Page 56 of Volatile Obsessions

They’d evolved, too, which was the worst part of it all. Now, they all ended with Vic. I could start off seeing Fredrick, or James, or Ronald, or any man who’d used my body, but eventually, they all morphed into Vic.

And what they did to me was mind-numbing.

As a result, I’d been keeping my time in the office to a bare minimum. I couldn’t look at it the same, not without breaking into a sweat or goose pimples dotting my skin as my stomach churned in revolt. I kept telling myself I simply needed to work through my demons, and that time would, once again, heal these vicious wounds.

But after Roman’s surprise visit, I’d just been avoiding it at all costs.

Told Ellie—in my best congested voice—that I was feeling under the weather. We were going on four days now of my so-called super flu, but could you blame me? Black Widow used to be my safe haven, my command center, a sanctuary I’d worked so hard to build, and within days of each other, I was attacked there, twice.

Granted, Roman’s encounter had a vastly different effect on me than what Vic’s dished out, but nonetheless, it contributed to running myself mad. The sheer amount of emotions both of these men had me fluctuating through was enough to drive anyone to the point of insanity.

Regardless of my instability, though, four days was still four days of missed work, and while I knew Ellie was doing all she could to keep me up to speed, there was still a lot I was missing out on, including that meeting with Isabella.

Well, both of them.

I’d cancelled the re-schedule the day of and Miss Mendoza was obviously not pleased. If I missed this third one, I knew she’d walk, no matter how badly she wanted to work with me.

Which brings us to now.

Clicking the home button on my iPhone, I took note of the time. I’d promised Ellie I’d be there before noon.

Didn’t look like that was going to be possible after wasting so much time spiraling into the past.

I’d dragged my ass out of bed and showered, put my face on, threw on something work-appropriate, and hustled out the door less than twenty minutes later. I’d go in for this meeting and come right back home after everything was finalized—no big deal. The chances of running into either of them, Vic especially, were slim.

Or so I hoped.

When I arrived at Black Widow, Isabella was already waiting near Ellie’s desk, looking a million times more confident and prepared. She seemed a bit uptight, too, her lips a firm line when I smiled, but I suppose that was my fault with the double reschedule. The girl probably thought I was trying to play her.

I wasn’t, in case you were wondering.

“Good morning, Miss Mendoza, I’ll be ready for you in ten minutes,” I said to her as I sauntered past quickly to my office, the clip-clop of my heels echoing off the glittering floors.

Stealing a peek at an expectant—and relieved—Ellie, I motioned to my office with a tip of my head and burst through the doors. The initial sight of my desk made me shiver, but I blocked the memory out of my mind, focusing on the fact that if this meeting didn’t go off without a hitch, Black Widowwouldn’t be getting the attention it deserved.

Ellie was skittering in behind me just seconds later, a notepad in hand. “Do you need anything?” she asked sweetly, gauging my reaction.

“Tea, please, and bring one for Isabella, too. Milk and sugar on the side.”

“On it.”

She was out the door not ten seconds later, leaving me to scramble about and attempt to prepare myself for this meeting. Attempt being the operative word. Dropping into my chair, I booted up my computer and began frantically pulling things from my drawers; her file folder, a notebook, sticky notes, my favorite pen with the gold dipped Maleficent head.

I was going to need her contract as well, which I’m sure Ellie printed out at some point. I just didn’t know where it was and I was not about to go on a wild goose chase to find it.

Just print another one.

That’s when I saw the note, right as I turned to my computer to pull up my email.

Stuck on the monitor was a sticky note with Vic’s signature. The mere sight of it made my heart palpitate in all the wrong ways. That overwhelming feeling of dread dispersed through my body with such speed, I almost folded in on myself in agony.

Breathe. Just breathe, I reminded myself, inhaling deeply through my nose and out through my mouth.

He’s not here, you’re safe.

At least for now. If I kept wasting time letting him get to me, though…

Dragging my gaze back up to the note, I peeled it off the monitor in determination and quickly read the short message scribbled perfectly in the center.

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