Page 28 of Embrace Me Forever

“What do you want to know about me, Mr. Blake?”

His gaze sharpens. “I’ve been in this business for more than half your life; I recognize every trick in the book. It’s in your best interest to be forthright with me,” he says, his voice unwavering. “Let’s start with your real name.”

My host’s stern tone snuffs out the ember of affection I felt for him. I long to return to the arms of the caring Simon Blake, comforted in his embrace, instead of sitting before this investigator. But he deserves the truth.

“I was born Mary O’Connor,” I respond. “But I despise that name because it’s my mother’s name, and she wasn’t a nice person. When I had the chance to change it, I did. Even though it’s not my original name, Georgia-May Williams is who I really am.”

“When did you change it?”

I pause, not willing to reveal everything just yet.

But he presses, “Tell me everything so I can help you.”

“Why do you want to help? Clearly, you’re suspicious of me.”

“I saved you, didn’t I?” he counters.

“You did.” I falter, unsure where to restart my confession.

He sighs. “I’ve learned to distinguish the good apples from the bad. I’m going to stick my neck out here. You’re not a bad person, Georgia-May.”

Warmth spreads through me when he calls me fondly by my chosen name. It’s as if he’s acknowledging my true self, and the show of his trust finally breaks down some of my defenses. His belief in me, despite everything, is more than I expected and exactly what I needed.

“Here’s the truth,” he adds. “I’m here to protect my bosses—andyou. So, who were those men? What were they after?”

“I used to work for an insurance company in London. They’re a major player in the industry, Bertram Insurance. They have a massive client base and wield a lot of influence.”

“Hm. I’ve heard of them.”

“I was only there for six months, but they saw enormous value in the actuarial algorithms I created. Unfortunately, they exploited them to rip people off. That’s the reason I had to leave. But they weren’t ready to let me go.”

“Clearly.”

“I was starting on a new project before I left,” I explain. “It involved a complex array of predictions that could revolutionize the insurance industry. Given the precision of my models and their alignment with real-world outcomes, Bertram was convinced I could foresee the future, even though I don’t believe that myself. I’m a scientist, but I know not everything in the universe is governed by numbers.”

He frowns, digesting what I’m saying. “That story sounds bizarre, but there’s no reason not to believe you, Georgia-May.”

“Insurance is a cruel industry, Mr. Blake.”

“Please, call me Blake.”

“Or, Simon?”

“No. Just Blake,” he emphasizes, raising his brows. “For someone who loathes her birth name, I’m sure you understand that sometimes what your parents gave you may not be something you’re proud of.”

“Do you have a middle name?”

He smirks sideways, lips sealed.

I toss him an acknowledging smile, saying, “I take it you’re not fond of that one either.”

He shakes his head and continues. “So, what those men were after has nothing to do with Hartley Marine? With the quiepa, quipa, whatever you’re proposing to Rob and Clayton?”

“QEOPA? No, not in the slightest,” I assure him firmly. “The team from Bertram was dogged in their attempts to either bring me back or make me divulge the extent of my work. So, I vanished. Changed my name, and lived off the grid. Well, until now.”

I pause, gathering my composure as I sidestep the memories of the event that killed Sebastian. The pain is still too fresh, too sharp, and I’m not ready to unearth those secrets just yet.

Blake clears his throat. “I have to hand it to you. I couldn’t find you in Denver.”

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