Page 39 of Intoxicating Pursuit

Disclosure

THE STALKER

C laudia’s phone rang as the evening sky in Los Angeles turned vibrant shades of pink and orange.

“Hey, Oscar,” she answered.

“Hey, babe. Got another update for you. This one’s juicy.”

Claudia watched traffic clash in the streets below. Sometimes, everything in life was a tangled mess. “What is it this time?”

“So, get this. He flew Sammy and her kid to his house in Oregon.”

“What?” This was moving in the worst direction. Bile stirred in her gut. “I’m really starting to hate her.”

“Yeah but hang on. It gets better. I’m stuck here—with the old lady.”

“Stuck where? . . . In Philadelphia?”

“Yup. Grandma refused to go. There’s been a death threat, and the other two took off, but she stayed.”

“With you as bodyguard?”

“You’ve got it.”

“ Ooooh. . . I think I finally know how to squeeze where it hurts.” Claudia’s mind raced with possibilities.

“Whatever Claudia. Nobody’s gonna squeeze anybody. I just thought you’d get a kick out of it.”

He was always blowing her off. Did he not get it?

“No, Oscar, wrong again. I've been stuck on location all week, getting nowhere, and this is finally a chance to apply some leverage. It’s too easy to pass up.”

“Relax, C. Why don’t we move past this crap and get to the good stuff? That will make you feel better.” He practically panted into the phone. “Are you wearing a skirt? Something that can slide up?”

She had no patience for him today. “ God , Oscar, you can be so clueless. The news you just gave me? That is the good part of this call. I’ve been looking for a way in, and you’re finally giving it to me.”

“No, I'm not.”

“Like hell you aren’t. You owe me.”

“Oh, that’s bullshit, Claudia! We’re settled up at the end of every call.”

“Not even close. Listen, when I get there, just stand down, okay?”

“ Stand down?” Oscar’s rumbling voice lost its playful edge. “Are you crazy? Listen, we can play spy games and have our happy endings on the phone, but this isn’t some public concert venue. Do not come here. You’ll blow my cover.”

“I’ll go where I damn well want.” Claudia was so sick of men who thought they owned her. . . who thought her needs didn’t matter.

“Don’t fuck with my paycheck!”

“You’re fucking with mine!”

“You listen to me.” Oscar steamed angry breaths into the phone. “If you show up here, you’re not getting anywhere near that woman. I will do my job.”

“I’ll enjoy seeing you try.” Claudia hung up, killing the line before he could get another word in.