Page 166 of Undercover Billionaire

“We need to talk,” I called.

Jones stood between me and the open door.

I watched Kelly talk to the cop a few seconds before the door closed again.

Walker returned. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“But—”

“You need to leave, sir,” Officer Walker said.

I watched the door. It stayed closed.

“If you refuse to leave, or if you come back uninvited, I’ll be forced to write you up,” Jones said. His face had lost its friendly demeanor. “I don’t think you want that.”

I sure as shit didn’t want any paperwork on this to reach Dempsey. I was just trying to talk to her, and these assholes were overreacting. But I was on their turf, and they knew it. My badge didn’t do me any good in this situation.

Still, I stayed put.

“Do you?” Jones asked.

“Fine.” I walked toward my car.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. The text almost doubled me over.

KELLY: We both have to move on

The uniforms were still watching me when I looked back before climbing into my car.

* * *

Kelly

Tears streameddown my face as I peeked out the blinds and watched Adam walk away.

He had to go to save himself. I wouldn’t let his father ruin his career.

Breathing became difficult. This had been even harder than I’d thought. I hadn’t expected him to come over.

If I’d lapsed and opened the door, he would have seen right through me.

The cops at the door made it especially difficult. He probably thought I’d called them, but I couldn’t be that mean. Iwouldn’tbe that mean.

I collapsed on the floor, unable to watch him drive away and out of my life forever. The best thing that had happened to me was walking away, and I was letting him—I was making him.

I wiped my cheek with my sleeve and typed out the text. This was one experience I couldn’t bear to repeat. I wouldn’t survive a next time. I hit send.

ME: We both have to move on

It was the kindest thing I could do for him, for both of us.

I jerked at the sound of another knock on my door.It couldn’t be.The text was meant to keep him from coming back, not bring him here again.

“Miss Benson, it’s Officer Walker.”

Struggling to my feet, I wiped the tears away with my sleeve and opened the door.

“He’s gone now. We warned him to not come back. If he does, you need to call 9-1-1 right away.”

---