Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“What?” Shock numbs me for a moment, but then the gravity of the situation sinks in, and I rise from my seat so fast it sends the chair rolling backward until it slams against the floor to ceiling windows behind my desk. “Someone was watching Jamie?”
“Yes,” he grinds the word out. “We need to report this to the police, and we have to call Carter.”
A wave of anger hits, knowing someone has been invading Jamie’s privacy. Walking to where my jacket is hanging, I grab it and shrug it on. “I’m going to Trinity.”
“Shouldn’t you call Carter first,” Mason argues.
“No. You can call him. Right now, I’m going to Jamie. She’s going to be scared out of her mind when she hears this. As far as I’m concerned, her well-being comes before Carter and the police,” I snap, then rush out of my office.
As soon as I walk out of the elevator on the ground floor, I pull my phone from my pocket and bring up Jamie’s number.
“Julian?” she answers her voice sounding shaky.
“You’ve heard?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way over. Stay in your suite.”
“Okay.”
I hear her exhale a trembling breath, and I add, “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
Climbing into my car, I attach my phone to the Bluetooth. “Do you want me to stay on the line while I drive over?”
“Please.” The word sounds like it’s been drenched in dread.
I start the engine and steer the car away from CRC, and not knowing what else to talk about right now, I ask, “Have you been able to catch up on the work you missed?”
Jamie sucks in another trembling breath. “I was busy working on a paper when I heard…”
When her words trail away, I ask, “What was the paper about?”
“About why the liquidating fiduciary exception should not exist.”
“You like arguing, so you’ll do great with the paper.”
She lets out a burst of laughter, but then it hitches in her throat.
Driving up to the gate of Trinity, I say, “I’m here, just parking the car.”
“Uh-huh.”
Her voice sounds so small, I decide to stop right in front of the dorm. Unplugging my phone, I bring it to my ear as I open my door and climb out. I rush inside, saying, “I’m going to hang up now.”
“Okay.”
Stepping into the elevator, I slam at the button as anger ripples through me again. I’m going to find whoever is doing this to Jamie and destroy them.
As I walk out of the elevator, I pause to phone Preston.
“Preston Culpepper speaking.”
“It’s Julian. Come up to Jamie’s suite. I want to know everything about the cameras you found.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Cutting the call, I rush to the door, and I only have to knock once before it opens, and I’m met with Layla’s pale face. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
Walking into the suite, I see Jamie standing out on the balcony. When I reach her, she glances up at me before dropping her eyes to the floor.
As I bring my hand to her chin so I can lift her face, her breaths begin to come faster. She pulls free, shaking her head, and it makes me close the distance between us so I can wrap my arms around her.
“I’m going to cry,” she mumbles against my chest, trying to pull away from me.
“No one will blame you,” I say, tightening my hold on her.
“I don’t want to cry in front of the others,” she complains.
I let her go, but only so I can take hold of her hand. I pull her to her room and close the door behind us for privacy.
Drawing Jamie back against my chest, I whisper, “Now, no one will see. Cry.”
“Julian.” Her voice catches, and instead of pushing me away again, she wraps her arms around me, grabbing hold of my jacket. Her body jerks, and she smothers a sob against my shirt.
I move a hand to her hair, caressing the silky strands, and press a kiss to the top of her head. Not knowing what to say, I can only hold her until her tears fade, and she pulls back again.
She first walks to the bedside and grabbing a tissue, she blows her nose. “Someone has been watching me.” Her voice sounds haunted, and it stabs at my heart. “There was even a camera in the bathroom.”
“We’re going to report it to the police. Mason has called them already,” I say, hoping it will offer some comfort.
Turning to face me, she lets out a burst of cynical laughter. “I wanted proof, but this…” shaking her head, she seems to get lost in a moment of despair.
A knock at her door makes both of our eyes snap toward it, but I move first to open it.
Kingsley tries to smile through her worry as she says, “Preston is here.”
I immediately walk out to meet him and say, “Tell me everything.”