In the mirror, I can see that my best friend has a strained look. “Maybe he’s telling the truth, he didn’t know. Youreally think he would go so far as to take you both on some whirlwind romance only to gather information to hurt you?”
Turning around, I give her an incisive look. “It happens all the time to people, and unfortunately, I’m part of the general population that is at risk, and I wasn’t immune.”
She sighs, and I’m still a little confused as to why she isn’t as spiteful as I am. Julian hurt her best friend, yet it almost feels like she’s on his team. “I think you shouldn’t act so irrationally yet. Let things cool off, then approach him in a clear way.”
“Why are you giving him so much grace?”
“Because you can lose something and never get it back. Those things happen when we think irrationally. I’m speaking from experience.” Her glance at Lola says it all. The reference is to the one night that led to her daughter.
“I’m going to choose to ignore your advice right now, but I still love you.” I begin to fluff my hair when I spot a random necklace on the jewelry holder that reminds me that he got me one, which I gave back. A new cry bubbles inside of me, and the sadness hurts my chest.For a second, I question if maybe she’s right.But Julian, attempting to reach me with messages and calls I don’t answer, won’t help me right now.
“I’m going to quit.” I don’t sound as confident as I did a minute ago; it’s soft because my eyes can’t tear away from a necklace. A thoughtful gift, even if the presentation was poorly done, makes the corner of my mouth tick up at the memory.
“Fine,” she says. I glance over my shoulder and see that my friend is watching me, and her facial expression is set to neutral.“Whatever you do, I will support.”
I smile dimly as I face her again. “Thank you.”
“And your aunt?”
“She hasn’t said much. Soaked in the information andtold me to make my own decisions on how to handle Julian. I would be a lot more furious than she is.”
Elodie seems taken aback by my aunt’s response. “Do you think she already gave up on the Riverbell a while ago?”
My foot slides into the black stiletto that I picked out to match my blue fitted dress. “That would be silly.”
“Did she ever like Julian?”
“Yeah. So we can add another layer of how his charm is a conning gift.”
She picks up her daughter, who makes an undefined sound that might be an attempt at a word. “Is it charm? Because with everyone else, he normally demands, he doesn’t need to charm people. He has no reason to. He has it all. But you? Your family? It’s a different side of him, he finally has to put in the effort to impress.And he is only like that… for you.”
I shudder from the thought that she’s correct. “Thinking like that is dangerous. Distance is what I need. I’m too angry to be close to him.”
She stands with her daughter on her hip. “Okay. You sure he’ll be in the office at 5?”
“Yeah, I have his calendar memorized as well… I was his assistant.”
“Oh yeah. Well…” She walks to me and gives me a side hug on her childless side. “Good luck. You can come straight to my place afterward and relax in pajamas for a movie. Have another cry if we need to.”
I touch her arm in appreciation. “I’ll take you up on that. Tomorrow, I’m escaping the city and heading straight to Everhope.”
It’s time to leave, and the confidence I thought I had begins to crumble slowly.
The momentI step off the elevator, my nerves have me bursting at the seams. A deep breath only steadies me for a second. Julian’s office door is closed, and I take the opportunity to go to my desk, fury only intensifying because there is a bouquet of pink roses.
As if that’s going to fix it. He’s a smart man, he’s trying to get under my skin. He hated flowers, then gave me one, and now a bouquet is supposed to show me how much he cares. I’m so close to ripping them all off from their stems, but deranged isn’t the angle I’m going for right now. The rest of my desk is untouched, except for a new box of fruit snacks. That boils me, though; as if a four-dollar box of gummies could solve our situation.Even if they are my favorites, and to a normal person walking by, it would seem like a sweet gesture.
I grumble and begin to toss a few items into my oversized purse. Good luck to whoever finds a new residence here. It’s a place where many have been, and they’ve all left scorched.
My breath gets caught in my throat when I hear Julian’s voice booming to what seems to be someone on the phone.He isn’t in the best of moods, but neither am I. I’m not going to wait to rip this bandage off, and I give myself a second before the sound of my heels pattering on the floor leads me straight to his office door which I barge open.
He instantly stalls in his seat behind his desk when he sees me, maybe in disbelief, or perhaps he was expecting me. “I gotta go.” He doesn’t wait for a response, and his thumb hits the screen as his phone slides down the side of his face. His jaw has stubble, and he seems to be lacking sleep, too.
“Savannah,” he says softly and takes a deep breath as he slowly stands.
With purpose, I sway to the middle of the office, my face hardened.“Don’t come closer, Julian,” I warn, mostly because feeling him near my body will completely weaken my resolve.
To my surprise, he obliges and slowly sits back down. “I’ve been out of my mind trying to reach for you, waiting for you. I need to know that you’re alright.”
