Page 78 of The Acquisition

"Of course, I've got the keys since your father had the locks changed. I can meet you in the morning? I mean, surely there's no rush. Didn't you just get back from your honeymoon?"

I sucked in a ragged breath. "The honeymoon is over," I whispered.

Caroline sighed. "What has that idiot done now?"

I shook my head and remembered she couldn't see me. "I don't want to talk about it, but I do need somewhere to stay. It's fine, I'll just get a hotel room."

"Can you come to me? I'm not exactly dressed for going out," she suggested.

"Really, I don't want to be a bother. I'll just find a place to stay for the night. I just realized you didn't just get me my apartment back. I'll be fine."

I pulled up my bank accounts and confirmed they were indeed back under my control. Thankfully, I hadn't wandered too far away from the hospital, and I was still not far from a half dozen hotels.

A light rain started, not surprising considering it was spring in Seattle. I laughed as my clothes became heavy with water and coated my body like a layer of ice.

My misery started when I found myself cast out of my home in the rain. Deja vu was a bitch. Of all the experiences to repeat, this was far down on my list of things I wanted to relive.

Yet, I found myself embracing the icy burn caused by every drop as it hit my skin. Since I was feeling everything now, I welcomed the pain. Not only did the physical ache distract me from the hollowness where Colt had wormed his way inside me, but it reminded me why I had built the walls around my heart in the first place.

Men didn't stay with me. I was the consolation prize, the second choice, the one they settled on. No more. I was done accepting less in my life.

I was no longer under the control of my father, and as soon as I could contact a lawyer, I'd cut Colter Greyson out of my life as well. Well, as much as I could while still remaining best friends with Evie.

The bright lights of a hotel marquee finally beckoned me to get out of the rain. I stumbled into the lobby, a puddle of water forming around me. Getting a room and shedding these wet clothes should have been the first step, but the need for a drink won over immediate comfort.

Moving up to the bar, I knocked against the wood to catch the bartender's attention.

He came over and smiled at me. "You look like you're having a rough night. What can I get you?"

"A scotch, neat, please," I said while trying to subtly wring out the skirt of my dress.

"No ice?" A man slid into the stool next to me.

I gestured to myself, still dripping all over the leather seat and the floor. "I've had enough cold for the night."

"This is quite serendipitous meeting like this," he said.

"You say that like you were expecting to meet me later." I narrowed my eyes, studying him. He was handsome, mid-thirties, with a thick head of dark hair and eyes as dark as night.

He held out his hand to me. "Stryker Lawson. I'm your interim CEO. Caroline was supposed to introduce us in the next few days."

I took his hand. The tension building inside me dissipated. I was much more comfortable discussing business than fighting off advances. I might be planning to end my sham of a marriage, but I'd be faithful to him until the ink dried on divorce papers. Not to mention I was going to swear off men for the foreseeable future.

I held up my drink to him. "I don't think I'm in the mood for an in-depth discussion of business tonight, but I am glad to meet you."

Putting the glass to my lips, I swallowed a mouthful of the oaky liquid. The burn warmed my chest, chasing away some of the lingering ache from being out in the cold for so long. "You wouldn't happen to know of any lawyers that aren't Caroline, would you?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I am a lawyer."

I smirked into my glass. The alcohol made me more chatty than I'd normally be with a stranger. "Convenient, but I need a divorce lawyer."

He took a drink of his own glass and choked at my words. "I'm sorry, but I thought you just returned from your honeymoon."

"Long story, but seeing as how Caroline is my husband's good friend, I can't ask her."

"Let me look into it for you. I know that your marriage was one of the keys to expediting your takeover of the company."

I tossed back the remainder of my drink. "We can discuss this more tomorrow. I am in need of a hot shower and some sleep."

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