Page 48 of The Shadow

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I wish I could take it away from you.”

I pull her to me until our lips touch, our kiss soft and tender.

“I know, baby. I wish I could do the same for you. I can love you, though, and I plan on spending the rest of my life showing you just how much.”

Chapter 17

Aspen

“Lockbox twenty-three?” The private banker grabs her key to lead me into the bank vault where the lockboxes are kept. “We were starting to think it was a ghost that kept this box since we’ve never seen anyone open it.” She pops her gum and gives me a toothy grin.

“Oh yeah?” I laugh nervously. “Guess I didn’t realize it had been that long.”

“Well, you’re not the only person who hasn’t been here in ages. Oh well.” She shrugs, her kitten heels clacking against the tile floor. “As long as that bill is paid, we don’t care.” She waves to me before ducking out of the vault to leave me alone.

I flip the box open, glancing once over my shoulder before reaching inside to retrieve the burner phone and charger. I left them together, knowing full well that if for any reason I ever did open this box up again, I would need to charge the phone. I stuff the contents into my shoulder bag, sliding the box back in and waving to the banker before exiting the bank.

By the time I make it back to my office, my face is beet red and sweaty from rushing the last three blocks from the bank back to work. I knew I’d be pushing it by using my lunch hour, but I had to take the risk.

I close my office door softly, locking it before pulling the phone from the bag and plugging it into the charger. My hand shakes as I power on the phone, the screen coming to life with a chime a few seconds later.

I scroll to the address book, the single number still the only one programmed into it. I flip to the call log and texts, double-checking as if there’s any way someone could have accessed this phone without my knowledge.

My teeth gnaw on my lower lip as I nervously try to think through my options. Last night, after Harvey’s confession, I told him that I wasn’t sure what my plan was yet, because it was true. I thought that when I held this phone in my hand again after all these years, the answer would reveal itself. That I’d have a feeling or peace would pass over me, letting me know that reaching out to Jaxson would be the way to go.

But I hesitate.

I know without a doubt that if I do hit dial right now, Jaxson will pick up. He’ll agree to help me, no questions asked. But that’s not what I want. I snap the flip phone closed, holding down the power button and unplugging it in the wall. I’m tossing it into my purse when I hear the jiggle of my door handle.

“Aspen?” My blood runs cold when I hear Connor’s voice on the other side. “Aspen?” he says again in a flowery tone. “Why is your door locked?”

I spring out of my chair and unlock it, pulling it open. “Sorry, sir, I was just analyzing some confidential data. It’s always our practice in the IT department to close and lock our doors for security measures.” I lie confidently, using a trick I learned from him, bluffing. I keep my eyes completely focused on him knowing that if I let them drift over to look at Harvey for even a millisecond, he’ll notice.

He eyes me, then turns to close the door behind him but Harvey’s hand darts out against the door. “Excuse you?” Connor snaps.

“Following orders, sir,” Harvey says. “You said you wanted a shadow.”

My stomach drops when he slowly turns to look at Harvey.

“I think I’ll be okay,” Connor says with an attitude, then whips his head back to look at me. “Unless you’re worried your girlfriend is going to kill me?” I take the opportunity while he’s laughing to shift my gaze toward Harvey who offers me a sexy little wink just before Connor slams the door in his face and locks it.

“We need to get things moving,” he says as he tugs a chair away from the wall and takes a seat across from me. “My lawyers said we have until next week to get my financials over to my wife’s lawyers.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat that’s threatening to choke me, trying to appear confident. “I was actually going to ask you when you wanted to go over things. Show me which accounts need to be hidden.”

“Oh, you were, were you?” His tone is passive aggressive, like he’s trying to intimidate me. Normally, it would work but I meant what I said when I told Harvey I’m done being used. A fire ignites in my belly.

“Yes, actually.” I pull up my calendar. “I have this time blocked off on my calendar tomorrow. I noticed that you also had a time gap in your calendar at the same time. I was about to draft a meeting invite and send it over after I finished with my data analysis.” I stare at him unblinking, relying on the fact that I know he doesn’t know his schedule that well; it’s up to his admin to know what his day is like and tell him. He’s trying to decide if he believes me. I hold my breath, praying my on-the-spot lie about this meeting invite is enough to convince him.

“Fine,” he finally says begrudgingly. “Send me the invite.” He reaches for the door.

“Oh, one more thing,” I say, holding up my finger. “Um, I know you mentioned previously about paying off my mom’s medical debt. I just wanted to make sure that was still part of the plan if I do this?”

“If?” He laughs. “You think you have a choice still? Aspen, what don’t you get about this? If you try to tell anyone about this, you’ll go to prison for being involved and if you think you’re going to tell anyone about this”—he turns and points at me—“beforehand, we both know that little recording I have of you gets unleashed on the internet like wildfire.”

Look scared.

I nod my head furiously, sucking in a shaky breath. That sleazy smile is back on his face, the one that tells me has no idea that he’s being played. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing.

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