Page 35 of Mr. Billionaire's Second Chance

The hours passed and it was starting to get dark out when I heard my cell phone ring. I rushed over to answer it, staring at the screen for a moment, as I’d completely forgotten about dinner with Preston. I knew there was no way we could be seen together right now, and I just needed some time to clear my head. Every moment I spent with Preston these past few weeks had been incredible, and he always knew just what to say to calm my doubts, but I couldn’t let that happen this time. At least not yet.

“Kat, I’m calling because I finished up at the office early and I wanted to know if I should swing by now, or a bit later,” he said.

“Hi, Preston. I actually don’t think I can make it tonight.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Y-Yes, I just have a lot of work to catch up on, and I’m not really feeling the greatest. I’ll be back to your office tomorrow,” I said.

“Do you need anything? I can-”

“No, no. That’s okay. Thank you. I’ll just see you tomorrow.”

“Alright. Good night, Kat.”

“Good night, Preston.”

I hung up the phone quickly before he could get another word in because the last thing I needed was for him to convince me to meet him anyway. I clutched the phone to my chest, wondering how I was even going to show my face at Kingsman Enterprises tomorrow, but I needed to comb through the rest of the digital files. Just do your job. Get to the bottom of this and it’ll all be over. Then, you can handle it from there.

I woke with a pounding headache and my eyes struggled to stay open as I blinked away the sleepiness I felt. I stayed up nearly all night going over every file, document, and report I could until I just couldn’t take it anymore. I tossed the covers from my legs, heading straight out to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee before I had to get ready for the day. I wasn’t looking forward to running into Preston, especially now that he could’ve very well been involved in all the things I hoped he hadn’t. The uncertainty is driving me insane. I need to put this to bed, and I need to do it now.

I glanced around the apartment looking for Poppy, but it seemed that she had already left for work. I gathered my things, getting ready to head downtown when my cell phone started ringing.

“Hello?”

“Katherine, I know you’re probably coming in today, but it’s a circus here, and I’ve sent a car for you. We’ve cleared the floor to ensure that nothing else gets in the way of your investigation and I want to apologize for how crazy the press has been. Surely you know about the leak. I have no idea how they got your name, but I promise you I will find out what happened,” said Mr. Wolfe.

I sighed, realizing this was going to be much harder than I initially thought.

“Thank you. Is Preston aware of what’s going on?”

“Yes, I’ve briefed him. You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve also tracked down the paperwork you asked for and I’ll send that to your office. Jamie has asked to look through it as well.”

“T-thank you, Mr. Wolfe.”

“My pleasure.”

Jamie wants to look through it himself? I didn’t think he’d be getting involved in this. I’m getting ahead of myself here. Maybe there’s nothing to find. Maybe this will all be over before we know it and we can finally let this go.I thought, but I worried that it wouldn’t be that simple. I headed out of my building to find a black town car waiting on the side of the street and I hopped inside.

“Good morning, Ms. Hollis,” the chauffeur greeted me.

“Good morning.”

I tried to offer up a smile, but I couldn’t. I was far too stressed and worried that everything was about to get turned on its head. One step at a time, Kat. You’re getting close to the truth. Once you know that, your decision will practically make itself.

I barely managed to get settled in my temporary office and take a deep breath before I heard a knock on the glass door. In came Preston with the electrifying scent of his cologne, his freshly pressed suit, and neatly trimmed beard. At the sight of him, every ounce of worry I had started to melt away, and that was exactly what I was afraid of.

“Kat, are you okay? I heard about what happened with the reporter and I know people are talking.”

“They’re more than just talking, Preston. They have my name and it won’t take them long to figure out where I work or where I live, or -”

“William and I have everyone we know calling in favors to shut this down. This never should’ve happened and I’m so sorry that it did. After our phone call last night, I knew something was up, and that’s when I found out what was going on. Once we know where the leak came from, anyone involved will be terminated. I’m sorry,” he said.

I began to fall right into his trap as he inched closer, wrapping his arms around me, but I quickly wiggled out of them.

“We can’t be doing this here. Not only do they know that I’m the one handling the investigation, but they also somehow know that we’ve been seeing each other. Maybe we shouldn’t. At least not for now,” I told him.

That was the moment I expected him to turn on his heel and run. I expected him to tense his jaw angrily, shaking his head, and moving onto the next woman in his sights, but he didn’t. He stood there with his arms crossed, raising his eyebrow at me, and I saw a smile curling up those perfect lips of his.

---