I forced a smile.“Yes, I’m planning to attend.”
Her brow lifted.“Are you attending with Mr.Kirkland?”
Creed was probably expecting me to skip the event.Or worse—show up alone.
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“No, I’ll invite my sister.”
Celine’s eyes widened curiously.“Olivia?”
“Yes.I think she’ll appreciate it as much as I will,” I said smoothly.“My sister loves any excuse to get dressed up.”
And I needed the distraction.I needed to keep moving, keep acting normal even if it felt like my world was balancing on the edge of a blade.
Celine hesitated.“Are you sure you’re not attending with Mr.Kirkland?”
Sitting at home, licking my wounds while Creed walked through the world untouched and unmoved?Hell no.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay,” Celine said slowly.“I’ll let his assistant know and confirm the RSVP.”
She gave me a wary look before walking away.
Celine probably thought I was making a mistake ending things with Creed.But I was sick and tired of being sick and tired waiting for him to decide if I mattered enough to keep.
The door closed softly behind her, and I leaned back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the skyline beyond the glass walls of my office.My pulse hammered beneath my skin.
Creed had no right to affect me like this anymore.
And yet...
My cell phone vibrated on the desk.I reached for it automatically, heart leaping into my throat.
Unknown number.
It stopped after two rings.
My fingers hovered over the screen.Then it lit up again.
Unknown number.
I didn’t pick up.I stared at the phone until it went dark.
My skin prickled with the awareness that someone, somewhere, was waiting.Watching.
Creed was a distraction.
But the real threat hadn’t shown its face yet.
