I wanted to slap her, but it felt like I was frozen. Her words paralyzed me. Maybe she was right.
She pushed off the pillar she was leaning on and sauntered away, satisfied with the bomb she had just dropped on me. I stared after her, noting just how beautiful she was with her edgy haircut and pressed suit. It was no wonder Chester once wanted to start something up with her. Maybe, getting with women he worked with was his MO. I felt anger begin to build inside me. Toward Mia. Chester. Most of all,me.
I had fallen for his trap of making me think I was the only person in the room. Making me feel special. Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I remembered all of the ridiculous things I had done to get his attention. Things I would have never done in the past. I felt ashamed all of a sudden. Mia was right, as painful as that was to admit.
I quickly walked toward the elevators, jabbing the button incessantly, not wanting to run into anyone else. I stepped inside the gold doors that slid open to reveal a thankfully empty elevator. I rode up to the top floor and walked toward my office, the buzz of the morning frenzy a blur. I blocked everyone else out, finding reprieve in my empty office. I looked out the window and narrowed my gaze at Chester’s office to find it unsurprisingly empty, while feelings of anger bubbled in my chest.
How can I hate someone who isn’t even there?
I shut my eyes tight, blocking out the memory of what we did in his office just last week. The depth of our kiss. The way he looked at me. It was all an act. It hadn’t meant anything to him, but it had meant everything to me. I was certain now that he had just seen me as a conquest. If his cool demeanor toward me afterward wasn’t confirmation enough, Mia’s recanting of her time working for Chester had convinced me that he had used me.
There were too many memories here. I couldn’t stay. I had to get out of there that moment. No one would notice I was gone, anyway. Chester wouldn’t be back in New York until later this afternoon, and he hadn’t emailed me his usual lengthy to-do list. Why torture myself by staying?
I began packing my things I had barely unpacked, desperate to get out of one of the largest buildings I had ever set foot in that now felt like it was somehow suffocating me. I grabbed my purse, clutching it tightly, and slipped out of my office without looking back.
When I returned tomorrow, I wouldn’t be telling Chester about the baby. I would be telling him I quit.
Chapter 26
Chester
I gripped the armrests on either side of the cream leather seats, my knuckles turning a shade of white as the plane began rumbling down the runway.
“You’d think you would be used to this by now,” said Will in amusement as he looked over at me from his own seat, a glass of bourbon in hand.
“And you’d think it would be too early forthat.”I nodded toward the amber liquid that swirled around in the glass tumbler he held.
“It might help your nerves.” He raised his glass and took a sip. “Plus, who knows what we are walking into back in New York. Drink up.”
I rolled my eyes, letting out a small chuckle. He was right. We had no idea what was going to happen once I returned to the city to face my blackmailer and Juliet. Both had my stomach racked with nerves. I was thankful Will had ended his Vegas trip early to fly back with me, even if he was getting pleasure out of my fear of flying.
The plane began to gain speed, the rumbling of the plane smoothing out slightly as the blur of the runway flashed by the circular windows of the jet. It was a small jet, one I had acquired two years ago to make traveling easier, more comfortable. If anything else, it at least helped my pride of not having to show my fear to the other passengers in first class.
Finally, the runway began to fade away as the plane ascended into the clear blue sky, and I was able to calm my nerves slightly. The takeoff and landing were the worst parts. Now, I could settle into my seat and try to rest for the five-hour trip. My sleep had been restless and short for the past week, ever since I had received that email. Ever since I had pushed Juliet away because of it.
I leaned my seat back and closed my eyes.
“So, what are you going to say to Juliet?” asked Will.
I opened one eye, annoyed at the interruption.
“Hello? Trying to sleep here,” I said, closing my eyes again and settling my hands over my chest.
“Oh, come on,” he said. “You are going to see her tomorrow…”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve got it figured out,” I lied.
“Liar,” Will muttered.
I propped myself up on my elbows and glared at him as he sat smugly in the seat across from me, halfway through his bourbon.
“Not everyone is a master with words,” I said, rolling my eyes. “We can’t all be songwriters.”
Will laughed, his eyes crinkling around the corners as he lifted his drink and took a long swig. “True. Very true.”
A thought striking him, he reached down and pulled his leather duffel bag on his lap, unzipping the top. He rummaged through it, guitar picks and strings falling out, until he produced a notepad, followed by a pen.
“Here.” He tossed them both toward me. “This might help.”
