Page 90 of Love Under the Microscope
Fuck.
Fucking Drew.
Fucking Nigel Carrington.
Just fuck.
As Zelda’s footsteps fade, all I feel is agony and anger. Because I’ve fallen in love with her.
Oh God. I’m in love with Zelda Lowe.
And she thinks I betrayed her. Double fuck.
What the hell do I do?
A part of me feels joy. I never thought I’d love another woman like I loved Aisha. But the main part? Pain.
Aisha.
I wish you were here to tell me what to do.
Aisha always made me smile when I was exhausted from working too hard. She woke me up with breakfast in bed, even if it was a bowl of cereal or yogurt and a coffee. She forced me to take the weekends off even though I should’ve been studying or working, but the walks, the lazy days on the couch, the laughter…they really did refresh me so that the words flowed during the week.
So many memories, ones I’ve clung to since she took her last breath.
But I was wrong. I did fall in love again.
With Zelda.
And now I’ve lost the woman who means more than anything else in the world, including my job.
Well, I’ll lose her if I do nothing. I couldn’t save Aisha, but I can go after Zelda. I won’t lose her because of my asshole boss.
Fuck Drew.
I grab my keys, rush out of my apartment, and run down the stairs as fast as I can. I burst out of the building’s front door. Zelda hurries along the sidewalk in the direction that will eventually lead her to Zentello. That makes sense. Work seems to be more of a sanctuary for her than her home.
I hurry up to her and touch her shoulder. “Please don’t shut me out. Let me help you.”
She jerks away and glares at me. “Help me? You’ve helped to ruin me.”
“I swear I didn’t write that piece. My editor, Drew Hampton, who has been on me about the upcoming feature, did. I’m telling you the truth. I gave him some notes to buy us the time to get your pages back and to prove Carrington is selling rumors to the magazine. I had no idea Drew would put an alternative spin on things.”
“An alternative spin!” Her eyebrows disappear into her hairline. “That’s one way of putting it. Lies is much better.”
“I agree.” I beg her with my eyes to listen to me. “Which is why we need to work together to prove that’s exactly what they are.”
“No, Jack. I can’t trust you. Leave me alone, or I’ll scream that you’re accosting me.”
The determined anger in her eyes shows she means it, so I drop my hands to my side and step aside. She hurries away but then glances over her shoulder.
The sadness in her eyes breaks me. Whatever she believes about me, I’ll make things right. That’s why I came up with a plan, one I haven’t told her about yet.
She’s right when she mentioned me selling something to him, but she doesn’t know the specifics. I’m grateful for that. I made a deal with Nigel. I hate working with the snake, but it’s necessary. I only hope she realizes I have no other choice, and I’m doing this for her and the company she loves so much. I only hope she’ll forgive me someday.
CHAPTER 22
ZELDA
