Page 44 of Implode

What if something happens to her?

What if she needs help or runs out of money?

So many things could go wrong, and she would be all alone as she tried to figure things out.

I lean back in my office chair and rub at the tension building in the back of my neck. Tyler and I are meeting—for the second time today—in my office at HH. Most of my day has been putting out fires, so I was completely unaware that Claire even left the office early, let alone decided to take a spur of the moment trip back to Virginia. We had breakfast together in her favorite room, enjoyed each other at my desk until Tara surprised us, and then I bought her a bakery-made cookie after hitting up the ring with Graham.

Tyler did well with his hunt for the perfect pussy. I’ll give him that.

No one has come forward as to how my ex was able to roam around the building unaccompanied. Ironically, the security footage held only partial information due to a power glitch in the cameras. What are the chances that right as Tara stepped foot in the lobby, the recordings all stopped? I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in sabotage.

There are only so many security staff members who would have had access to the recording. Yet, no one stands out in my head as an obvious culprit.

“I may need you to do some investigating on how my ex got inside HH without it being detected by my staff. Something is not right with that whole situation.”

Tyler nods and continues listening to me ramble about Claire flying to Virginia. I have typed out at least six different text messages to her, resisting sending each at the last minute. According to Angie, she had a few things to take care of that required her in-person presence. I don’t like it, though. She never gave a time frame on her return, so not knowing when she will be back into the city is eating me up inside. I don’t like being this on edge. It’s not a good addition to my already pissed-off mood.

“Oh damn,” Tyler says, looking at his cell, while swiping the screen a few times.

“What? Tell me,” I demand.

“Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse…”

“Quit delaying and tell me!” I’m on the verge of hitting the wall, I’m that anxious.

“Tara Lonsinger is confirmed to have bought a ticket for the same flight back to Virginia.”

“What are the freaking chances?” I snap. I figured Tara would go back east, but I never contemplated the odds of Claire selecting the same flight as her. I can only hope their seats are on opposite ends of the plane. “What’s her seat?”

“Not near Miss Nettles.”

“See if you can upgrade Claire to first class. Keep those two even farther apart.”

Tyler nods and works at getting the airline to make the accommodation. I hope Claire remembered to bring her motion sickness medication so she is comfortable on her flight back home. I know how scattered she can be when she has a lot on her mind. I wish she was mine—in all senses of the word—just so I could insist on traveling with her. I don’t know much about her family—she never really brings them up even in casual conversation—but the fact that she spent last Christmas with mine tells me that she was not itching to go back home. Maybe there is tension there. I want to know these things. All of these memories and experiences help to sculpt a person. I would never be the man I am today without the love and devotion from my parents. It is easy for a boy to veer off path and into the wrong crowds growing up. I’m just fortunate to have had Graham and my dad always looking out for what is best for me.

I have to remind myself that I value Claire’s self-confidence and independence during times like these where she drives me to insanity. She is capable of handling so much and is very strong. While her stubbornness heightens all of my protective instincts, I know deep down that she needs someone to walk beside her and not someone always looking to be the lead. It is hard to relinquish that level of control. However, I never want to dull her sparkle or make her feel like what she needs is secondary to my own selfish ones.

I want to put Claire first. If this is what a healthy relationship looks like, then sign me up. While I have had my fair share of conquests, I have yet to have a relationship that resembles what I would call healthy. Once again, I am in new, uncharted territory. Worst part is, I don’t even think Claire considers what I’m doing as a relationship. Maybe with time, she will see that my words match my actions. Then, she’ll be able to start trusting me again with pieces of her heart.

Time. All I need is more time with her.

“Miss Nettles just got through security and made it to her gate. No sighting of Miss Lonsinger yet.”

I nod and relax a bit of the strain I am holding in the muscles of my upper body. Maybe, just maybe, this flight will be successful—and not a disaster. I hope someone is around to help her with her bags. She will probably give herself a concussion trying to avoid asking for assistance when she obviously needs it. That woman. I smile to myself thinking of her stubbornness during the flights to and from Vegas. She would rather strain a muscle than admit she could use a hand.

“Keep me updated. I’m going to need it done often.”

“Understood.”

Tyler exits my office and nearly runs into Dan who is waiting to enter.

“Mr. Hoffman, I have a lead on what went wrong this morning,” he says, eyeing Tyler. It’s Dan’s job to know who is in the building, so the exchange between the men is not shocking.

I wave Tyler off and welcome Dan inside my space. He is carrying a folder under his arm. I wasn’t expecting him, but any insight into the mix-up this morning is welcome.

“Let’s hear it.”

He takes the seat Tyler just vacated and places his hands on his lap as he collects his thoughts. “I did a little investigating and discovered that there was an electrical malfunction in the control room with the breaker. I hired an electrician to come look over the cables and make sure all of the voltages are up to code.”

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