Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
A knock on my office door startled me out of my thoughts, and I glanced up and saw Jack standing there.
“Hey, I just wanted to say that you put together a fantastic PowerPoint for PureGlow. They’ll be impressed at tomorrow’s meeting,” he said, then glanced at his watch. “Since everything is ready to go, why don’t you get out of here on time for a change?”
“Okay,” I said, and shut things down while Jack continued walking down the hallway, his next stop undoubtedly Valerie’s desk.
With my computer off and files put away, I grabbed my purse and followed Jack in the same direction. I had to smile when I saw him exactly where I’d suspected, talking to my sister, who smiled up at Jack in a way that told any onlooker that she was completely smitten with him.
“Are you ready to head out?” I asked Valerie, which was our normal routine, to catch the subway together back to the apartment.
“Jack and I were going to go and grab a bite to eat for dinner,” she said, looking torn. “Is that okay?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course it’s okay for you to have a life of your own,” I said playfully.
I’d be out this evening myself, as well, since I had my own plans to have dinner with Caleb and Owen. I’d already skipped Monday and Tuesday with the excuse of working extra hours to perfect the PowerPoint presentation. Caleb had been understanding, even while I’d heard the disappointment in his voice. But for me, I knew it was the right thing to do to establish that emotional distance I desperately needed between us.
I smiled at Valerie. “You two enjoy yourselves.”
“We will,” Jack said, and grinned at me, a teasing sparkle in his eye. “And don’t worry, I’ll have her home at a decent hour.”
“You’d better,” I retorted cheekily.
I left the two of them and took the elevator down to the lobby, then walked out to the street. At five fifteen in the afternoon, the sidewalk was already busy with people heading in the same direction that I was…to the subway.
I’d only taken a few steps when a hand grabbed my arm and hauled me back toward the building. Startled by the unexpected manhandling, I gasped, and when I turned my head, I saw that it was Mark who’d stopped me. Surprise rippled through me, that he’d be so bold as to approach me so aggressively in public.
“Where the fuck is she?” he demanded to know. “I figure since I can’t find her and she won’t pick up my calls, then I’ll just get what I need from you.”
Surprisingly, Mark looked well put together in a tailored business suit, but my heart leapt in my chest at the anger blazing in his eyes, and the threat in his voice. It took all my effort to remain calm even while I yanked my arm out of his grasp, which wasn’t easy to do considering how strong his grip was. I was probably going to end up with a bruise.
I jutted my chin out angrily. “First of all, don’t ever touch me again,” I said, well aware that this confrontation could have ended very differently if Valerie had accompanied me out of the building. Even still, she was probably only a few minutes behind me with Jack, and no way did I want Mark to see her and know where she was working so he could stalk her here.
“And second of all, in case you need reminding, a restraining order means stay the hell away from her,” I snapped. “She doesn’t want anything to do with you or your so-called groveling or apologies.”
I tried to step around him, but he moved in the same direction, blocking me from moving away from where he had me backed up against the glass window of the building. A small twinge of fear took hold. The people walking by didn’t pay us much attention. It was New York City, after all, and most everyone chose to mind their own business, rather than insert themselves in a hostile situation.
“You’re such a bitch,” he hissed furiously. “If you don’t tell me where she is, I’m going to make life very difficult for you.”
I grasped all the bravado I could muster. “Fuck you, Mark. Leave her alone and get a life. Your stalking behavior is pathetic, and so are you.”
This time, I pushed my way past him, but I only made it two steps before I felt his hands on my back. Before I could do anything, he shoved me hard, propelling me forward faster than my heels could keep up, and I went flying. I tried to catch myself, but ended up landing on my hands and knees on the sidewalk, the impact jarring my entire body. The scrape of the concrete against my palms and exposed knees from my skirt had me crying out, along with the pain I felt radiating up my left arm from my wrist.