"Get out of my sight," Grant ordered. "I need to call Kate and figure out what to do."
Carter was steaming mad as he left Grant's suite.
"I'm going to kill Vance," he growled.
"No, you aren't," Allie told him as she pushed the button for the elevator. "Go to your room."
"Come with me," he pleaded.
He pulled her to him and kissed her in the hallway. She pushed him away and stepped into the elevator. Carter followed her as she made her way to her room.
"There you are," Liz said, poking her head out of her room. "Oh, hi, Carter."
Liz looked a little hurt to see him. Carter felt bad, but he really wanted Allie. She unlocked her door, and Carter was about to push his way past her when his phone rang. Allie slammed the door in his face as he answered and heard his father's voice.
"You need to be more in control of yourself. What is wrong with you? And now I hear you're back with that girl, Allie? She's causing all this trouble."
"Kate is calling me," he said, "I have to go."
"Don't you dare—"
"Hi, Kate," Carter said.
"Don't sound so dejected," she told him.
"I screwed up."
"I'll fix it. Don't worry about it. But stay away from Allie, okay? Your father is on my case about it. Plus she's an employee."
"But she's notmyemployee," he retorted.
"Just chill, Carter," Kate warned.
He didn't think he could. Even though it was cold outside, his body felt hot, and Allie was all he could think about.
35
Allie
Oslo was perfect. Allie had never been out of the country before, and she had felt like a different person as she quickly unpacked in her upscale hotel room. The Scandinavian décor was understated and imbued a minimalist functionality. The clean lines and natural woods were pleasing and helped ease the slight headache she had from the flight. Lying back on the clean bed, she felt calm and at peace for the first time. She luxuriated in being by herself.
Her headache returned that night after she yelled at Grant.
"I cannot believe this," she muttered to herself as she showered. She was so upset she couldn't even enjoy the large bathroom.
She checked her phone. There was nothing from Arnold about how her dog was doing. Allie hoped Margot was okay. She felt sick leaving the dog with her landlord. He seemed as if he was keeping her alive, though, which was good since Carter seemed to have lost interest in the animal.
"Figures," she muttered.
Carter was such a flake.
Liz knocked on the shared door between their two rooms, opened it, and came in with snacks and alcohol from the mini bar.
"Sit. Spill. Now," she ordered. "What is going on between you and Carter?"
Allie grimaced. "It's nothing."
"I doubt that," Liz said as she flopped on Allie's bed. "I want to know everything."
