Page 17 of Mark my Words

“No worries, address still the same?”

“Yeah,” I nodded as I unlocked my phone and returned to my emails. Chase cc’d me on the email she had sent Isobel when she decided she needed to drop off the grid for a little while. It wasn’t like it was the first time she’d done it, but typically only during the rough editing process, not when she was starting a project.

Trying to focus on being productive was becoming increasingly difficult as I found my mind wandering on the ride across town.

“You need a ride back, right?” he confirmed as he turned the corner on High Street and found somewhere to park near the restaurant.

“Yeah, not sure how long the food will take, so I’ll try to be quick.”

“Hey, it’s your wallet, not mine,” he laughed as he pulled out his phone and started to scroll through some social media app.

“Gotcha.”

When I walked inside the small restaurant, I scanned the room. Thankfully, there was only a short line, but most tables were filled with people out for breakfast. Seeing if I knew anyone when I walked into a room was a habit. My mother had taught me that you needed to be aware of your surroundings at an early age so people who may not have your best interests in mind didn’t catch you unawares. It was part of the reason I hated visiting home. Living in Boston, I didn’t have to live up to my last name. I wasn’t ‘Mason Willard’s daughter,’ and I could be a badass at work all on my own without people using me to get to him.

As I walked toward the end of the line, a distinct feminine laugh caught my attention, and I scanned the tables in the back corner of the room.

“Are you kidding me?”

Chase Rodgers, known by the pen name Chastity Rose, was sitting in the back corner at a table with a guy who looked vaguely familiar. So much for her being out of town. More like she was dodging her editor. I could walk away and pretend I hadn’t seen her, but as she glanced at me guiltily and held her hand next to her face, my feet automatically changed course and headed in their direction.

“Chase,” I sighed as I stopped next to their table, narrowing my eyes at the guilt that crossed her face. She was up to something. “So, you are alive. I was beginning to wonder.”

“Yup,” she nodded. “Still here. What are you doing here?”

“Picking up an order for dickhead. He claimed he had a craving, and his intern...” His annoyingly charming intern. “...was ‘busy.’” I tried to keep the disdain out of my voice as I mimed air quotes at busy.

Chase seemed a little shocked. “Is actually let him send you on an errand?”

Sighing, I rolled my eyes. “Those two are being weird. She’s super distracted lately, and to be completely frank, she’s pissed off at you.”

Her face pinched as she cringed. “Crap.”

Raising my eyebrow, I looked at the guy across from her, who’d been silent until then. “So, are you the reason that Chase isn’t meeting her deadlines?”

“Kristine, be nice,” Chase admonished.

“It’s just a question, Chase. He’s a big boy. He can answer questions.” His eyes widened as he looked over, and his mouth twitched as he stared at me.

“Uh...”

“Okay, so maybe he can’t.” I returned his stare, squinting as I studied his face. His eyes seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “I know you.”

He started shaking his head, looking mildly panicked. I almost felt bad for the guy as he stuttered. “I...uh. I’ve never met you.”

“No...” I tilted my head to the side, studying him. “Your face is familiar. Where do I know you from?”

“Kristine,” Chase scolded. “Leave the guy alone.”

Turning back toward her, I relented. “Fine. Maybe I’m mistaken, but I doubt it.”

“Anyways,” I took a breath and sighed again. “You better come up with something, or she’s gonna take it out on me.”

My phone started buzzing in my pocket. Fuck. Pulling it out, I sighed as I looked at the screen seeing a text from Isobel. “Damn. I’m being summoned. Good to see you, Chase. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Quickly unlocking my phone and pulling up the messages, I saw that Dickhead was getting impatient.

Isobel: Adrian is getting hangry. Any idea of when you’ll be back?

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