Page 55 of Irresistible Temptation
What the fuck?
I zoomed in on the picture, and my stomach churned with nausea, because despite the picture being captured from surveillance footage at night, I could still make out our faces clear as day. Despite being on the top floor of the highest building in that area, the camera was aimed upward, and clearly had a professional zoom.
I quickly closed out of the picture and went back to the message where there were three dots bouncing on the screen. I waited with bated breath for what message was about to come through.
Unknown:You can either go along with my demands, or this will be plastered on every tabloid in America.
“Fuck!” I yelled, slamming the marble bar top with the palm of my hand, and despite the loud music, garnering the attention of a few surrounding people. I ignored their curious glances and read the message again.
I quickly typed in the unknown number into the browser on my phone, but nothing came up. I was being blackmailed. While not the first time in my career, but this was the first legitimate threat and this time, they were armed with photographic evidence.
This would definitely kill that government contract I had worked so hard toward. Even worse, this could get me ousted from my own company. The board would see to that. Without a leader, it would tank. Even if I found a replacement, my reputation and the company’s reputation would be tarnished. Our stock value would plummet. Deals would be pulled. If Will was willing to step in to save the dumpster fire, there’s no saying if he could even save it.
It felt like the venue’s walls were closing in on me. In an already claustrophobic setting, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I set a couple hundred dollar bills on the bar top and got up from my barstool. I pushed through the crowd toward the exit doors, as Will’s guitar and voice faded away. Another show where I left early, but he would have to understand if I told him what was going on.
I wouldhaveto tell him. He was my business partner, and I had just ruined everything.
Outside on the sidewalk, I breathed in the cool night air and opened the message on my phone. I needed to respond this time. I had to find out what they wanted. If there was a way out of this. My company was at stake.
Me:Who is this?
Unknown:I’ll meet you in your office in two days. 7 AM.
Me:You didn’t answer my question.
Unknown:Two days.
I sighed frustratedly and returned my phone to my pocket, then looked up and down the sidewalk, trying to figure out the direction of my hotel. I needed to get back there and think. I spotted the tall, glass building to my right and headed in that direction. On my way, I texted Will, who would not see the message until after the show.
Me:Had to leave. Explain later.
Also, on the walk back to my hotel, I called my pilot to let him know I would need to leave earlier than expected. I wanted to be on my jet on the first flight out tomorrow morning. I needed to get back to New York. Being a thousand miles away made me feel helpless.
I also needed to figure out a way to tell Juliet…
That might be the hardest part about this.
Chapter 23
Juliet
My phone pinged on my bathroom counter. It was nearly midnight, and no one I knew would be awake, even if it was a Friday night. I picked it up curiously and saw that it was a calendar notification. I tapped on it and sucked in a breath. After no word from Chester the past few days, his first sign of life was an itinerary change on our shared calendar.
It said he had changed his flight to the next morning. He was coming back early. I hated how my heart leaped at that, knowing he would be back in New York soon. His calendar updated again, putting him back in the office on Monday morning. I could feel my nerves already rising to my throat, knowing I would see him in just two days. Maybe his time away had given him time to think. There went my wishful thinking…
Then my phone pinged again.
It was a text from Chester.
I held my breath as I opened it.
Chester:Change of plans. I’ll be back Monday. Meet me at 8 AM. It’s about your job.
I read it over again, swallowing hard. There was no warmth to it. All business. No flirt. His time away had clearly changed nothing between us, and now he had me worried about my job. He was going to fire me. I just knew it.
My hand shook as I set the phone on the counter and looked down at my other hand that was holding a pregnancy test.
It was positive.
