Was he always this arrogant and I simply never noticed because I saw him through rose-tinted glasses? Or has his engagement given him a sense of entitlement that he didn’t get from me? If I cared more, I’d stalk her online to find out. But I don’t.
I try to walk past him, and he grabs my arm. Not roughly. Enough to get my attention. “Where are you going? I’ll walk with you.”
I don’t want to walk with him. I don’t want to be seen with him.Ever. Sure, there are over 8 million people in New York City, and the chances of bumping into anyone else that I know are slim. But still, this isn’t the first time I’ve bumped into George, and being this close to him makes my flesh crawl. Also, I have more important things to think about.
Like telling Bastien Murray that I’m carrying his babies.
I realize that I saw George in the Rinse’s casino. He’ll know who Bash is even if it’s just from hearsay. I guess it’s one way to get him off my back.
“I’m going to the Rinse. To see Bastien Murray,” I add for extra impact.
“What’s up? Did he fire you? I’ve not seen you in there for a while.”
Okay, that’s enough weirdness for one day.
“If you must know, he didn’t fire me. I quit.” I hold his gaze. I will not be the first one to look away. I won’t. Even if peering into his eyes triggers all kinds of reactions that I’ve suppressed for far too long. “Please don’t follow me.”
I turn around and walk away from him.
George catches up with me and matches my stride. “Why did you quit? Do you want me to have a word with him? I have connections now, Remy. I would do that for you.”
I keep my sight fixed firmly ahead. I can see the Rinse in the distance, too close, the impending conversation looming over me like a storm cloud.
“I don’t want you to do anything for me. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re not together anymore. I don’t need your help.”
I probably never did. Only I didn’t realize it at the time, because George made sure that I did nothing without running it by him first.
“You’re making a big mistake, Remy.” He’s still there. Still walking. His arm brushing mine with every other step.
I stop dead and face him squarely. “You don’t get it, do you? They’re my mistakes to make, not yours.”
“You don’t know the Murrays like I do. They’re not good people, Remy. If you want my advice?—”
“I don’t want your advice.” I suck in a deep breath and release it slowly. “Leave me alone, George. Goodbye.”
My heart is racing as I dodge the traffic and cross the road. He doesn’t follow me, and I don’t look back. Instead, I slide my phone out of my pocket and type a message to Ariel:
You’d have been proud of me. I just told George to leave me alone.
She replies:That’s my baby girl. Now go get your man.
The Rinse already feels different when I enter the foyer, and I can’t tell if it’s because I’m having the boss’s babies, or if it’s simply because I’m no longer employed here. Or perhaps it’s because I finally liberated myself from my ex-boyfriend who was still holding me back from afar.
I approach the concierge who watches me with a benign expression on his face. “I’m here to see Mr. Murray.”
My palms are clammy. The nausea is back, I can still taste Swedish Fish, and I don’t even have a bottle of water with me. I make a mental note to do better going forward. I’m pregnant. I need to prove to myself that I’m a responsible adult so that I believe it when my babies are born.
“Do you have an appointment?” He is already scanning the screen in front of him.
“No.” Shit. I didn’t think this through. “Can you please tell him that it’s Remy Jones?”
The concierge’s mouth twitches at the corners. “Mr. Murray is busy right now. I can ask his PA to check his diary.”
“It can’t wait. Please, can you just tell him that I’m here?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Jones.”
He isn’t going to budge, and I already know how much effort it will take to psych myself up for a second visit. That’s if Bash even agrees to see me. He might take one look at my name in his busy schedule and tell his PA to cancel on his behalf. I can hear him now. “If she tries to make another appointment, tell her that I’m out of town. Permanently.”
