Page 29 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

He grimaces. “You mean let’s throw them in the ocean?”

“What else?” I’ll need to send Kelsey a quick text, though, telling her I’m okay but to expect to not hear from me for a while.

At the beach, the salty breeze whips through my hair. Nathan and I reach the edge of the water, where the waves lazily lap against the shore.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. As the cool, salty air fills my lungs, I warm up to the idea of the tranquility and freedom that comes with being disconnected from the world. I know that once we dispose of our phones, we’ll be truly off-grid, safe from any prying eyes or potential threats.

Nathan holds both our phones and frowns at them. Clearly, this is painful for him. “Who should do the honors?”

“Rock, paper, scissors?”

He chuckles and nods. “Sounds fair to me.”

We hold out our hands and count to three in unison. On the third count, I throw out my hand in a victorious scissors, while Nathan’s hand remains flat, forming a defeated paper. A triumphant grin spreads across my face as I revel in the small victory. With a sense of purpose and determination, I reach out to take both phones from his grasp.

As I hold our devices in my hands, I think back to all the moments captured in that rectangular screen. The laughter, the tears, the conversations that seemed to last forever. But now, these phones hold more weight than just memories. They are a connection to a world that I no longer feel safe in.

I glance at Nathan, his expression mirroring my own nostalgic sentiment. We exchange a bittersweet glance, both aware of the significance of this moment. We have willingly chosen to sever our connection with the outside world, sacrificing the comforts and conveniences that come with it.

But we have to do it. There’s no choice. Personally, I would like to increase our chances of not being murdered as much as possible.

Still. It’s hard.

With a mix of apprehension and excitement swirling within me, I raise our phones above my head then release them into the ocean below. The water gently laps at the rocks, whispering a tale of freedom and release.

“It’s done.” I nod.

Nathan says nothing. He’s just staring at the water.

“You okay?” I ask.

His gaze remains fixed on the water, his mind consumed by something deeper than mere apprehension. The weight of our decision hangs heavy in the air, and I can almost hear the internal struggle raging within him.

“I don’t know,” he finally whispers, his voice barely audible above the crashing waves. “I mean, we’re cutting ourselves off from everything we know. Our friends, our families… our entire lives. It’s a leap into the unknown, and there’s a part of me that wonders if we’re making a mistake.”

My heart sinks at his words, doubt settling in my chest as the reality of our decision sets in.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and find the courage to respond. “I understand your fears. It’s natural to feel this way. But remember, we’re doing this for a reason — to protect ourselves. Your security team… they know what they’re doing, I’m sure.”

He nods. “Yeah.”

I let out a long breath, and we just stand there for a few more minutes watching the water. What else are we going to do? There’s nowhere to be, and certainly no one to talk to.

Except each other.

The thought sends a flutter through my chest, but I ignore it. This isn’t some romantic weekend getaway. My boss and I are hiding in order to save our lives!

As the waves crash against the rocks, our conversation hangs heavy in the air. The weight of our decision to go into hiding intensifies with each passing moment. The world we once knew, filled with familiar faces and routines, already feels like a distant memory. How long are we going to be here, in this cabin by the beach?

And are we even truly safe here?

Nathan finally breaks the silence. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t—”

But he’s already turned away from me.

CHAPTER 11

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