As if her thoughts had summoned a bad spirit, there was Bryce, waiting for her outside of Arnold's apartment.
"Go away," she said, trying to push past him.
He grabbed her and slammed her against the wall, knocking the breath out of her. Margot barked, and Allie could barely struggle as Bryce pressed against her, forcing his tongue into her mouth.
"We were so good together, weren't we, Allie?" he said.
She felt him force his hand between her legs, and a spike of fear gave her the energy to push him away.
"Don't touch me," she warned.
Bryce only laughed. How had he found out where she lived?
"Don’t think I've forgotten what you did to me. I'm finally out of the military now, and I'm planning on working with my brother, and I don't need you to mess up my plans. You and that Holbrook need to stay out of my family's business if you know what's good for you, or I may just come over and finish what he and I started." He hit the wall next to her head and smirked when she flinched. Then, finally, he left.
Why was he so concerned about Trent and Halcion Drone?
She stewed over it for the rest of the week.
"He's so insane," she muttered one weekend as she scrolled through the deranged text messages from Bryce.
"What?" Carter asked, pulling off his headphones.
"Nothing."
Since they were trying to finish up their project to make some serious headway, they were spending more time together. Because Allie had to work at the bar most evenings, she started coming in very early after walking Margot. They were alone in the office on the weekends as well. Liz was gone most weekends for a bachelorette party or a wedding.
At least she didn't have to worry about Margot on the weekends. Allie had decided to start sneaking Margot in with her when she could. Now the little dog slept peacefully on Carter's lap.
She thought about the time with Carter in Oslo. It was magical, but she didn't think that it would make anything different between them.
"This is nice," Carter said. "We should be together."
"You aren't responsible. You aren't even helping take care of that dog that you dumped on me."
"I sent you money."
"Not in a while. But it's not about the money. You probably have a huge apartment. And I'm stuck in… Well, never mind. But I'm sure Margot would have more space to run around at your place."
"I'm sorry," Carter said, sounding like he meant it.
"If you were sorry, you wouldn't have let it happen."
"I'll be better."
"Don't bother."
Their interactions were frosty the next few days. Allie was the one who wanted it that way.
Carter kept badgering her about going over to her place.
"I don't want to fuck you in the print room," he murmured to her.
"Then don't," she snapped.
"Why are you being like this?" he demanded. "We had a good time in Oslo."
"We had an affair on a work trip," she hissed. "It was so unprofessional."
