Page 51 of Destined To Fall

“Gee, Vee, I think those G-bangers you sport are getting a little tight. You got a new client request.”

“I did? When?”

“Yesterday, but officially this morning.”

“Explain.”

“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve had a new client request that hasn’t been word of mouth, and I couldn’t find the updated forms—they must be on my other computer—so I sent the old one we made, and he filled it out almost instantly.”

“What old form? You’re losing your touch,” I tease. It’s been forever since I’ve even looked at the website or found a new client through it. It must be a good six months, or longer.

“Yeah, I know,” she grumbles.“It’s wordier than the new one we updated, but he passed with flying colors—even had medical records on hand. One hundred percent clean and fit as a fiddle.”

“That’s…odd.”

“I know, right? Normally we have to wait for the clean bill of health before we can proceed.”

“You’ve already booked me in, haven’t you?”

“Yup. I thought you could do with some more fresh blood. Mixit up a little.”

“Who is he?”

“He goes by the name Jay, and he’s a mortgage broker, single. I forget his age, though. Twenty-something, younger than you’ve had in a while. I think you’ll like this one.”

“Interesting. When?”

“Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“He checks out, and you’re free. No time like the present.”

I groan.“Text me the details. I’m going back to sleep.”

Laura’s chuckling is the last sound I hear before hanging up and staggering to my feet. What was I saying just the other day about answering to no one and controlling my own life?

I detour through the kitchen to grab a bottle of H20, the blinking light on my landline making me pause. I can’t bring myself to listen to them, knowing whom the majority came from. If it was important, they would have contacted Laura. I sigh and hit delete on the machine before making my way to bed. New client means A-game, which means I need sleep. Here’s hoping my body magically fixes itself while I snooze, and maybe my head, too. It definitely needs a new distraction.

I knock on the hotel room door as I have done numerous times before. Even still, I always get that nervous, not-quite-uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. New clients are always…new. The unknown never ceases to make my heart race just that little bit more.

I hold my breath as the door slowly opens, my mind and body racing at the possibility of what’s on the other side, but I was not expecting this.

All the breath escapes me as I come face to face with Jeremy. My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. I tighten my coat around me to hide my already hidden self.

“Vivienne.” His voice purrs with a deep, warm rumble that has every one of my nerve endings standing at attention.

“Jer…” His name gets stuck on the way out.Crap. I try to subtly clear my throat.“What are you doing here?”

My mind’s whirling a mile a minute.Am I at the wrong room?No. I don’t think this is the wrong room at all. My eyes narrow as realization dawns on me.“What amIdoing here?”

The corner of his sinful mouth twitches with just a hint of amusement.“Business?”Smart. Friggin’. Ass.

“When?”

“When what?” The amusement still colors his tone, but there’s something else I can’t make out. I refuse to play into his dumb act, and his lip twitches again.“When did I find out? How’bout you step inside, and we can…talk.”

Son of a bitch.

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