Page 94 of Ruin Me

“What do you suggest?” I set the food aside while I plucked at the bottle cap. I hadn’t had much of an appetite, given my circumstances.

“I know a makeup artist who’s worked on some big Hollywood movies. She can give you a new face to get through any airport. Once you get to your final destination, you can revert to your normal face.”

“How soon can your guy deliver what I need?”

“A week after we deliver your photos to him.”

“Good. The only thing I have remaining is my apartment.”

“Which I will pack up and put on the market for you.”

“Emily, you are a godsend.”

“Am I really? You’re giving up everything you’ve worked your ass off to avoid this man.”

“No, I’m keeping a promise to someone who means the world to me. If not for abiding by my word, I’d be in his arms as we speak.” And with those words, I keenly felt the loss of Kent’s embrace. I hugged myself, but my arms were a poor substitute for what I needed.

“Aw, Madison. I wish—” The doorbell’s ring interrupted Emily. She arched her brow at me in question.

I shrugged. “You aren’t expecting someone?”

“At this time? No.” She stood to leave but I grabbed her arm.

“It might be Kent.”

“Don’t be paranoid. It could be my neighbor.” She patted my hand and walked away.

I whispered at her back, “If it’s Kent, I’m not here.”

“Duh, give me more credit, please.”

Emily lived in a detached condo unit with a front and rear entrance. However, if Kent was at her front door, he didn’t come alone. I had no way of sneaking out and had to hide here. But only if the person at the front door was Kent.

I swung the bedroom door until a sliver of space remained and stood to the side to observe who Emily’s guest was.

“Whose there?” she asked.

“Kent Luxe. I’m looking for Madison.” His voice sounded gruff and tired, even muffled by distance and two doors.

My heart did a sad jig from the pain he couldn’t hide and the excitement of hearing his voice again. It was the oddest sensation, experiencing joy and sadness at the same time. The emotions struck so sharply I clutched my chest and found it difficult to catch my breath.

“Madison’s not here.”

“Emily, is it? You have a choice here. You can let me in, or I’ll force my way inside.”

At his warning, I spun around and saw all the signs I had in the room that would betray my presence. As quietly as possible, I ran around the room collecting everything. Because one thing I knew for certain was Emily had no chance of keeping Kent out of her condo. I hid everything in the closet and smoothed the covers on the bed.

When Kent’s voice increased in volume, my heartbeat skipped. I’d hidden the signs I was staying here, but my efforts would be futile if I didn’t hide in the event he decided to search every room. I glanced toward the window, but my name wasn’t Lara Croft and jumping from two stories up was not a skill I’d ever had any interest in pursuing.

Sweat slicked down my back as he neared my room, while he ignored Emily’s protests. At times like these, I wished I were more slender and able to fit in a suitcase. Hiding under the bed would be too obvious. As would the closet. That was when I spied the panel in the ceiling.

Emily had an attic.

Hopefully, Kent would pass over the panel and leave once he didn’t find me. I rushed up the foldable steps, making sure to remain quiet. I managed to close the panel as the bedroom door swung open. Unlike the guest room, the attic housed many hiding spots, but to get there I needed to move, however, any motion might alert Kent, and I couldn’t risk it.

I stuffed my hand into my mouth and lay paralyzed while Kent and Emily searched the room below me. I thought sneaking away from him while he attended the party I threw for him was hard, but being so close and pretending I wasn’t close enough to touch him was a new kind of torture I wouldn’t wish on my enemy.

“I told you she wasn’t here.” Emily’s angry statement filtered up to me. “Please, leave.”

---