“I’ll think about it.” I shrugged, dropping the act. Maybe Christian's offer really was an option, though I meant what Isaid about going with him. I wasn’t risking my own life just because I wanted to get away for a while.
“Yeah, you fucking will.” Christian pushed himself to the edge of the chair and hit me with a serious look. “Right.” He stretched his arms forwards, palms towards me, cracking his knuckles. “Get me that information. And don’t make it obvious.”
“‘My guy’ would kick off if he heard you say that. He’s a professional.”
“Good, then maybe you’ll let me meet him one day and I can say thanks for all the awesome shit he’s pulled over the years.”
“I’ll be sure to mention it.” Though there was no way Grace would ever meet a stranger, especially a man.
And she was very particular about when I called her, so I’d have to wait until later tonight.
“Sure,” Christian said. “Okay, if that’s everything… I’m meeting with the next one of these idiots in half an hour, so I gotta prepare. I swear to God they are all the same. All guns and no brains.”
I was tempted to ask Christian if there was anything I could do about Sally’s blackmailing, but I knew if I took legal action my sisters might be left alone with Terry, and that was an even worse option.
“Have fun,” I said, swinging back to my screen.
“Oh, you fucking know I will.” He gave one last glare before he turned on one foot, and headed straight for the door.
Harry
I’ve had an intense day. Are you able to talk?
Molly, I really want to hear from you.
The vote is next week. I wish you were here. Even if you don’t go to the announcement party, it would be good to have you close to me.
Could you please answer me? Or email me? Or something?
I’d been texting her for nearly a week, but all I received were short replies about how busy she was. The near-silence worried me more than her usual essay-length messages where she outlined the pros and cons of our relationship.
The warmth and closeness that had carried me for days after our late-night session was thoroughly extinguished, and I wanted to connect to her again.
So I was trying a different tactic. Sexting was the only point since she left where it felt like we were having a proper conversation. Though the words exchanged revolved aroundpleasure rather than our actual relationship, it was enough to give me hope.
I really want to fuck my hand while thinking of you. Are you there?
I sent that when I left the office an hour ago, occasionally checking my phone just to make sure it went through. But she’d received it, and read it, and was choosing not to reply.
Throwing my phone onto the cushion beside me, I got a reproachful look. Mr Snuggles and I had been slouching on the sofa for at least half an hour, and he was not impressed. I didn’t want to move, lest I wake the hellbeast. Which gave my busy mind space to fly through all the reasons Molly might not have messaged me as our ginger fluffball purred away on my cushy stomach.
I’d sent texts to her sister and parents, and her friends, but there were no replies—and I had no idea why. Just nothing. It was like she had sent out a blanket memo and made sure that anyone attending the wedding ghosted me.
My phone went off beside me, and I moved too quickly, earning myself twenty claws in the chest and a reproachful look before my cat finally let go and hit the floor, shooting off with a hiss.
I sighed heavily, hoping it was my fiancée. It could be my assistant, or Dom, or my sisters, or even Mum if I was lucky.
But I lifted the screen in time to see a message disappearing with her name at the top.
I didn’t even notice the tight hunch of my shoulders and the hard grit of my jaw until I eased into a relieved smile.
I swiped the screen and clicked on the text, praying for news.
What are you doing?
I had hoped for something more but after so many days without real contact, I had to be satisfied with what she gave me.
Trying to relax. It’s been a long day. I had another meeting with the Board, but I still can’t tell which way they’ll go.