Page 110 of Bargain With the Boss

Are you home?

Yes. Just arrived.

Jude:

If you need backup, I can figure it out.

My chest eased a little at the offer. I wouldn’t be taking him up on it, but I appreciated that he was willing to join me in the viper’s den.

I’ll deal with Mother. Kiss the kids for me and tell Maddie hello.

Jude:

I will. I’m sorry, Syd.

I smiled at the screen. Even my brother had the shortened name for me. I felt a lot more like that woman and wished I could have stayed in her skin.

Instead, I was back here.

Alone.

I should have gone straight to the office. It was still midday with the time change on the plane ride to the West Coast, but I needed to recharge and put Sydney Keller, Head of Design Operations back on. And that required a shower and sleep.

Even if Xavier followed me into dreams.

Sometimes, he was touching me in that teasing stroke that made my heart race. More often than not it was those accusing eyes with his hand on that fucking box.

The box that was still in my carry-on.

I couldn’t seem to make myself take it.

Which was stupid. I’d screwed things up with him. What if we’d actually created a baby? My hand slid across my middle. Would I become my mother?

No.

No, I would never screw up a kid as much as she did. At least that much I knew to be true. I sure as hell didn’t know anything else.

The driver pulled up to my condo and I got out silently.

Of course, he didn’t offer to help. I was used to it. I held my head up as I walked to my door. The only one on the block that had different flowers.

I touched one of my happy little pansies on my way in the door. Inside, the house was stuffy with disuse. I left my bags at the bottom of the stairs, dropped my keys into the bowl at the entryway and went right up the stairs. After a shower, I fell into my bed and slept for four hours straight.

I woke in the middle of the night for some food. Even if it didn’t sound appetizing, my body needed it. Ramen and a bottle of water filled the void, and I slept a few more hours.

Then I put my armor on. A Chanel suit in a soft camel color with a wine red shell. My heels were the same wine color as well as my lips. I carefully applied my makeup and took a page from the book of Taylor Swift with a winged liner.

My phone buzzed on my bedside table.

Claire:

Miss you already. Come back soon. Better yet, I can come to you.

You’d come here?

Claire:

Hell yes. Just say the word.