Page 36 of Devour

UNKNOWN: Unless your plan is to come to me, go back to work.

Do I engage with this psycho and reply? Since they’re watching, I probably shouldn’t walk off to the police station alone. I could go to my office and call for help. At least get a police escort home and ask for someone to patrol my neighborhood.

ME: Hard to go to you when you’ve not told me who you are or where you are, asshole.

And Evelyn thinks I don’t have a backbone.

UNKNOWN: Watch the sass. That pretty little smirk on your face is begging for me to coat your lips in my precum.

Ew. Not a chance in hell, creeper. I raise my finger to flip off the jerk, wherever he is, but instead my eyes connect with a nice little old lady. “Ma’am, I am so sorry. That was not intended for you.”

She shuffles past me with a scowl and then in turn flips me the bird. Her scratchy voice hisses, “Cunt.”

“I – I really am…sorry.” I can’t believe she called me a cunt.

UNKNOWN: Stop terrorizing senior citizens and go to work. Your boss is already less than impressed with your performance today.

My heart becomes erratic. This has to be someone inside my building. Before I’d kind of thought my stalker could be Nicholas, which now I feel even more foolish for because why would he travel all this way to hunt me down. A small part of me wishes it was him. At least then it’d be a shared mix of fear and desire. I wanted him to come after me. Which shows how clearly unhealthy I am. Nicholas wouldn’t have knowledge of what had occurred this morning. The realization that someonewho is close to me is threatening violence has me completely immobilized. I’ve been an idiot. I should’ve called my cousins immediately. I thought I could handle this, but I find myself lacking any and all confidence.

ME: Who are you, or are we going to keep playing games?

UNKNOWN: I love playing games.

Nicholas loved playing games, too. I have to stop thinking about him. This is serious. I’m in danger yet still day dreaming about a weekend fling. Why has my life suddenly become total chaos?

UNKNOWN: Go. You’re not ready for our games. (yet).

With no other choice, I turn around and slowly walk back inside. I try to control my breathing, to no avail, as the elevator climbs up each floor. As soon as the elevator doors slide open I hurry out. Kane is chatting away with some of the other coworkers. Good to see he still has both hands.

“Miss Goodman.” Evelyn’s cool voice draws my attention. “A word.”

I need to call the police, but I follow her into her office. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her office is modern, elegant, neat, and extremely clean. She goes to stand behind her glass and steel desk. “I received a call from a very important client inquiring about you.”

“Me?”

“They want to hire you.” Hopes swells within me, but her sour expression has me tampering it down. This doesn’t seem like good news. I wait for her to continue and try to keep my facial expression neutral. She studies me a beat longer before finally taking a seat at her desk. I remain standing since she didn’t invite me to sit.

“Imagine my surprise. My most valued and trusted employee recommended you just this morning. Impressing Mr. Bradly is no easy feat.” Her nails click against the glass as she strums her fingers. “Yes, you do well with spoiled rich kids. Small charities and galas. But you lack the ambition and talent of Mr. Bradly and myself. We take on the high-profile clients. Because it’s my name and reputation that’s on the line.”

I straighten my spine. This is my moment. I won’t falter and crumble like this morning. “I’ve worked hard and continue to learn and strive for perfection with each event. Mr. Bradly has been an incredible mentor. I’m grateful for my job here and getting the opportunity to learn from the best in the business.”

She releases a humorless chuckle. “What a pretty speech. Yet, again, I’m not impressed.”

This is not going well. I’m not sure what she wants from me. I wait for her to continue.

“Your attempt to rise in the ranks, so to speak, through Mr. Bradly failed. But oh look. Now you have been personally requested by a client I can’t refuse.”

“Miss Bowman, I apologize, but I’m clueless as to who the client could possibly be. I would also like to make it very clear that I never asked Mr. Bradly to speak on my behalf. I wasn’t even aware he was going to suggest that I take on bigger accounts.”

She purses her red lips together. “These are all happy coincidences then?”

“Seems so.”

“Very well, Miss Goodman.” She stands up. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes; in fact, it looks cold and calculated. “You have a meeting with your client on Monday in the conference room. Since this is your first account of this caliber, of course, I and Mr. Bradly will sit in on it. But you will be the lead.”

“What?” I grab the chair in front of me as my knuckles buckle under her words. “Thank you so much! This is – this is – Who is it?”

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