Page 15 of Hunted Obsession

“Yes, I was wondering if I could get in for a cut and style today at all?” I ask.

Her eyes widen, and she opens her mouth, most likely to tell me no, but then Emmie’s stylist calls out from where she is. “I can fit you in. Emmie’s got to sit while her color sets anyway.”

Perfection.

THERON

I’m notsure what possessed me to sit at the curb in front of Lucille’s place. I woke up thinking about her, then checked on my surveillance of her room and saw her messy bed, but no her. Something told me to head to her place. I couldn’t make myself go inside, though, even though I could have.

I sat at the curb until I saw her standing in front of her window, a coffee in hand, staring at the park in her view. I’ve stood at that exact window and looked at that exact view many years ago.

Then she tipped her chin, and I swear to fucking god she could see my face through the tinted windows of my car. I should wash my hands of her, delete the cameras from my feed, and forget she exists.

But I can’t.

Lucille Sanders has a hold on me that I don’t think will ever loosen.

I’m not sure how long I stay at her curb, with her eyes seemingly having X-ray vision and watching me until I leave. Easing my car into traffic, I head toward the office. With only five hours of sleep, I am fucking exhausted.

Something woke me up with a startle, and there was no going back to sleep. I say something woke me up, but it wasn’t just something. It was a nightmare—a nightmare from my past. I haven’t had one of those in years, and I know that this whole thing with Ravet is bringing that shit up.

I park in my spot, unfold from my seat, and make my way to the door. Using my fingerprint, I tug the door open and slip inside. When the lock clicks into place, I head toward my office.

I want to check on the surveillance of the Willow Club, but I decide to do that before I leave for the night. I can’t obsess over it as much as I want to. I need to distance myself, or I’ll dive so deep into it that I may not be able to dig myself back out again.

Sinking down in my chair, I power up my computer and type in my password when prompted. I have a few contracts to look over and send out for signing. As much as I want to ignore my regular work in favor of watching the Willow Club, I can’t. The business still needs to run smoothly, or we won’t get paid.

And being paid is what’s fucking important at the end of the day. We did not become who we are, in general, without making deals and cashing checks. We all have bills to pay, and if I don’t draw up contracts and get them signed, we don’t get those bills paid.

I’m not sure how long I spend working. I’ve got my head down when there is a knock on my office door.

“Come in,” I call out as I reach for the button beneath my desk that unlocks the door without looking up.

“Mr. Henderson, sir,” my assistant’s voice hesitantly calls out.

Lifting my eyes, I look across the room to Nadine. She is shifting from side to side, her eyes focused on the floor in front of her. She’s a nice girl, though a bit quiet and reserved for my taste, which is why I chose her to be my assistant. She does her job well, and I don’t want to fuck her.

It’s a win-win for me.

“Nadine,” I murmur. “You can look at me.”

Leaning back in my chair slightly, I lift my eyes to look at her directly. She brings her attention up to meet mine and gives mea trembling smile. The girl is the most nervous creature I think I’ve ever met in my life.

“Mr. Merrick stopped by and asked me if you had the contract for the new Florida job,” she murmurs. “He wants to see it before you send it off to them.”

“Thanks,” I murmur.

She dips her chin slightly, takes a step backward, and then scurries out of my office like she always does. As if her ass is literally on fire. Reaching for my phone, I send a text to Merrick and tell him that the contract is ready and he can come to my office to review it.

I also don’t understand what this is about. He’s never asked to review anything before I sent it out, so I’m not quite sure what this is concerning, and the way Nadine was acting, while not completely unusual, also was a bit shady.

A few moments later, my office door opens and it’s Merrick standing in the doorway. He jerks his chin in my direction, closes and locks the door behind him, then walks over to one of the chairs that sits across from me.

“That contract isn’t the norm,” he announces.

“It’s not the norm?” I ask. “Want to expand on that?”

He sucks in a deep breath, holds it for a moment, then lets it out slowly. “I fucked the daughter,” he announces.

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