Page 100 of Mine

“Ok, I’m gonna see if I can lock up and maybe see if anyone knows anything around here. I’ll be over in a little bit,” I said, looking at the door.

“Ok, be careful. I wouldn’t be surprised if reporters started showing up,” he said, before hanging up.

If our name got out, I knew it would be an even bigger shit show. Right now, it was just local gossip, at least I hoped it was. Once we got into the gossip mill, it would spread like wildfire,and I'd be damned if her and Ro’s name got dragged through the mud.

32

Valencia

For a moment, I debated on telling the guard to lock the door and keep me here. What awaited me outside of my holding cell was probably worse than being here. It had been almost twenty hours since I was arrested, and I knew the media was probably having a field day with my situation.

They processed my release, giving back everything I had on me, including my busted-up phone that was dead, before letting me out. Noemi and Easton were waiting for me, and I had the urge to cry when they came up to me. Noemi hesitated before squeezing me in her arms, telling me how furious they were that I had been arrested. Then Easton gave me a side hug, guiding me to the nearest door and out of the station.

“How are you feeling?” Noemi asked, inspecting my face and then looking down at my hand, which was swollen and bruised.

“I feel like I’m in the twilight zone,” I said, following them to the car.

“Should we head to a doctor?” Easton asked, looking over his shoulder at me.

“I think it’s all superficial,” I said, enjoying the morning sunlight.

“Well, we can get someone to check on you immediately if we need to,” Easton said, unlocking the car.

“I think I’m fine.” I was getting tired.

“Ok, we can worry about it later,” he said, opening the back door for me.

“Ok, good,” I said, wanting nothing more than to sleep, since sleeping in jail was impossible.

“Are you hungry?” Noemi asked.

“Starving, but I wanna go home,” I said, climbing into the backseat. “I need a shower and some sleep.”

“There will probably be more reporters there,” Easton said, as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“How about you come home with us,” Noemi suggested. “I can give you some clothes, you can eat and rest.”

“Later tonight we can swing by your home and get some stuff for you,” he said, looking at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s probably for the best if you stay away from your apartment for a bit.”

I wanted to argue, throw a tantrum, just to go hole up in my apartment and wait for all of this to pass.

“Ok,” I said softly, looking out the window. “But do you think it’s smart for an employee to be staying at your house?”

“Vincent is out of town till tomorrow,” Easton said, like he had already thought of that.

“Ok,” I said, just wanting to fall asleep so I didn’t have to think about anything.

Easton parked in a garage right by the elevators. We took the elevator to the penthouse and when the doors opened, I realized how the other half lived. The view was stunning and while it was still a little opulent, it felt homey.

Noemi led me to a guest bedroom that also had a stunning view with an attached bathroom that was probably the size of my entire home. The bath was huge and had jets. The showerwas just as big with multiple shower heads. I avoided the mirror because I wasn’t quite ready to see how bad I looked.

“I have everything stocked in here, along with hair masks, face masks and any skin care you might need,” she said, opening a few drawers to show me. “I’ll leave some clothes on the bed for you, but let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thanks, Noemi, you're the best,” I said, exhaustion hitting me hard.

“Of course, get washed up,” she said, walking out.

She stopped at the door. “Should I call them?”

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