I narrowed my eyes at her, and she narrowed her honey eyes back at me. “I’m not sure we should be talking.”
“Oh.” She tapped her chin. “You don’t trust me yet, but I can assure you, I know pretty much everything that goes on around here. And because I know everything, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you have a right to be mad.”
“Okay.” I dragged out the word, unsure what else to say.
She smiled wide and told me to follow her. She wore the brightest pink dress that matched the bright-pink purse on her arm, and she waved to a few of my coworkers as we walked to Cade’s office. Then, she opened the door for me and shut it tight behind her before fogging the windows so no one could see in.
Then, without saying a word, she rummaged in her purse and pulled out a red spray can. “You used this on one ex before, right?”
I cleared my throat. “That was a—”
“Well,” She hesitated only a moment. “There was the bed at the retreat, too, right?”
“I’m going to pay them back for—”
She uncapped the spray paint and shook it in her hands. “Do you think he likes his computers in here?”
“Sure.” I shrugged.
“Good.” She walked over to one screen and grabbed my arm to pull me over with her. Then she handed me the can.
“I personally think you should writecowardon them. He’s being a baby and isn’t sure how to handle his love for you, but he’s been a complete dick, so it might be a good idea to write that on there.”
The woman was a little off. Maybe even a lot off. But I liked her.
I liked her a lot. And I smiled the whole time I wrotedickon each one of his screens. Vick applauded me and told me she’d take care of her husband and I should come to work every day I wanted to.
So for the remainder of that week, I worked alongside my team.
For every day I was in the office, candy canes and subs were delivered. It was always paid for at the same time and without a note. The team rejoiced, saying they knew it was Cade.
I got madder.
The next week, I still couldn’t get through to him on the phone. I couldn’t see him at work because he never came to the office. And when I checked my bank account one night, I saw extra zeros behind my balance. More zeros than I’d ever seen in my life.
I called him again. No answer.
I couldn’t even track his location because he blocked me every time I tried to hack something that led me to his IP address, which proved to me that he was alive, which pissed me off more.
But I felt my fury this time. I felt it with every bone in my body.
He’d made love to me the night after rescuing me. He’d told me I held the power, and I felt it.
Felt how it swallowed me up and consumed me.
I probably went a little crazy. In all fairness, he’d told me to embrace every emotion, and I really had. Lucas told me I looked deranged during that second and third week.
By the fourth, I’d snapped at just about everyone, and then went home to wallow in the pain of being mad at him but missing him too.
Gerald continued texting me and hounding me for one meeting even if it would be our last. He seemed desperate and willing to take whatever he could get from me. I agreed mostly just to spite Cade. I’d give Gerald the closure that Cade wasn’t giving me at all.
The day was beautiful, the late fall breeze blew into the windows I’d opened, and the trees rustled with their last lingering leaves as the sun shined through the shade right into my penthouse. I texted Gerald the address and told him to make his way over.
But guess who showed up ten minutes later?
He didn’t even knock. He had a fucking key and unlocked the door to walk right in.
I didn’t move from the cozy furniture that had been placed there for me before I moved in. “Get out, Cade,” I murmured without looking up from my phone.