Chapter 55
Sadie
Ipaced the living room of the apartment, even though it felt like my legs were going to give out on me. I had been shaking since the police had hauled Jeremiah out of here, without any explanation. I was racking my brain about what this could be about. Was it the fight from the park all those weeks ago? Maybe Anderson was now pressing charges, but that didn’t seem to make any sense. He was just as guilty. Was it a business deal gone wrong? Maybe he got into bed with someone he shouldn’t have, but Jeremiah didn’t do any shady dealings when it came to his empire. He wanted to keep his clean reputation. I knew that all too well.
I sighed and looked out the large windows to the city below. The sun was up now and the sidewalks were busy. It felt unfair that life went on when mine felt like it was falling apart. I had to do something, or this was going to drive me crazy. While I waited for Gabriella and Erica to arrive, I strode down the hall to Jeremiah’s office. I flipped the ceiling light on, illuminatingthe dim room with its olive-green paneled walls and dark wood built-in bookshelves and desk. It was dark and moody and sexy. Jeremiah-encompassed.
I started opening the drawers of his large wooden desk that sat in the center of the room. Thankfully, they were unlocked as I pulled open each one and rummaged through their contents. There had to be something here that could help me.
Then a thought came to me. Jeremiah’s attorney. I had never met him, but I tried to remember his name. My brows knitted together as I opened the top drawer of Jeremiah’s desk where neatly stacked piles of paper lay separated by binder clips. I lifted each pile and my eyes skimmed over them, until they landed on a contract with a legal firm.
Ted Gillis.
That was his attorney.
My eyes scanned the page quickly until they landed on the footer where Ted’s contact information was. I quickly dialed his number with my phone and waited with bated breath as I knelt on the hardwood floor of Jeremiah’s office.
“This is Ted Gillis,” he answered firmly, though I could hear the sleepiness in his voice.
“Ted!” I said frantically. “This is Sadie. Sadie Lane. I’m Jeremiah’s…” I wasn’t sure what to say, so I paused for a moment. Without finishing my sentence, I continued on. “Ineed your help. The police showed up early this morning and took Jeremiah into custody. Handcuffs. The whole thing. They wouldn’t answer any of my questions. I don’t know what to do,” I said, my voice shaking as I ran a hand through my long red hair.
“Hmm, I haven’t heard from him. How long ago was this?”
“Like thirty minutes ago,” I said.
“I should have gotten a call by now.” He suddenly sounded like he was on high alert. “I’ll get down to the station immediately.
“Thank you, Mr. Gillis,” I said gratefully before hanging up.
Just then, I heard the phone ringing from the entryway table down the hallway. I quickly stood up and ran toward its shrill sound. I picked it up on the fifth ring.
“Hello?” I answered eagerly, wondering if it was Jeremiah.
“Hello. This is the front desk calling. We have two visitors down here, asking to be let up.”
I swallowed hard. Who could be here now? I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I thought about it possibly being Anderson.
“Who is it?” I asked, my mouth dry.
“I have a Gabriella and an Erica here. They seem rather adamant.”
I let out a sigh of relief, remembering I had called them.
“Yes. Yes, of course,” I said. “Please, send them up.”
“Will do. Thank you for confirming.”
I hung up and began pacing the floor of the entryway again. Soon, there was a knock on the door and I opened it to find my best friends standing there with worried expressions on their faces. They both had bedhead and wore sweats, like they had just rolled out of bed and come straight here.
“Oh,” I sobbed, letting out all my bottled emotions.
They stepped forward and wrapped their arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace as I cried.
“We’re here, Sadie,” whispered Gabriella.
“Thank you,” I managed to whisper back.
“Come on,” said Erica, grabbing my hand and leading me to the couch.
