Page 11 of You Give Wine a Bad Name

We stepped out of the elevator, the bright lights of the lobby a stark contrast to the dim, private cocoon we had just shared. But before I could dwell on the end of this unexpected encounter, something caught my eye—a figure standing across the lobby, watching me with a cruel, knowing smile.

My heart stopped cold. I froze in place, my entire body going rigid as I recognized him. The man I had hoped to never see again. The man who had haunted my nightmares for years.

Trace.

A wave of panic washed over me, and I instinctively took a step back, bumping into Bowie. He immediately noticed my change in demeanor and turned to look at me, concern etched on his face.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and urgent.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t even breathe. Goosebumps broke out over my skin, and I felt the color drain from my face. All I could do was stare at Trace, my mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. How had he found me? What did he want? And more importantly, how was I going to get out of this?

But before I could even begin to process what was happening, Trace started walking towards us, his smile widening with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

I made a small, involuntary noise—a whimper that was barely audible but enough to catch Bowie’s attention. He was at my side in an instant, his posture tense as he followed my gaze across the lobby.

“Who is that?” he asked, his voice a mix of concern and protectiveness.

“The devil,” I whispered, my voice trembling as Trace closed the distance between us.

Bowie’s eyes narrowed as he took in the tall, blonde man approaching us. I could sense the shift in him, the way his muscles tensed, ready to defend me if necessary. But Trace wasn’t the kind of man who would make a scene in a public place. No, he was far more charming, and far more dangerous.

As Trace stopped in front of us, looking as handsome as ever with a tanned face and dazzlingly white teeth, his gaze flicked between Bowie and me, his smile never wavering. “Angie,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with false charm. “Darling. It’s been too long.”

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my racing heart. “What do you want, Trace?”

He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“We were never friends,” I snapped, my fear momentarily overridden by a surge of anger.

Trace chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. “Oh, dear. Always so dramatic.” His gaze shifted to Bowie, sizing him up with a look of disdain. “And who’s this? Your new bodyguard?”

Bowie’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he took a step closer to me, his presence a silent but powerful statement of support.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Leave, Trace…Now.”

He smirked, his blue eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, darling. We have unfinished business, you and I.”

Panic clawed at my chest, but I forced myself to stand tall, to not let him see how much he was affecting me. “Whatever you think we have, it’s over. You’re not part of my life anymore.”

Trace’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, menacing glare. “We’ll see about that. You know as well as I do that we’ll always be connected.”

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, shaking with a mix of fear and anger. I watched him go, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.

Bowie was immediately at my side, his hand gently resting on my back. “Are you okay? Who was that?”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as I tried to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. “Someone I thought I’d never have to see again,” I whispered, my voice shaky.

Bowie frowned, his concern deepening. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shook my head, the thought of revisiting that dark chapter of my life too overwhelming to even consider. “No,” I said, my voice barely audible. “I just need to get out of here.”

He nodded, his expression softening as he gently guided me toward the exit. “Let’s get you somewhere safe.”

As we stepped out of the lobby into the bright morning sunlight, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread settling over me. Trace was back, and I had no idea what he wanted. But whatever it was, I knew it wouldn’t be good.

And now, Bowie was involved too.

Chapter Six

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