Page 47 of Dream Chaser

Saying the words aloud made the situation seem even more absurd. I bet Preston wouldn’t have let anyone touch what was his.

Alejandro’s expression hardened, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “They changed all of that on your property without your permission?”

I nodded. “And made a huge mess while they were at it.”

“He had no damn right to touch anything of yours.”

“I know. That’s why I need an attorney so I can file for divorce, but I don’t even know where to start.”

There was also the fact that I was too broke to have done it earlier, but Alejandro might’ve already figured that out.

Frowning, he grabbed his cell off the island and scrolled. Then he pressed it to his ear.

“Sean,” he said. “Apologies for the late hour. A friend of mine is looking for a divorce attorney. Who would you recommend? The more cutthroat, the better.”

Warmth unfurled through me. I didn’t even ask him to call anyone, but here he was, helping me like I really was a friend.

Alejandro drummed his fingers on the island, nodding. “That works. Tell him to call me. Thank you.”

He hung up, then blew out a long exhale. “My lawyer knows someone. He’ll get in touch.”

“Thank you.” My eyes stung again, this time from gratitude. I’d look for someone too, but after today, I couldn’t afford to waste time. I just hoped I’d saved enough to get started.

Alejandro set his phone aside. “I need something from you, though.”

My gaze snapped up to his.

“I need honesty,” he said. “Where have you been living in the weeks you’ve been working for me?”

The tea climbed my throat. “Alejandro, I—”

He shook his head, then pressed his folded palms to his mouth. “You should’ve told me. You should’ve been upfront and told me you had nowhere to stay.”

“It wasn’t your problem.”

“No,” he agreed. “But I’m not a fucking monster, Nova. We would’ve figured something out. You’re a young woman in a big city, and unless I’m mistaken, you have no friends or family here to rely on. That means you were in a vulnerable position, and I can’t just ignore that. No employee of mine sleeps at the office.”

The office. He knew. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip.

“My car,” I blurted. “I only slept at the office once.”

That tea must’ve had something in it that made people honest. Or maybe I was just sick of hiding the truth.

He groaned, dragging both hands through his hair. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“I don’t know. Do you feel better?”

He breathed out a laugh. “No. I’m mad. I know you were uncomfortable at first, but you should’ve told me the truth.”

“I wanted to save money to rent a place,” I said. “I still want to. I wasn’t going to sleep in my car forever.”

“You shouldn’t have had to sleep in your car at all.” He kept watching me as if his stare would summon more confessions. Who was I kidding? It would. I wasn’t strong enough to resist those eyes.

“At least Eleanor is letting me stay at her place now. I’m grateful for that.” I downed the rest of my drink, trying to mask the tremor in my jaw. I was forced to rely on kind strangers while my own mother shut the door in my face. Sleeping in my car was way less humiliating than that.

Sighing, he left the kitchen. When he returned, my shirt was in his hands.

“It’s dry,” he said. “But keep the hoodie.”