As I walked the sidewalk, hunting for a cab to get me back to the office to see him, I passed by a book shop. In the window, on a shelf, was the same book Jeremiah had picked up on our lunch date all those weeks ago. The same one I saw in the café as I ate lunch today. This time, something about the man’s face on the cover called to me. I stopped and pulled open the large wooden door, making my way inside.
I found the hardcover book on a table marked with a sign for autobiographies. Something in Jeremiah’s face changed when he had looked at this book, like the color had drained from him.I picked up the shiny black book and turned it over to read the back cover for a clue as to why. I read that it was about a successful, self-made New York stockbroker who grew up from nothing and had to fight for his place in the Big Apple. I pursed my lips and shrugged, thinking it was just another self-help book.
Still, my curiosity had me opening the book and flipping through the pages. I stopped when I saw Jeremiah’s name in the black and white print. Holding the book open, I peered closer as if my eyes were deceiving me, but no. There was Jeremiah’s name, his full name, staring up at me. I quickly carried the book to the register and paid for it before settling into a plush armchair in the corner of the shop.
I again opened the book, scanning the pages for any mention of Jeremiah, and there were quite a few. Too many for me to sit here and read for hours. I was about to close the book and save it for later, but I stopped short at one of the paragraphs. It felt like my heart suddenly caught in my throat before falling to the floor. I read the words over again to make sure I wasn’t going crazy, but there was no mistake in the typed-write print.
I shakily pulled out my phone and called Gabriella.
“Hey, baby mama! How was the ultrasound?” she asked excitedly. She had been eagerly waiting for this day, making me promise I would call her right after.
“He has a criminal record,” I blurted out loudly before cupping my hand over my mouth embarrassedly as others in thebookstore looked at me. Some curious, some annoyed. We were in a book shop after all. I closed the book and headed for the door, needing fresh air and scared of whatever outbursts I might have.
“Who? The baby?” asked Gabrielle with a little laugh.
“No. Jeremiah,” I hissed through the phone.
Chapter 34
Jeremiah
Ihad been pacing my office for the past hour, the shades drawn and the door shut since it was just me. I was acutely aware that I was alone as I waited for any sign of Sadie returning to the office, my ears perking up at any sound of footsteps approaching. But there was never a knock or the familiar sound of her voice through the door.
She had been gone for hours. I had returned to work without her, disproving our story of going to an early lunch meeting. I had to face the hushed whispers and curious stares myself as I walked down the hallway, surrounded by idiotic employees who were too cowardly to come forward and ask the truth themselves. As stoic as I tried to remain, I felt myself crumbling under the weight of everything.
When Sadie had left me in the town car after delivering her scathing words, I had asked my driver to take me around thecity with no particular destination in mind. I had hoped during the ride, I would hear from Sadie, telling me she changed her mind about me not coming to the ultrasound appointment. I was sorely mistaken. When I saw the clock on the dash change to 11 o’ clock, the time of her appointment, I knew she was serious about needing her space. I should have known from the look in her pointed gaze, her eyes a deep forest green of hurt. I had gone too far. Again.
It wasn’t that I wanted to hurt her, but it seemed to be all I was good at doing lately. It was like I lost control when my life was out of my hands, and lately it had been slipping through my fingers like sand. The harder I tried to hold onto it, control it, it just slipped through faster. First, with the news of the baby and now with the news that the entire office knew, I didn’t recognize my life as my own.
I sighed heavily, collapsing into my desk chair. My impatience was exhausting. I reached for my phone on my desk, but the screen was void of any notifications. There was no word from Sadie. I debated calling her, but remembered what she said.
I need space.
I knew I should respect that. I couldn’t wait here any longer, though. The pressure from outside my office seemed to be closing in. I wanted to go home. Maybe when Sadie got home, she would be willing to talk this through. I was eager to hear about the appointment. Even more eager to see the scans she most likely received from the ultrasound. I knew not to expect much. The baby was barely the size of a plum, but it was exciting nonetheless.
Turning off my computer, I stood up from my chair, smoothing out my black suit and buttoning my jacket. I straightened my tie and cocked my neck to either side. It was as if I was about to go to war. I walked toward the door and took a deep breath before opening it and stepping outside. Sadie’s desk was still empty. The rest of the office silenced abruptly. The silence pissed me off.
I walked down the hallway to the center of the room, clearing my throat and standing my ground. Most everyone looked up at me warily from their desks, but there were a few with faint grins pulling at their lips. They were enjoying that my life was slowly coming undone. I wanted to smack their expressions right off their faces, but I was already in enough trouble. I couldn’t afford a lawsuit.
“I’m aware of what is being said around the office,” I said loudly, turning slowly to meet everyone’s eyes. “I have every single email that has been sent regarding Sadie Lane and me.”
I heard a few audible gasps and saw a few eyes widen. It was satisfying to see them squirm. It was no surprise they would want to ridicule me or ruin my life by spreading rumors. I was the big, bad boss.
The bosshole.
But they were also doing it to Sadie too. Someone who had always done right by everyone, even to a fault. The thought just pissed me off even more.
“Keep that in mind the next time you want to speculate about your boss’s personal life.”
With that, I turned on my heel and walked toward the elevator. I knew as soon as the doors closed, there would be no need for emails back and forth. The chatter would fill the room in my absence. Let it. At least for now it was contained to the office.
Or so I thought…
As I stepped off the elevator, a woman in a smart black pantsuit was waiting. I glared at her as I continued past, knowing exactly who she was. A reporter for theNew York Times.
“Excuse me,” she called after me, theclick-clackof her heels behind me.
I kept walking, but it didn’t stop her from following. From asking questions.
