Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
“I will,” I say, my hand resting on his chest, his heart thundering beneath my palm, telling me how worried he is right now, which is why I add, “I promise.”
He kisses me, a deep, drugging kiss, and then with obvious reluctance, he releases me “Let me just do this,” I say, to both of them. “I go to this job every day. This is not going to be a big deal.”
Eric steps into the foyer and gives me a nod, admiration and friendship in his eyes. We both love Grayson and in that there is a bond several years strong, a bond of understanding. He knows I have to protect Grayson and while I plan to keep my promise to Grayson, Eric knows me well enough to know that I’d sacrifice myself for the man I love. I turn away from Eric and I can’t seem to look at Grayson again and actually walk out of the door. Right now he and I are making each other crazy and I just have to push forward and leave.
I exit the apartment into the hallway and Blake is quick to step to my side. “I’m riding down with you,” he says, “but don’t acknowledge me once we’re in the car. There are cameras. I’ll exit after you when we reach the lobby. I’ll be with you all the way to the building even if you think I’m not there.”
“What don’t I know?” I ask, focused on my man, not myself. “Somehow Grayson is more on edge than he was before you arrived, and yet, he’s letting me go to work.”
“He needed to know that I take your safety seriously,” Blake says. “I told him a personal story that shook him. One I’m not telling you now, but I’ll summarize. He trusts me now. You can, too.”
We round the corner and I punch the elevator button. “Grayson doesn’t get rattled,” I say. “What the heck kind of story was it?”
“A necessary one,” he says. “And from my read on Grayson, he doesn’t get rattled unless it’s over you, which could be said of me with Kara.”
The elevator opens and my chance to find out more does as well. We step inside and it begins; the day I pretend to be oblivious to all of Ri’s bad deeds even as they work to destroy the man I love. The idea that I may have helped him by distracting Grayson grinds through me and by the time I exit the elevator and head for the exit, that’s all I can think about.
The walk to the subway is short. I enter and hurry to the bathroom, and because it’s busy, I dump my wig and coat in a bathroom stall, because that’s the only way I won’t be seen doing it. Once I leave my disguise behind, I rush out of the bathroom and toward the stairs leading to my train. I don’t see Blake again, but I can feel his energy nearby, which is far more comforting than I realized it would be considering this is my normal route to work. It’s safe, or rather it always felt as safe as you can be in New York City.
The ride is short and crowded. Once the train arrives at my stop, I exit the car, and then the tunnel, and check my watch. I have just enough time to make my normal coffee run and get to my desk and “normal” seems like a smart move today. I’m just paying for my coffee when I wonder how Blake dealt with anyone following me from my apartment, but I assume they have a plan. The fake me probably changed clothes and hair like I just did.
With my white mocha in hand, I finish my short walk to work, enter the corporate offices for the Montgomery firm and wave to the security guard Josh, as I always do. All normal things. This is a normal day, I tell myself. Just be normal. The lecture doesn’t work. Nerves assail me but I refocus on this day being just like any other. As Grayson pointed out, I have a client who needs me. I’ll use my energy to process her case. I step onto the elevator and end up chatting with a co-worker which while awkward at first, helps me settle into a calmer spot.
Soon, I’m inside the main offices, walking toward my own when I spy Kara. She’s at a desk in the cubicle area, not far from my office, and talking to my supervisor, Kevin Murphy. All is well. I’m safe. Grayson will know that I’m safe. Ri could come at me here and never get to touch me though I doubt he’d come at me. I mean, why would he?
I enter my office, put my things away and my phone buzzes immediately. “Mia?”