Page 195 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
“It’s my job to stay with you.” Hollow words spoken by soulless lips.
She drops the hand and scowls. “Whatever, I tried. Just wait here.”
Talbot jumps into action like she called him. “If you’d like, I can have a few additional security staff wait outside with him,” he says, flashing me a look as he reaches for a radio by his belt.
Fucking unbelievable.
And she turns away, her cinnamon hair slashing down her shoulders like a curtain call, right before that gold door opens and they step into the unknown.
Every instinct howls at me to charge in, don’t leave her alone.
But she begged me to let her have her moment. She pleaded to let this end with a little goddamned grace, and we both want that, don’t we?
As a couple buff guards appear at the end of the hall with their shoulders squared, staring me down, I throw myself into one of the small padded red-and-white chairs.
I stare at my phone, idly scrolling. A few short clips from Kit showing off a visit to a gardening store with my mother.
I countdown, mentally tracking every second.
Twenty minutes.
That’s all I have in me.
I’ll either see Cleo Blackthorn for the last time as she walks out, safe and sound, or else I’ll tear this place down to its studs.
25
HIGHEST BIDDER (CLEO)
Jasper Fairfax waits in the office, right next to the largest antique desk I’ve ever seen, just like Mr. Talbot promised.
It’s a lovely space. Large, well lit, bursting with colorful nineteenth century paintings on the walls. That ginormous desk dominates the room and puts the one I inherited from Gramps to shame.
The smile the art puts on my face slowly melts when I notice Fairfax’s face.
He’s shiny with sweat and he looks like he’s aged ten years from our last meeting. Tired, pale, with bloodshot eyes and dark bags around his cheeks. Has he been… crying?
What the hell?
My heart rabbits.
He reaches up and rubs his temples like he’s fighting back a blinding headache. Then he gives me this vacant smile, devoid of the energy and charm I saw before.
“Mr. Fairfax, hi. Are you feeling okay?” I ask in a small voice.
I briefly forgot Holden. Oh, but his warning comes rushing back now. So does knowing I’m in here with them alone.
“Do you, uh, need some water?”
“Such a kind girl,” he strangles out, his voice flat.
“Guys, what is this? What’s—”
I spin around just in time to see Mr. Talbot closing the door behind him and turning several locks.
Holy shit!
When Holden kept saying this could be a trap, I thought he’d totally lost it. I figured it was just his own weird way of frustrating me, reminding me I’m not good enough for Mr. High and Mighty Single Dad one more time, even if he wasn’t doing it consciously.
