I texted Jordan and discovered he’d found a meter down the block. He waved, letting us know his location.

Liesl linked her arm in mine as we walked toward the Maybach. “Do you think you learned anything?”

I shrugged. “I’d like to believe it was all a scam on Celia’s part. But that doesn’t answer why Hudson was kissing her or why he won’t tell me the truth about it.”

“Maybe she asked him to play along. Would he do that? Or he was in on it all along.”

I bit my lip. “All of those options are possible.” I thought he’d been well at the time he’d met me, but maybe he had still been playing people. Was that what Hudson didn’t want me to know? That so recently, he hadn’t been well?

Or was it Celia he was protecting? Yet again.

* * *

The club was already open to the public when I showed up for work that night, so instead of using the employee entrance, I went through the front doors. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have seen Celia waiting in line. So much for her being bored with the game.

The doorman asked before I had a chance to remind him. “Not her, right?”

“Right.” I looked out toward the blonde once more. It was somewhat comforting to know she was still interested in tormenting me. To my sick mind, it proved that she thought I was still important to Hudson. Even if it wasn’t true any longer, at least she hadn’t gotten the memo.

As I stared at her, she waved. “Hi, Laynie.” It was the first time she’d talked to me since she’d begun her stalking.

I didn’t respond with words, but I did smile before going into the club. In about two minutes she was going to be turned down at the door. That was definitely something to grin about.

It was the last time I smiled for the remainder of the night. My shift was ho-hum and I worked my ass off keeping on top of the summer crowd, but the constant ache of missing Hudson ate at me. Everywhere I looked, I saw him—in the bubble rooms, in the office, at the bar.

By three a.m. when my shift was over, the idea of going back to the lonely penthouse had me in tears. I considered going somewhere else instead—Liesl’s, a hotel. The loft. I could go to the loft and see him. Be with the man I wanted to be with.

But why would I want to be with someone who didn’t want to be with me? That was proof that I wasn’t the person I’d once been—the person who would have gone anywhere to be with the man she was into, whether he wanted her or not.

So I ended up at the penthouse. Alone. I managed not to cry as Reynold drove me there, but the tears started before I exited the elevator. They continued while I got ready for bed, and while I checked my phone that I’d left at home during the night. Then they turned to sobs when I read the one text message I had:

Sleep tight, precious.

Tomorrow, I thought as I cried myself to sleep for the fourth time in a row. Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Chapter Sixteen

“Jordan, I need to go to Pierce Industries?” I asked when I got in the car the next afternoon. I paused, wondering if I should say that I wanted to see Hudson. It wasn’t really a lie—I did want to see him. He just wasn’t whom I intended to see.

“Certainly, Ms…Laynie.” He corrected himself before I had to. After a moment he added, “I’m sure he’ll enjoy the surprise.”

I smiled and nodded as his eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. It bothered me that he knew enough about my life and my day-to-day schedule to know that Hudson didn’t expect me. Had Hudson told Jordan he didn’t want me to come by? Then he probably wouldn’t agree to take me. But then I’d find my own way to his office—Hudson had to know that about me by now. Perhaps my driver was simply informed of my daily plans. Though it wasn’t by me, so how accurate did he expect that information to be? I wasn’t Hudson’s prisoner, after all.

Whatever knowledge the two—three, if I included Reynold—shared about me, I was convinced that Hudson was always apprised of my whereabouts. Jordan would likely text Hudson the minute I got out of the car, telling him I was on my way up.

I couldn’t stop my bodyguard from telling on me—it would risk his job. But I could buy some time. When we pulled in front of the Pierce Industries building, I leaned toward the front seat. “Give me a few minutes before you report me, will you? I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

He didn’t verbally agree, but Jordan’s smile said he’d play along.

“Thank you.” I kissed my driver on the cheek, surprising both him and me with the affection, and stepped out of the car.

Considering how destroyed my heart was, my spirits were actually almost good as I hit the elevator button for Hudson’s floor. The talk with Stacy had gone well, and that boosted my confidence that today’s appointment would follow suit. Even without Liesl accompanying me, I felt capable of accomplishment. And if all went well, I’d have answers.

Hopefully they wouldn’t be answers that destroyed me more.

I panicked only briefly as the elevator opened on Hudson’s floor. I peeked through the glass walls to Hudson’s waiting room. Except for Trish at her desk, the room was empty. Hudson’s office door was closed. If Jordan had already sent a text about me, Hudson either hadn’t read it yet or wasn’t in the building. Either way, it was good news for me.

I escaped down the hall free and clear.

Norma Ander’s office was easy to find. There were only top executives on that floor so there weren’t many to look through. I could tell from the outside that hers was smaller than Hudson’s and didn’t have a corner view. For some reason, that made me feel good. God, was I really such a spiteful bitch? No, I was simply a woman scorned.

I’d scheduled my appointment with Norma’s assistant so I already knew I’d find a male at the desk outside her door. What I didn’t know from his voice was how attractive he was. Not attractive in the dominating powerful way that Hudson was, but in the cute, nerdy way that was trendy lately. He seemed about my age or possibly a year or two older. His hair was light brown and unruly and his blue eyes were bright despite being hidden behind dark framed glasses.

How lucky was Norma to be surrounded by hotties? Maybe I needed to take a job at Pierce Industries after all so I could enjoy the view.

Like I cared about any guy besides Hudson. If I could just have that view back, I’d be happy.

The nameplate indicated his name was Boyd. I stepped up and introduced myself. “Alayna Withers to see Norma Anders.”

“Let me just buzz her to see if she’s ready for you. Please feel free to take a seat.”

The idea of sitting made me want to puke—I was much too nervous. “No, I’ll stand. Thank you.” I circled the small waiting area, pretending to study the art on the walls while stealing glances into Norma’s office. Despite her door being open, I couldn’t see her desk, and the more time I had to myself, the more I thought I’d chicken out. The meeting with her could very well backfire, after all. She may not get the whole woman-to-woman thing. The possibility of security or Hudson being phoned was quite high. Both those scenarios were unattractive.

For good or bad, I didn’t chicken out and Norma didn’t keep me waiting. “Alayna, please come in.” She stood aside to let me pass her and gestured for me to take a seat in front of her desk.

As she shut the door behind me I heard her say, “Stop it. You’re being bad.” At least that’s what it sounded like she said.

I turned back to her before sitting. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, nothing. I was talking to my assistant.”

As she crossed around to her side of the desk, I took in her space. Not only was it simpler and smaller than Hudson’s, it also lacked any aesthetic form. The room consisted of a desk, three chairs, two bookcases, and several file cabinets. Apparently Celia Werner hadn’t been hired to design all the offices—just Hudson’s.

Norma cleared her throat. Since I hadn’t initiated the conversation, it seemed she would. “I was surprised by your request to meet with me. I assume it’s about Gwen?”

When Boyd had asked the reason for my appointment with Norma, I’d simply said, “It’s personal. I’m her sister’s boss.” The implication was clear.

Also, it was totally misleading.

I sat up taller in my chair. It was lower than Norma’s and I supposed that was a tactic to make her clients feel beneath her. I wouldn’t let it affect my confidence. “No, I’m not here about Gwen. Though I may have led your assistant to believe that’s what it was about. I apologize for that deception.”

Norma blinked once. “Now my interest is piqued. Go on.”

I leveled my eyes with hers. “I’m here to ask you about Hudson.”

“Hudson?” She actually jolted in her chair from the surprise. “You couldn’t have shocked me more if you said you were here to talk about the pope. Why on earth would you be asking me about your boyfriend?”

It was the most words she’d ever spoken to me directly. It occurred to me that I knew absolutely nothing about this woman—whether she was fun or serious or compassionate or mean. She’d always acted as though she disapproved of me or I disinterested her. Was that simply because I was with Hudson? She was a woman with authority—she’d likely learned over time how to be tough, learned to thicken her skin. Was there a girl beneath her exterior that I could appeal to with my jealousies and insecurities?

I hoped so. “I’m interested in your relationship with him. With Hudson.”

Her mouth curled up on one side. “Call me a bitch, but why aren’t you asking him?”