Page 112 of Scandalous Secrets

“I think so.”

And I hoped it was true, since I came into her life. I knew she had a rocky past year, and I didn’t help. But I hoped she was happy now. That was all I wanted for her, and I wanted to be the one who could make her that way. I wanted to be the one she woke up next to and fell asleep next to. I wanted to be the one to take her on private jets to private islands, but also enjoy cheap beer and pizza on the floor of my living room. I wanted to be the one she could talk to when she felt lost or not good enough in her world of writing. I wanted to be her biggest supporter. I wanted to love her fully and openly and loudly.

A smile spread across her face, as if she was putting two and two together. “Good.”

As we filed off the plane, I gave a little wave goodbye and headed down the long hallway toward the exit of the airport, easing my way through the crowd of travelers. Out on the curb, I hailed a cab and slid into the seat. I told the driver to head to the office, where I assumed Monica would be. I had told her she didn’t need to go in, but she insisted. Her work ethic was something I admired and had never found in a partner.

I hadn’t talked to her since early this morning. After making the decision to leave the retreat early after the fight with my dad, I figured I could surprise her. Maybe I could even convince her to leave work early and come home with me. All I wanted was to be cooped up in my apartment with her, away from the rest of the world, forgetting the thoughts about the future. It was something I would figure out later. Not today.

The taxi pulled up to the curb of the stone building, which seemed even grayer today than it had ever in the past. I had never liked this building all that much. It was too hard. Too cold. There was no warmth to it. It was very much like my father. As I passed through the expansive lobby with its shiny marble floors, I glanced up at the large photo that hung behind the reception desk. I grimaced slightly.

My father and I had taken that photo when I first opened the hedge fund company. My mother insisted on us getting a portrait taken together to commemorate the occasion, but my father was the one who insisted it hung in the lobby. Probably his way of saying that this was his too, staking his claim. It wasn’t because he was proud to be next to me, his son. It was to say I wouldn’t have any of this without him. Soon, he could replace the portrait with one of just him.

I rode up the elevators, which felt like they were inching upward so slowly I might burst. It had only been a few days since I had seen Monica, since I had left her in my bed, a vision wrapped in my sheets, but I was eager to get to her. I had missed her, and I fully intended on telling her that. Showing her that. If I could just get her to leave with me before her lunch break had even started. If she missed me as much as I missed her, it would take little convincing.

I strode into the office, avoiding the glances shot my way, questioning looks of why I was here and not on the retreat. I walked down the hallway toward my office and Monica’s desk, but stopped short when I found both empty. Curious, I glanced around the office but didn’t see her. I noticed her computer screen was still lit up, which meant she wasn’t far, but I noticed her purse was gone. I checked my watch. It was nearing 11 a.m. Maybe she had taken her lunch early.

Disappointed by my failed surprise, I walked back through the office to the one person who would probably know where she was. I knocked on Kathy’s office door and she looked up in surprise when she saw me.

“Troy. What are you doing here? I thought you were on the retreat,” she said, confused.

“I cut out early,” I said, offering no explanation.

“But your father…”

“Is still in Atlantic City doing what he does best.”

“B-but—”

“Forget about it. I need to know where Monica is.”

“You just missed her. She left like fifteen minutes ago.”

“Where was she going?”

“I don’t know, but you’re not going to like who she left with…” Kathy frowned.

“What are you talking about? Who did she leave with?”

“Veronica.”

“Veronica? As in myex-wife, Veronica?”

Kathy nodded curtly. I knew she despised Veronica, which was really the only thing I liked about her.

“But why?” I asked, confused.

“I don’t know, but it seemed urgent. I tried to stop her, but they had already slipped in the elevator. Veronica…” said Kathy thoughtfully, as if remembering something.

“What? What about her?” I asked, feeling my panic rise in me.

“She seemed off. I don’t know, Troy…”

As my panic rose, my stomach sank and a bad feeling settled in. What the hell was Veronica doing here? And why did Monica go with her? She knew what Veronica was capable of and the living hell she had made my life as of late. It didn’t make sense for her to go anywhere with her.

I quickly walked out of Kathy’s office and down the hallway to my own, dialing Veronica’s phone on the way. It rang a few times, each trill dragging on until the next one. Finally, I heard a click of an answer on the other line.

“Veronica? Hello?” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

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