesitation, I typed out the appropriate response and the one I’d penned and rewritten in my mind several times.
Just before I hit send, Amelia shifted.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes,” I said and immediately hit send before I changed my mind. Almost immediately I felt a sense of relief.
Then the second guessing popped in.
I could use the money.
I could use the reputable client.
I could use a goddamn break in my life.
“Ugh.” I dropped my head, immediately reaching for my wine. Why was my hand shaking?
“Good job.”
“You think?”
“Not really, but that’s what you need to hear.”
My phone rang at that moment and when I peered down at the number, I was half afraid it was him. Him. Why did I even hesitate to think his name? By the time it rang twice, I’d already checked the card. Neither number listed was the one on my screen.
So I answered. “Yes?”
“Vanessa Blair?”
I was even more hesitant, but the authoritative sound of the voice on the other end had me moving my lips. “Yes, who is this?”
As I listened to the preprogrammed words, I shrank back and my heart started thudding. “Yes, I’ll accept the charges.”
“Who is that?” Amelia whispered.
I couldn’t answer her. “Donovan. What’s wrong?”
When we were kids, I’d been close to my brother. He’d been my rock, my protector. He’d kept me from being bullied the first year I’d gone to high school. I’d been the kid with braces and glasses, overweight and a nerd. He’d been the jock, handsome and popular, a senior who’d refused to allow me to be the brunt of jokes.
He’d also been comic relief to my father’s rantings and his requirements for perfection. I’d looked up to my brother since then, but his life had taken a dangerous turn and recently, I’d felt helpless.
