Page 55 of Dark Desires

I stop reading before I dive too deep. As much as I love my cousin, I can’t bring myself to snoop through something so personal. She deserves her privacy, even if she’s not around to guard it. The shower turns off, the sound of water stopping abruptly.

I step back from the desk and hurry out of the room. By the time I reach the hallway, I’ve already decided on my next move. I’m going to see Omar.

Tomorrow.

Whatever it takes, I’m going to figure out a way to help Stephania. She deserves to be happy—and if that means meddling just a little, so be it.

CHAPTER 18

ISABELLA

Mario’s hot on my heels as I step out of the car, the glass façade of Omar’s office building glittering in the morning sun.

“Not a good idea,” he mutters. “In fact, it’s a terrible idea.”

I tune him out.

“I just don’t see the point of this, Isa,” Mario says. We pause, and he glances up at the sleek skyscraper. “The wedding’s scheduled. You’re only going to cause trouble. And after what your dad said…”

“Oh, ye of little faith.” I give him a smirk over my shoulder as I head toward the entrance. “Let me work my magic. Trust me—you’ll see my brilliant plan before too long.”

Mario says something else under his breath, but that’s the end of it. We head inside.

The lobby is all polished marble and big, open spaces. It screams money and power—Omar’s clearly done well for himself straight out of law school. I approach the front desk.

“Hi!” I say, sounding extra chipper. “I’m looking for Omar Rose. Tall, handsome, fresh out of law school.”

“Uh huh.” The receptionist seems to sense that something’s up. “Your business?”

“I’m his girlfriend’s cousin. We’re planning a big surprise party, and he told me to come here so we could chat about it. Wait, these aren’t going to be billable hours, are they?”

I wink, but she’s not amused.

She sighs, turning to the computer.

“Let me call him to see if he’s expecting you.”

“Of course.”

She picks up the phone, and Mario pulls me aside.

“Ishe expecting you?” he asks quietly.

“I mean,no. But come on—he’sgotto talk to me when he hears who it is.”

Mario sighs, shaking his head at the realization that this whole plan of mine could be rendered null and void with a simplenofrom Omar.

“He says he can meet,” the receptionist says. “But only for a few minutes.”

“That’s all I need.”

“Come this way.”

The receptionist escorts me to the elevator, as if wanting to make sure I don’t sneak off somewhere I shouldn’t. Mario and I get in, and she presses the button for the appropriate floor.

“Please don’t do anything crazy,” Mario says. “Let’s just talk to this guy and get out.”

“Do you think I’m planning on doing a striptease in the middle of the offices?”