Page 136 of Destined To Fall

“Make the fucking call.”

“I can’t call him!” I gasp. My heart stops at the thought. Laura shakes her head, her eyes rolling.

“No, dumbass. Makethecall andcashin your chit.” I raise an eyebrow, not quite following, and then ithitsme. Her lips curve up when she sees the understanding in my eyes, and she nods.

The wheels start turning in my head, and I pace, thinking through the possibilities. When I start mumbling to myself, Laura sits forward to better hear and pay attention, interjecting when she catches bits and offering suggestions. Next thing I know, she’s got her laptop out, and a plan is forming.

I take a deep breath and reach for my phone. My hand shakes as I scroll through it until I find his number and look back at her, biting my lip. I don’t think I can do this.

“You’ve got this.”

I give her a weak smile and hit call before pressing the speaker button and setting it on the coffee table between us, watching it like it’s a ticking time bomb. It picks up after the fourth ring.

“Maxwell.” His deep tone breaks through the thick silence in Laura’s apartment, and the breath I’ve been holding comes out in a whoosh.

“Hi,” I choke out.“It’s Viv. Vivienne.”

“Vivienne?” I hear him shift in his chair, the soft crinkle of leather coming through the speaker.“It’s good to hear from you.” The curiosity and concern are evident in his tone.“It’s been…awhile.”

“I know. I…I’m sorry.” I sigh.“I need your help.”

“Anything.”

Like the coward I am, I paid someone to pack up my apartment, leaving only the essentials to stage the place for sale, and put the rest in storage. I loved that apartment—it was the first real thing that felt like mine—but I couldn’t make myself go back. It’s so…I don’t belong there anymore. It belongs to a life I no longer inhabit.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Laura asks, handing me the final sale papers to sign.

“I’m sure.” I hope.

“Say goodbye, Vivienne.”

“Goodbye, Vivienne.”

She grins before taking the papers and heading for the door, casually throwing a singsong‘good luck’over her shoulder.

“That felt real sincere. Thanks!” I holler after her as the door closes, leaving me alone in her apartment to stew.

My heart is instantly in my throat, threatening to jump ship and escape, taking the meager contents of my stomach with it. I focus on my breathing and finish getting ready. After raiding Laura’s wardrobe and touching up my face one last time, I’m out of valid excuses not to leave.

Déjà vu hits me, unsurprisingly, when the yellow death wagon pulls up outside the familiar tall monstrosity in record time. My nerves crumble like a sandcastle under a well-placed foot. God, who thought this was a good plan? This is a horrible idea, and I’m going to kill Laura when it blows up in my face and I have to crawl back to her with my tail between my legs.

Who the hell am I kidding?I can’t do this. There is no chance I’m not going to end up eating shit. My pity party is interrupted by my watch vibrating with a text notification from Laura,highlighting that it’s ten to nine and I’m about to be late.

Fuck it.

What do I have to lose at this point? With that motivational thought, my newfound death wish, and the balls of a moron, I throw all caution to the wind and walk in through the revolving doors. The fact that I hold my breath while they spin and spit me out, and until I’m inside the elevator, is beside the point.

The doors ping open, and waiting on the other side is Maxwell.

“Good morning.” A warm smile I don’t deserve lights his face.

“Uh, hi. How long have you been waiting here?”

“No time at all.” There’s a twinkle in his eye that makes me narrow mine.“Nigel rang up when he saw you walk in.”

“Keeping tabs already. I should have known.”

“Shall we?”

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