Page 9 of Anyone But You

“You are,” I co-signed with a nod.

“You’ll never find someone better than me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She’s too cute. Look at her resolve bleeding away because of a bit of praise and a pat on the back. I can praise her more. I can talk her through it. I can pound her anger out while praising her for taking me so well. And just like that, I’m hard.

I glanced away, cursing myself for underestimating my self-control around her.

This will be an exciting adventure, indeed.

4

Diabolical AF

Victoria

Alyssa:Yooooo! That man is diabolical!

Brittney:That man is a psycho! Get away from him, sis!

Me:Yeah, that’s kind of hard to do when we’re 40,000 feet in the air.

Alyssa:You need to give that man your two-week notice IMMEDIATELY.

Brittney:Alyssa, that man literally called her airline and told them she died so he could force her on this trip. Do you think he’s gonna let her go just like that? That’s like trying to divorce a desperate ain’t shit man.

Alyssa:Shit. You’re right, Britt. He’s desperate af. That man will knock her head off.

While my friends are right to be concerned, Knox isn’t THAT crazy.

Brittney:What if he’s trying to traffick her??

Alyssa:I’m calling the laws.

Me:All right. Let’s calm down. What would you even tell them? My best friend’s boss strong-armed her into going on a business trip and paid her $100k to go?

Yeah, I’m no fucking idiot. I made that man transfer me $100k before arriving at the airport.

Brittney:Damn. You shouldn’t have taken the money, Tori.

Maybe not. But your mother also isn’t in a private pay memory care nursing home.

Me:I’ll turn it down next time. Anyway, I know y’all are probably itching to hit the beach, so I’ll talk to you two later. Have a drink for me and send me pictures.

Alyssa:We’ll check in with you often. Keep your head up, sis!

Brittney:Make his pockets hurt while you’re there!

Me:That was a given.

I tossed my phone aside and returned my attention to the sorry-ass excuse of an itinerary.

“Victoria.”

“Don’t talk to me, Knox,” I said, scrolling through the document on my work tablet, which I purposely left locked in my office because IknewI wouldn’t be doing any work while on vacation.

That’s another strike against him. He knows I don’t allow him in my office. My office is my private sanctuary—a safe space from him, if you will.