Page 63 of Faking It with the Off-Limits Doctor

Mark had taken some time to think about that, and then he came up with what I thought was a rather elaborate and ridiculous plan.

“He’ll never fall for that,” I countered. “Alex isn’t stupid.”

“He’ll never know,” Mark said. “If you want to go and see him, and be sure he speaks to you, this is the only way.” It took Mark another ten minutes to convince me until eventually, I relented.

“Fine,” I huffed.

After leaving Mark and putting Alex’s address in my GPS, I drove out of Riverdale and made my way to the city. On a few occasions, when my mind argued against my decision, I was tempted to turn around and go back. I already felt devastated enough. The idea of having to deal with the humiliation of what Alex might say or do piled on top of that was just too much to bear.

But then I reached the conclusion that I really only had two choices. I could go to the city and try and speak to Alex, explaining what had happened and hope he would understand. Or I could go back to Riverdale and forget all about him.

My heart won’t let me consider the last option. It appears Alex Bennett has wheedled his way under my skin and is far more important to me than I first imagined. So, I continued on.

After a few wrong turns and getting myself even more stressed, I eventually park on the street. It’s now past seven and there are fewer people on the sidewalk, which I suppose works to my advantage as I walk a couple of blocks. When I get to where I need to be, I call Mark.

“I’m here,” I say, looking up at the looming building that reaches into the sky.

“Good,” he says. “Stay on the line. I’m going to call him. Are you at the entrance to the building?”

“Yep,” I say, looking around me and feeling uncomfortable.

It’s nearly dusk and I don’t want anyone thinking I’m casing the joint, though how a burglar could possibly break into a skyscraper with the security I can see is beyond me.

A guy at a desk beyond these thick glass doors eyes me up, and I don’t mean in any flattering way. Once more, I doubt if this is not the most ridiculous plan my brother has ever conjured up, but I suppose it’s too late now.

Mark comes back on the line and says, “He’s going to buzz you in. Get ready.”

And like magic, I hear the deep buzz of the locked door in front of me. Pushing it open, I step precariously inside the huge, shiny-tiled entrance.

“I’m in,” I whisper into my phone.

“Good luck,” Mark says and hangs up.

“Can I help you, Miss?” the guy behind the desk asks, standing up and looking at me suspiciously.

My heart is already thumping in my chest, and this guy is just making me feel even more nervous.

“I’m going to see Alex.”

The guard frowns.

“Dr. Bennett?” I repeat.

“Oh, of course,” he says, breaking into a smile.

Using Alex’s first name actually seems to help my cause.

“Do you know where you’re going, Miss?”

I shake my head. “Not really.”

The guard comes from behind the desk and, pointing past it and down a corridor, he says, “Take that elevator, and press the button for the penthouse.

The penthouse, huh?

I shouldn’t be surprised. He is a billionaire. But I’m still a little bit taken aback.

“Thanks,” I say, walking past him as he returns to his post.

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