"What?" he said as he looked up. "Oh, yeah. I had a feeling about something in here."
"Have you been here before?"
"For a few parties, but not much else," he admitted as he scouted stuff out. It was Tommy's personal fucking office. He was going to get caught.
"I'll stand watch while you look around." I stepped out of the room and stood there stone still as I kept an eye out.
I wasn't even there for ten minutes when I saw Tommy walking towards me.
"What are you doing outside my office?" he asked. He wasn't angry, just curious.
"Mr. Chance has a 'friend' in there, sir. She wanted to see your books." I kept my face stone still, but the implication was clear. A slow smile spread across Tommy's face as he realized what I meant.
"Well then, give your boss a ten-minute warning. I'll be back. Who is she?"
"Some woman in a blue dress. I didn't get a really good look at her."
"I think I know just who you mean."
I had no idea. I'd made it up but I nodded and waited for him to walk away before I stuck my head in. When I did, I found him in Tommy's personal safe taking pictures.
"What are you doing?" I asked. "Tommy just came by. He needs in his office. You're damn lucky I was here, made some excuse about you and some chick in a blue dress. You need to evacuate now." I walked over and started cleaning up.
"I found some really interesting material." I'd almost forgotten who he was, but when he said that, I remembered that he was a billionaire socialite, and he sounded it. Still, he had a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
"Not now, we'll talk about it later. We need to get this all put back and you back into the damn party." I started placing things in there, using a picture on his phone to put everything back where it belonged.
When I was satisfied with it, I closed the safe and turned the knob. "How the hell did you get that thing open?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later," he said, returning the tone. "I need to slip back into the party. Do you think you could go around the long way? That way, if Tommy asks, I could say you were diverting my guest."
I nodded. "That's not a problem."
""Thank you, you probably saved my life tonight."
"That's what I'm paid to do."
Willow
The bouquet of flowers on my doorstep brightened my day the moment I saw them. It took almost an hour to convince Zach that I was well enough to go to work, but in the end I managed it.
Zach must've known that I needed a little pick me up.
How he knew my favorite flower was lilies, I wasn't sure, but I was glad to see them. I turned off my car and let out another long sigh.
This job was almost as demanding as writing a dissertation, and I had to do both. I was exhausted from last night, but sitting for three hours going over my committee's notes was enough to send me into a coma.
I picked up the vase and inhaled deeply, the sweet smell of flowers filling my senses as I thought about the way he took care of me last night. He'd even made me chicken noodle soup.
I opened the door to my apartment and walked into the little house. I loved my home. It was tiny and cozy and perfect for starting over.
I'd spent so much time trying to make it cozy with my art and the little finishing touches that make a house a home. I was never allowed to decorate on my own, everything had to be professionally done with Elijah. Every touch was paid for, everything was sterile. But this was all mine.
I put the flowers down and then pulled out the card. I'd really looked forward to being won. Honestly, anything that Zach did surprised me. I was just glad to have his presence at all.
"Miss you. I'll be seeing you soon, my little flower." -Elijah
I threw the card down in horror. It was one thing to call my phone, but to find my address? I'd made sure it was under my mother's maiden name, that I'd taken every possible step to keep him from being able to track me. From being able to find me.
I hissed as I grabbed the vase and threw it in the trash in disgust. I didn't want anything to do with him or it. I wanted them both as far from my mind as possible. Every time I thought of him, my heart sped up, my mind completely filled with anxiety, the wheels racing until I was sure he was at my door. No, this couldn't happen. It wouldn't.
I should've known that I couldn't get away from him. I should've known he would be there no matter what I did. A man like him was powerful, connected. He was the type that could just ask for a few favors and get exactly what he wanted. I was never going to be free of him, not while he still had me on his mind.
It was almost too much to bear.
I did the only thing I could think to. I grabbed my phone and dialed Zach. He was the only thing I needed in that moment to get me through it. I knew if I could just talk to him, everything was going to be alright. I wanted to keep him out of this, but I knew that I had to do something this time. I had to tell him what was happening.
"Hello?" he said, clearly groggy. He must've been up most of the night.
"Zach?" I asked.
My voice was panicked, I knew it, but I couldn't help myself. It felt my entire world was closing in on me all at once. That Elijah and his men were going to find me.
That he was going to come for me.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I need you to come. I need you here now." Tears were threatening, and I couldn't stop them. My entire body was shaking as I said the words.
"I'm on my way." He was always coming to me, it seemed.
I hoped he always would.
Zach
I didn't bother knocking. Instead, the moment I got to her house I opened the door and charged right in to find her sitting on her floor, a blanket wrapped around her, tears streaming down her face. Dammit.
What the fuck happened and who the hell did I have to kill?
I scooped Willow up off the floor and carried her to the couch, putting her on my lap, and I looked into her eyes. She was gone, at least as far as I could tell. Whoever made her cry had taken the Willow I knew and left behind a broken husk of a woman.
"What's going on, Willow?" I said it slowly, my arms wrapped firmly around her, grounding her.
I knew exactly what I was doing. It was all slow, calculated.
"I can't," she said as she burrowed into my shoulder, her tears flowing freely now as I held her.
I let her take several deep breaths, I let her cry until she couldn't cry anymore.
She needed to let it all out, but I had a feeling I knew exactly what caused this. I knew exactly who.
"What did he do?" I asked after several long minutes. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Not now that I had her. I couldn't do that. I couldn't let a man like that walk around after all that he'd done to her.
I wasn't joking when I told Ruby I would end him.
I'd do it in a heartbeat and not think twice.
"He knows, Zach. He knows where I live." She got the words out then she started sobbing again as she handed me the card that came with the flowers. "Please don't think less of me. I'm not weak."
"No, you aren't. Anyone would feel the way you do. The fact that you are willing to admit it, that you are willing to ask for help, shows just how strong you really are." I kissed the top of her head and smoothed her hair out. "Don't for a minute think you are anything less."
She nodded and looked right up at me. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing. If you need me, I'll get there. It might not be as fast as I'd like, but I'll get there." I meant what I said, I would do anything for her.
I was falling in love with Willow Ford. Dammit, it was the one thing I didn't want to do.
I tilted her head up and looked her over. "You look like you need something to eat. How are you feeling?" She sniffled then smiled at me.
Even with a red face and bleary eyes she was still the most gorgeous girl I'd ever seen.
"I could eat," she said as she bit her lip and looked me over.
Good. Because when I was done here I was going to plan just exactly how I was going to end that son of a bitch who did this to my girl.
She was mine. I knew that for sure.
I smiled at her and set her down on the couch next to me. "Let me get you something to eat."
As I walked away, I cursed to myself. I didn't need this shit. I didn't need any of it. She was a distraction, someone who was keeping me from my job. Hell, I'd left my job just last night to make sure she was taken care of instead of focusing on it. I knew I'd do it again and again when it came to her. I had to stop this shit. I had to halt whatever we were doing in its tracks.