Page 53 of Sex, Lust & Lingerie

“Go away,” I pleaded, my voice watery.

Walter: “Ms. Long, do you want me to call security?”

“Fuck security!” I heard Jaime growl. Shit! I hoped he wasn’t going to do in the poor, soon-to-retire doorman. With his red-hot temper and brutal strength, it was a possibility.

A needle of fear ran through me as Walter’s voice cracked with panic. “Ms. Long, he’s coming up. I couldn’t stop him. I’m calling security now.”

“No, Walter. Don’t call security. Please.”

A combination of dread and despair gripped me. My heart pounded and tears fell from my eyes. I sagged down against the door into a crouching position. As I curled into a tight ball, a loud pounding sounded on the other side. Jaime.

“Gloria, let me in!”

“Go away!”

He pounded harder. “Goddamnit, Gloria. Open. The. Door.”

“No!” I sobbed.

“Just do it!” He gave the door a hard kick—so hard I could feel the vibration against my back.

“I swear I’m going to kick the door down if you don’t open up.” He began to furiously kick the door. I painfully felt each sharp, angry kick.

“Stop it!” I choked. “I’m going to call 911 if you don’t leave.” Of course, I wasn’t.

He gave the door another loud, hard kick. “Fuck you, Gloria. You’re not the only one who can fall apart.” And then the pounding, yelling, and kicking stopped. He was gone. Sobs wracked my heaving body. I buried my head between my knees and just let the tears fall. I had won the battle, but victory eluded me. I forced myself to get up and stumbled to the window that overlooked Wilshire Boulevard. Gazing down at the busy street below with my watering eyes, I watched Jaime Zander peel away in his T-bird convertible. I rubbed my throbbing finger as he raced down the boulevard and disappeared. Pain ripped through my body. My heart was still bleeding tears.

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