Page 44 of Bitter Secrets

She hung up and dialed the other number she had called so often over the past three days that she now knew it by heart. She calculated the time in Colorado as the phone rang once and went to voicemail. She called again with the same results. After a minute of debate, she got to her feet and strode in the direction Roth had gone. She stopped in the doorway of an office, which looked more lived in than the rest of the penthouse. Crowded bookshelves lined the walls, while Roth sat behind a majestic oak desk that dominated the room. A machine in the corner flashed as it scanned page after page of the hefty contract.

Roth looked up from the computer. “What is it?”

She stopped on the other side of his desk. “I can’t get in touch with your mom. It isn’t like her not to return my calls.” When he didn’t comment, she said, “You have people watching her, right?”

He didn’t respond; he just waited.

“Can you have someone check on her?”

“She’s fine.”

“I want to hear it from her.”

As seconds ticked past, her heart began to pound. Had he…? He reached into his drawer and pulled out his phone. When he jerked his chin at her, she rounded the desk. He dialed and put the phone on speaker before he held it out to her.

“Stay here while you speak to her,” he ordered.

Too relieved to care that he wanted to eavesdrop, she nodded as she took the phone. Two rings, and then she heard a wary voice on the other end.

“Hello?”

The surge of relief made her lightheaded. “Kaia, it’s me.”

“Jasmine? Are you all right?”

“Of course. And you? Are you okay?”

“Yes. A-are you married?”

She stared at the massive ring on her left hand and then at the man who had put it there. “Yes.”

“Oh, honey…” Kaia said sympathetically.

Roth's expression darkened.

She turned from him and took a few steps away as she said, “I’ve been calling you. Did you get my messages?”

“No…” A pause and then, “Do you have my new number?”

“New number? You changed it?”

The silence on the other end made her glance at Roth, who sat with his hands steepled in front of him.

“He gave you a different phone,” she guessed and shot him a withering look.

“Yes.”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Mom.”

“Come see me some time,” Kaia said hastily when she heard her son’s growl.

“I will,” she said and jogged backward as Roth came at her, looking like the human embodiment of a thundercloud. “I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m well. Thank you, Jasmine. You take care of yourself.”

---