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I believed him when he said he wouldn’t have hired me for the entire job if he wasn’t thrilled with my finished work on the hotel lobby. I had faith in him.
Even so, it was strange to think about a contract between us that had to do with money and deadlines.
My fingers traced the outline of the stylized lock hanging from my collar. Most people assumed it was a necklace. But it had a deeper meaning to it. Perhaps even more than a wedding ring, in some ways. There were women who’d never trust their husbands to do the things to them that I let James do to me. Things Icraved.
The computer pinged, letting me know it was ready for the next step on the blueprints I was building.
I trusted James, and that was what mattered. Tucking that thought aside, I hunkered down in front of the monitor and got to work.
* * *
Back aching,I lifted my head from the computer screen. Something didn’t feel right.
I’d been so focused on the rough specs I’d lost track of time. Groaning, I rubbed my lower back as I straightened to stand, feeling the pain. To relieve the stiffness, I bent forward to stretch those muscles.
After touching my toes, I interlaced my fingers and stretched my arms high overhead.
I was about to fold forward in the classic yoga pose when it hit me. Something was missing.
My music had stopped playing.
With a frown, I looked around for my phone.
Where had I put it?
“Alright,” I said, blowing out a breath. I checked my desk, my pockets, my purse, before starting a search of the office. My work office wasn’t that big, so it couldn’t be far.
I’d been so…distracted by James the night before, I’d forgotten to charge it. There was only twenty percent battery when I got here, so I’d plugged it in.
My skin prickled, roughening with goosebumps as I walked over to the large stand-up worktable. The cord for the cell phone was right there, secured to the table by a plastic clip that kept it from falling.
The phone, however, was not.
A shadow fell across the floor, and I heard a rustling sound in the darkened hallway that led to the breakroom and private rear exit.
The office was supposed to be empty.
I heard the scuff of a shoe brushing the floor. I froze. My heart pounded, and I forced myself not to gasp.
I swallowed.
Slowly, I raised my head to meet a familiar gaze.
Fifty-Four
Maximus
Lunchwith my sisters was going better than I’d thought. Zoey and I were laughing over her recap of one of her latest escapades when Gianni returned from taking a phone call in the hall.
“James.”
The sound of Gianni’s voice had me on my feet, instincts going on red alert even before I saw her face.
She strode into the room, her eyes sharp. “You know this guy?”
She shoved the phone into my hand.
I frowned at the blurry image on the screen. I zoomed in to study the vaguely familiar features.