Page 61 of Beyond Question

Dangerous and threatening.

I have to get out of here.

Grabbing the cellphone and rising quickly to my feet, I yank my purse from its hook and leave the office. I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t stay here.

Can’t sit still.

I don’t know if he’ll come for me, and no way of knowingwhen, but I can’t just sit in one place, a literal sitting duck, waiting for the hunter.

“I’m taking the afternoon off,” I say as I pass Rylan chatting with Lola at the receptionist’s desk.

“What? Where are you going?” Rylan asks. “Paige?”

I feel her gaze on me as I stride through the small lobby without looking back, but as I reach the front door, I realize something. Swallowing hard, I turn back to face her. My mouth has gone dry, the implications of this ticking off in my head one by one. Am I in danger? Is my daughter?

Is my business, and, in turn, my employees?

I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to Rylan because of me. My gaze drops to her pregnant belly and I almost sob, but I force myself to keep it together. I can fall apart once every last employee is out of this building and far, far away from me.

“You know what,” I say, walking back toward Rylan. “Why don’t you take the afternoon off. Go see that boyfriend of yours.” I clear my throat, shaking through the fog of fear and chaotic thoughts. “Fiancé, sorry.” I look around at the lobby as my thoughts spin wildly, then raise my voice so even my editors down the hall can hear me as I announce, “Everyone, take the rest of the day off. Go home.”

Murmurs abound as employees poke their heads out of their offices that line both hallways, but I can’t focus on any of them, not with my mind a chaotic mess of fight or flight.

Focus, Paige, fuck.

Okay, okay. I need to get to the bank, see how much I can pull from my Roth account and my 401K—

“Paige.”

I blink and Rylan stands in front of me, eyes searching mine frantically.

“What’s going on?”

I open my mouth to repeat my earlier lie, but instead, my breath catches, and then the tears return, and before I even realize it, I’ve moved to the couch, and I’m crying into my employee’s arms.

She holds me, murmuring soothing sounds as I cry. My hands tremble so hard in my lap that even clasped around one another they still shake with such force that she pulls back, frowning as she looks down at them.

The door opens behind me and I jump, nearly flying off the couch.

On time as always for their weekly lunch date, Cabot steps inside and takes one look at the two of us, then frowns as he scans the lobby. His brows knit together as he looks back at us and strides toward the couch. “What’s wrong?”

She shakes her head, then shrugs slightly.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, something’s wrong with Paige.”

With a bitter laugh, I push to my feet and shake my head. I’ve embarrassed myself enough today, thank you very much. “I’m fine. Cabot, since you’re here, please take Rylan… somewhere. Anywhere.”What are you waiting for?I want to scream at him when he doesn’t immediately break into action and whisk her away, but I shake my head again, feigning a calmness I do not feel. “Everything’s fine. Just go. Please. I’ve given everyone the afternoon off. It’s Friday.” I chuckle, but the sound is wrong.

Cabot’s frown deepens and he turns toward her. “What happened?”

She shrugs again.

“Nothing happened. She’s fine. Please, just…” I bite down on my bottom lip as a sob tries to creep up my throat. My skin itches with the need to flee, heart pounding as urgency replaces all other feelings. I have to get to the bank. What time is it? What time do they close?

How much interest have I accrued?

Can I pay him off? If I return the money I stole, will he leave me alone?

---