Page 129 of Vacation Friends

She released a pent-up breath. She was growing weary of waiting, so knowing he would be coming down soon made her feel better. She’d been on her feet all day, and really all she wanted to do was kick back and relax.

Ten minutes later, someone exited the building.

It was Garrick. He was with three other men in suits. Two of the men walked beside him and one behind him.

When Garrick saw her, he glanced away.

Cecilia flinched.

He must not have recognized her. He probably hadn’t been expecting to see her here.

Because that was not the reaction she’d been expecting.

Nowhere close for that matter.

“Garrick,” she called taking a step behind him.

But he kept walking.

What was going on here? Was she losing her mind?

She quickened her steps, trying to catch up with him. Clearly, he hadn’t heard her.

“Garrick! It’s me. Cecilia.”

Again, he kept walking.

The man behind him paused and turned toward her.

The look in his eyes wasn’t kind. He raised a hand, and it hit her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to stop stalking Mr. Harding.”

She blinked, certain she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”

“We know about the gifts you’ve left him. How you ran past security and went to his office. How you’ve called his receptionist more than once. It needs to end. Mr. Harding is trying to be nice about this, but this is your last warning.”

As her eyes widened, she shook her head. “You don’t understand. He’s my boyfriend.”

“He said that you might say that. But we all know who you really are.”

“What do you mean who I really am?” What was he talking about?

“Listen, I think I’ve said enough.” He took a step back.

“What do you mean?”

“We all know you’re an escort.”

Her mouth dropped open. “No, I’m not. I’m his girlfriend.”

“Ma’am, he’s engaged—and not to you.”

Cecilia’s head swirled, and everything began to blur around her.

The man in front of her caught her elbows before she collapsed to the ground.

What was happening here? It was almost as if she had been dropped into an alternate reality.

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