Page 21 of Lies You Told
“This is about Chloe.”
The shocks keep on coming. If I were to believe in gossip, which I haven’t been longer doing since Friday night. I’d think this was personal to him. Rumor was she was sleeping with Franchesca’s dad. I guessed when people knew she wasn’t going to fight back; they could say anything.
“I hear you have a private investigator looking into your Professor.”
I stop breathing for a second. My poker face is out of the window. How the hell would Greyson know that?
“I paid a lot of money for people to find information. It seems not hard enough, judging by the reports I’m getting. How did you find out?” He asks me matter-of-factly. “Because I know Chloe and you arenotfriends.”
“She told me Friday night.” That is all I tell him. I feel like I’m being backed against the wall. I don’t like it, not one bit.
“Blake called Monday wanting information on Chloe yesterday,” Greyson says as he stares me down. It would be unnerving if I didn’t kind of like the guy.
I feel my jaw clench just at the mention of Blake’s name. Why did that jackass get in touch with Greyson?
“It seems you know Blake’s involvement in all this.”
“I needed to know Chloe was protected. I also wanted to pay him a visit.” I can hear the anger in my voice. Remind me never to play poker with that guy. He can read me like a book.
Greyson relaxes in his chair. “You care about her?” He says, sounding surprised. I guess that’s understandable. Chloe and I have been sparring partners for as long as he’s known me.
“I’ve come to accept my involvement in this, but I don’t want her to know I’ve been looking into it.”
“I’m still surprised she told you.”
“I don’t think she was very happy about it,” I say, choosing my words carefully.
“She didn’t plan on telling me. I didn’t give her much of a choice. But I understood something was eating her up from the inside. She was starting to look sick.” Greyson was acting paternal to her right now. The last thing I want is to ruin her relationship with him. “I’ve told my investigator to share my file on him. Don’t make me regret it.”
“Has he hurt anyone else?” I ask.
“Since Chloe told me, no one.”
I nod as he stands and leaves my office.
Iget home to my apartment, throw my jacket on the chair and carry the files I decided to take home. Bryan threatened to return to town if I worked late in the office one more night this week. Considering he’s taken more trips to New York in the last couple of weeks than ever, I decided to take work home with me. I’m sure Catherine will thank me later. They’ve been married for twelve months. I’m sure she hates all his traveling.
The phone by my door rings, and I'm surprised. I’m not expecting any quests, and I’ve only just ordered food to be delivered. No way is it ready that quickly.
“Mr. Hill?” the security guy for my building says. “I have a Blake here for you. Says it's important.”
Ugh. What does he want? What’s he doing in New York? “Send him up,” I say with a bite to my voice. I open the door and make my way to the elevator for the floor, watching the numbers on the elevator rise until they get to this floor.
Blake steps off, and he looks like shit. The normally clean-shaven put-together asshole, who women seem to spread their legs for him easily, looks like he’s not slept in a week. He stinks too. The guy smells like a distillery.
“Please don’t tell me you need my legal help?” I say, still angry at him. A week ago, we were college friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while but could easily talk together over sports and a couple of drinks. Now he’s a stranger and someone I don’t want to be associated with.
“Why have you been asking around about it?” He asks, pushing his way into my apartment.
“You didn’t honestly think I was going to drop it, did you?” I ask with anger in my voice. I try to keep my voice down, though. The last thing I want is the neighbors complaining about the noise.
“I just don't understand why you care after all these years.” He stops and looks at me, spinning around. “Do you still have a hard-on for her?”
I feel my jaw clench as I stare him down.
“You do, don’t you? I mean, I know you did at the time, but…”
“What do you want, Blake?”
