Chapter Fifty-Five
It’s a long, stressful day. When DCMP officially announces Grace’s death about two hours after my visit from the detectives, the fact that they don’t even mention someone was with her last night tells me volumes.
They believed me.
Completely.
Dare I risk breathing a sigh of relief?
Nah, I don’t want to jinx it.
The only thing that could throw a wrench into my plans is if Grace told Stella about me visiting her and she lets loose with that. It shouldn’t hurt me in terms of the investigation, because I told the detectives about the past visits. Except I don’t need the media exposure or attention if Stella sics them on me.
Turns out Stella can’t keep her mouth shut. Within fifteen minutes, she’s giving a televised statement to FNB, Fox News, and other cable news channels, and tearfully mourning her “bestie.” Surprisingly, she admits Grace had some “issues” back in college, but that she’d believed her friend had overcome her “demons.”
Then she goes on to detail how she selflessly tried to help her friend way back then.
Whelp. That’s one way to steer the narrative and use it for self-aggrandizement.
More power to her.
Unfortunately, her impromptu media blitz soon has reporters crawling up Elliot’s ass-crack and wanting statements. Because of the campaign, I bypass Elliot’s comms shop and help Angie craft a joint message from the president and Elliot, one that’s somber in tone and doesn’t address Stella’s claims about Grace’s history with substance abuse. It’s short and noncommittal, as well as offering Grace’s family and friends their heartfelt condolences.
Honestly? I expected Stella to call Elliot almost immediately, but we don’t hear from her.
At lunch time, I’m about to step into Elliot’s office to eat with him when Leo walks over. I admit him before locking the door behind him.
Elliot looks beyond relieved to see him and drops to the floor before either one of us even give him the signal to.
The flash of jealousy that rolls through me over him bowing for Leo like that shocks me.
Leo owns both of us.
But here, inthisbuilding?
Elliot’smine.
Huh.
I’ll need to unpack that later.
For now, I walk over to the desk and stand off to the side. Leo squats next to Elliot and pulls him into his arms for a long, strong hug, whispering to him.
Another jolt of dark jealousy nips at my soul.
I beat it back.
Finally, Leo stands and offers his hands to Elliot to help him up, where he pulls him in for a hug.
“Are you staying for lunch, Master?” Elliot quietly asks.
“No, pet. I wish I could. I need to take care of some things.” He kisses him and then turns, catching my eye and holding my gaze for long enough that I know some of the “things” he’s handling probably involve him sniffing around to see what else he can find out about the Grace situation.
I know he’s got a personal dossier on Grace, and the fact that he’s only learning today about my visits to her has to leave him feeling a little shook. Or angry. Or…something.
I can’t decipher his expression.
All I know is I’m fighting the urge to drop to my knees and beg Daddy to forgive me for hanging out with her.
