Obsessed(45)

"Not yet, beautiful." He pushes my phone back into my purse. "Let me talk to Gilbert first and get a sense of what we're working with and we'll draw up some contracts. Then we can discuss telling Mark." He kisses me lightly on the forehead.

"You're giving me the chance at a new life," I whimper through building tears. "How can I thank you for this?"

"I'll come up with a way or two." He smiles right before his lips slide over mine.





Chapter 17




"Thanks for the ride, Leonard." I call to him as he steps back into the car after dropping me in front of my apartment. I turn to look at it, joy running through me as I realize that soon I won't have to be here anymore. I'll be free of all the difficult memories of this place and of my former life with Mark.

"Ms. Marlow, there you are." Oliver rushes to greet me as I step into the lobby. "This arrived for you a short time ago." He hands me a rectangular box. There's no return address but the word FRAGILE is stamped in bold red letters across the front of it.

"Thanks, Oliver." I reach to rub his shoulder gently. "How's your wife today?"

"She's as wonderful as ever." His face beams.

"Perfect." I walk to the bank of elevators and press the call button. I push my purse back onto my shoulder as I fumble with the package. I'm curious about its contents hoping that it's a surprise from Jax. I hear the signal that the elevator has arrived and the door opens. I step forward without taking my eyes from the package and walk straight into someone.

"Sugar."

I freeze and my body tenses immediately. Anger rises quickly to the surface before I even look at her.

"Ivy, I've been waiting here for hours. We have to talk." Her voice is cracking.

I finally lock eyes with her and she's a mess. Her hair is unkempt, her clothing hanging from her frame. She's not wearing any make-up and the redness around her eyes is a clear sign that she's been crying. I realize in that moment how vulnerable she looks. "I don't want to talk, Liz."

"This is important." She grabs my arm forcing me to take a step back.

"Don't touch me," I seethe.

"Ms. Marlow." Oliver is standing beside me now. "Can I help?"

"I'm fine." I try to sound reassuring." We're going to talk here, in the lobby, for a moment."

"I'll be right over there." He points to the reception desk which is only a few feet from where we're standing.

"Thank you." I move towards a bench that sits adjacent to the elevators. "Why are you here?"

"You never answer my calls or texts." She takes a seat on the bench.

I sigh heavily and tap my foot against the floor. "We have nothing to talk about. Nothing."

"Jax." She blurts out. "We have to talk about him and you."

I'm instantly agitated when I hear her mention his name. "No. You don't get to say his name. We will never discuss him or anything else for that matter." I walk to the elevators and press the call button again.

"He has secrets. He's using you," she hisses loudly.

I feel assaulted again, this time by her words. I'm fuming as I turn one last time to look at her. "Go to hell, Liz." With that I step into the elevator. As the doors close I cling to the package, my body shaking from the sobs.



***



I step into my apartment and place my keys and purse on the foyer table with trembling hands. I hadn't expected to see Liz and her continued anger unnerves me. It was obvious that she wasn't going to allow me to be happy regardless of where things stood with her and Mark. For the first time since discovering they were lovers, I feel a sense of calm about their betrayal. I'm moving forward with my life and I have to stay focused on that.

I slide onto the couch with the package in my lap. I reach for the corner, ripping the tape away. The lid pops open and the contents are nestled within several layers of gold tissue paper. I carefully peel away each layer until I get a glimpse of the edge of a frame. The frame. I rip the rest of the paper away as my eyes flood with tears. It's the picture of my mother and me. The frame masterfully restored. I turn it over, surveying each corner, studying where the splintered wood had been only a few days ago. It's perfect. The glass is new and the image itself is exactly as it was. I recall Jax's words about trusting him with it. He was right. I could trust him with it, and with my future.

I reach for my phone to call him to thank him for the gift and realize I've missed a call. I excitedly check who it's from. Disappointment ripples through me at the sight of Mark's name. I need to deal with him and since I've already given Liz a small piece of my mind today, seeing Mark seems logical too.