My brows furrowed. “I think he’s somewhere in Boston,” I said.
I’d missed a call from him a few days ago when I was in the shower. I called him back, but he didn’t answer, so I let it go. ButI couldn’t stop wondering about the call. It had been over a year since I’d heard from him.
He was unreliable, and after today, I could easily say the same about Jonah. The way Jonah had treated me in his office was burned into my memory. For a moment, I’d thought he might be a decent person.
During our night at the hotel, he’d made me hope for something better, only to crush it the moment he discovered he was my boss.
I’d been given a wonderful opportunity. Altika had taken a chance on me, an intern with no formal coding education and no prior experience. I couldn’t ruin it by dreaming of something more with Jonah. I couldn’t be another conquest for him. I knew that was what men like him would consider me.
I pictured him at his desk, his surprise evident when he’d seen me, quickly replaced by anger. He was powerful, and he could have me unemployed at any moment if it pleased him.
I’d sensed that power that night, between the sheets. The assured way he’d taken charge, telling me how to move with him, how to touch him, asking me how I wanted to be touched and delivering on every request.
“Every time I see him, I’m reminded of every intimate detail of our night together,” I said, lowering my head.
Sasha let out a knowing laugh.
“I never want to see him again.”
12
LEXI
The next morning, I dressed Evie, got her breakfast, and was checking my emails when I saw a meeting request from Rafael to introduce me to another team.
My heart sank.
I was in jeans and a T-shirt, and the jeans had a rip at the knee. Everything remotely professional was either in the hamper or still wet from last night’s laundry, and I hadn’t had time to run the dryer before bed.
Not exactly the first impression I wanted to make on new colleagues.
Sighing, I shut my laptop. “Come on, Evie,” I muttered, gathering our things.
“Mom, who’s at our door?” she asked, turning from where she sat, playing in the living room.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There was someone out there.”
My heart beating a little faster, I walked over and pulled the door open.
There was no one out there. Then my gaze dropped to the floor, where I saw shopping bags.
Not just one or two. Fifteen.
“Mama, what is it?” Evie asked, peering up at me.
I shook my head, dumbfounded. “I don’t know, sweetie,” I said, kneeling down to examine them.
They were all addressed to me. Pulling one bag inside, I checked the contents, pushing aside crisp tissue paper to find beautiful clothes underneath.
I frowned. Had Sasha done this?
I was about to reach for my phone and call her when I noticed Evie was already pulling more boxes open.
“Are these toys?” she asked excitedly. “For me?”
I reluctantly took a look along with her.
