Page 106 of Destined To Fall

I shake my head, clearly losing my mind.

A few moments, seconds, minutes, I’m not sure, pass before Jeremy breaks the silence. The only sound in the room is our two heartbeats racing, against what I don’t know.

“Vivienne, say something, anything…please…”

I try.Mymouthopens, but nothing comes out. I close it again, my feet still moving backward the whole while.

“Vivienne?”

He can’t be. It can’t be true.No. Fuck. I shake my head violentlyand catchsight of how close the door is. My hand instinctively grabs the handle.

“No. No! Don’t you dare! You don’t get to leave. Vivienne—” He makes a grab for me, but I’m too quick and too far away. I spin, opening the door and slamming it shut a nanosecond later. Before he can open it again, I’ve bolted down the hall to the elevator, punching the doors closed. His anguished face is the last thing I see before they slide shut.

Chapter Twenty-One

My apartment door slams closed, and I slide to the floor. So utterly fucked. Drained in every way possible. The entire ride home in the cab, my mind was reeling. Reliving so many conversations, so many innuendos, nothing to even hint he’d never done the deed, but so many damn opportunities to spill. Why the fuck didn’t he tell me before?

Thegroanthat escapes me issoloudit reverberates throughout my silent apartment, slapping me in the face with my anguish. I can’t stay here. I need to leave.

Pulling out my cell, I dial the first, the only number I can at this point.

“Vivienne?”

“Hi, Maxwell.”

“Is everything all right? You don’t usually call. Actually, I don’t think you’ve ever called.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, but, well, I was wondering. Are you free?”

“Free?”

“Yes, tonight. Do you fancy blowing off some steam with me?”

He’s quiet on the other end of the line, no doubt as perplexed as I am that I called him.

“What the hell.”

I hold in my sigh of relief.“Excellent. How quickly can you get ready?”

At this he laughs hard.“How quickly can you?”

“Pick me up in thirty?”

“I’ll see you then,Candy.”

I chuckle and hang up the phone. Hauling my ass up, I run to my walk-in and throw together my costume. I’m putting the finishing touches on my face when my doorman, George, buzzes my apartment.

“Hey, George, I’ll be right down.”

Stuffing my cell and keys into my tiny little clutch, I hurry downstairs. But the second the elevator doors open, my heart freezes and plummets.

It’s Jeremy. Standing in the middle of the foyer.

Fuck.

“I can’t do this. You need to leave.” I say in a rush, heading past him to the glass doors and freedom.

“Nice wig, but a terrible disguise. I’d know you anywhere.”

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