Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
How did my life become this?
I remembered that Theo’s butler George had emailed me inquiring about artwork, but when I looked through my emails, I saw it had already been deleted. I usually cleaned out my inbox at the end of every day to keep it tidy. I didn’t realize at the time how much that email could help me.
It was almost lunchtime, and I would probably go to the same café I always visited. But then a thought came to me.
The restaurant where Theo first took me was just a few blocks from the gallery.
And he owned that restaurant.
Quick thoughts darted across my mind as my plan formed. I could walk down there at lunchtime. Bolton’s men would follow me, but they would stay outside in the car and watch the entrance. They probably didn’t know Theo owned the place. I doubted Bolton knew that, and if he did, he wouldn’t have mentioned it to his men. The only place they were probably told about was Theo’s residence.
My pulse pounded in my neck as the tension settled across my shoulders. The adrenaline was instant, like I was about to sprint for it. If Bolton did know that was Theo’s restaurant, he would do more than shove me against the fridge.
But fuck it, I was going for it.
I wanted to leave the gallery the second I thought of the idea, but I had to wait until lunchtime to make my babysitters believe I was just going out to lunch. I put up the sign that said the office was closed for the hour and walked a couple blocks to the restaurant. It’d only been open for an hour, but it was already packed, the tables outside full of people.
I walked inside and glanced behind me, wondering if the car that followed me everywhere would find street parking so they could keep an eye on me. When I entered, the host asked if I wanted a table for one.
I had an unusual request, but I went for it. “I know this is really strange, but I need you to call Theo. It’s important. Tell him that Astrid really needs to speak with him.”
He gave me the blankest look. “I’m sorry? Theo?”
“The owner of the restaurant.”
He still looked confused. “Um, I’m sorry. I don’t know who the owner is.”
Shit. Theo probably hired someone to do everything for him. I’d bet most people had no idea what he even looked like. “Can I speak to the manager?” The manager must know. Someone paid them to be here full time.
The host left and entered the back kitchen.
I stood off to the side so other people could be helped as I waited. It took minutes for him to come back, this time with a woman.
“You needed to speak to the owner?” she asked. “I apologize, but I can’t give out his contact information.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “Could you just ask him to come down here? Tell him that Astrid needs to speak to him.”
The look she gave me… She thought I was crazy.
“I know how weird this looks, but it’s a super-long story. I don’t have my phone to call him, but I can’t go to his place because…I just can’t. I’m running out of time. Could you please just tell him I need him? It’s important.”
“I’m sorry, but I think you should leave—”
“Please.”
“Ma’am, if I bother him with this, I’ll lose my job.”
“I promise you won’t. Trust me, he’ll come. Tell him it’s Astrid. And ask him to come in through the back.”
She continued to give me that uneasy stare.
“I’m not a crazy ex. I’m not some weirdo after his money.”
“Then what are you? Why can’t you call him?”
“Like I said, it’s a long story, and my lunch break is only forty-five minutes at the most. Just do it, please. You’re far more likely to get fired by not helping me when I need it, so please just call him.”
That seemed to give her the push she needed because she turned away. “Alright…”
I waited in the office, away from the windows where I couldn’t be seen by the guys in the car outside. There was a desk and shelves shoved full of binders and papers. It was tidy but still chaotic.
I leaned against the desk with my arms crossed over my chest, glancing at the time every few minutes, looking out the open door into the hallway that led to the kitchen. A dark mass moved into my vision, and it took a second for my eyes to accept that it was him. He rounded the corner, dressed in black jeans and a t-shirt, even though the weather was shit today. His hair was still slightly damp, either because he’d just gotten out of the shower or because it was sprinkling outside.
My heart gave a jolt at the sight of him. I pushed off the desk and wanted to launch myself straight into his arms, the place I never should have left.