Page 62 of Tempting All The Way

“And how the fuck is that going to help me?” he growls.

“Woah, calm down. It was just an idea. It would keep her close, and our firm manages some of the Christianson Industries contracts—which means, technically, she’d still have to workwith you on occasion,” I explain my reasoning. My family’s corporate building is one block over from where our firm is located.

“That’s fucking genius, mate. If only you could use that brilliant brain of yours to get yourself out of the shit you’re in,” he says.

“Tell me about it.”

“How are you really holding up? This isn’t easy, especially for someone like you, who’s constantly in the public eye.”

“It’s fucking soul-crushing, man. I need to clear my name. I’m just not sure how. If I offer to pay her out now, it’ll look like hush money.”

“We’ll figure something out. How is Shar taking it?” he asks.

“She’s a fucking trooper—that’s for sure. I mean, she never even questioned if I did it. She’s been my rock. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“That’s good. She’s good for you. Not sure what she sees in you though.” He laughs.

“You and me both, mate.”

I end up catching an Uber home. I may have indulged in one too many drinks. Listening to Nathan go on and on about Bentley required the alcohol. He’s like a lovesick schoolboy who doesn’t know how to get the girl. Which, for a man like Nathan, is fucking odd. He’s never been shy about going after what he wants.

Just as I’m climbing out of the Uber, my phone pings with an incoming message.

Babe:

I’m having dinner with Lucy. Won’t be home for a while. xx

I head inside. As much as I want to crash their dinner party, I won’t. Shardonnay needs her time with her friends. Even if her friends are bad influences who get her thrown in lockup. Lucy and Shardonnay have always had a close bond though. I remember the day Lucy met her. She rang me, going on and on about her new best friend. At the time, I thought she was being absolutely ridiculous, a silly teenage girl. But their friendship has withstood the test of time. I like that Shardonnay has that. As much as I want to be all she needs, I can’t be selfish.

Jumping into the shower, I wash the stench of alcohol from my pores. The hot water soothes my tense muscles. When I’m done, I decide to try to catch up on some work. I’ve been so distracted the last couple of days.

Cracking my neck, I look at the time. It’s nine p.m. I got so lost in the cases I can actually win (unlike my own) that I didn’t realise how late it was. My brows furrow. I would have expected Shardonnay to be home by now. Picking up my phone, I dial her number. It rings out, so I send her a message.

Me:

Babe, call me back.

I call Lucy, and it goes to voicemail, so I leave a message for her. “Lucy, where the fuck are you two? Call me back.”

Fuck, I try Shardonnay’s number again. And, again, nothing. Where the fuck is she? How the fuck am I meant to find them? I don’t know any of their other friends. I need to put a damn tracking device on her phone or something—that would probably make me crazy though.

I scroll through my list of contacts, and when I seeAsh Williamson, a lightbulb goes off. His cousin is always hanging around my sister lately. I hit dial and wait for him to answer.

“Christianson, what can I do for you?” Ash answers.

“I need your cousin’s number. Dominic.”

“Why?” His voice is harder, more demanding.

“I can’t find my sister or my girlfriend. I figure Dominic probably knows where Lucy is at least.”

“Give me a minute. I’ll call you back.” He hangs up, not giving me much of a choice.

I go into my closet and change out of my sweats and into a pair of jeans and a shirt. I slide my feet into my sneakers. My phone rings, Ash’s name lighting up the screen. “You get it?” I ask.

“I gotcha one better. I’m sending you their location, an address. Dominic is on his way there too.”

“How’d you find them?” I ask, walking out to the elevator and pressing the call button. These things really do take too fucking long. I need to buy a damn house and move out of this apartment.

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