Page 12 of Runaway Girl
I lied to the front desk and said I had an appointment with Alicia, and Felix’s secretary was too busy eye-fucking me to actually check the schedule properly.
Alicia’s office was down a secluded corridor, and I was lucky enough not to run into anyone along the way, which could only mean that my impromptu visit was meant to be.
As I approached closer, I found the door ajar as two female voices carried through.
“Have you got everything packed?” Alicia asked.
“Pretty much. This should be our last trip for a while. You sure you’re going to be okay on your own? I know you didn’t want to come back and leave him,” said the stranger’s voice.
Him? Who the fuck ishim?
“Of course, Lex. Don’t worry about me. Pour all that energy into Dad,” Alicia replied, then her voice dipped. “How is he doing?”
My foot faltered, instinct warning me to take a step back. I had never heard her so vulnerable. She was having a private conversation with Lex—hersister,Alexis.
“He’s doing surprisingly well—don’t give me that look, Ali. I mean it. For someone who has just had a stroke, he’s doing better than expected…”
The rest of their conversation filtered off as I processed the monumental news that I had fallen upon. More accurately, eavesdropped on.
I shouldn’t be here. I should not fucking be here, listening to this.
My insides were warring in existential crisis—cataloguing all the bullshit I had thrown at Alicia since she had confessed her feelings for me.
Her father had a bloody stroke, and I was so self-absorbed that I blamed her for running from me.
Oh, no.I had to get out of there.
I stumbled backward, about to retreat, but of course, fate decided to shit on me further, preventing my escape.
Alexis exited the office with a young boy tethered to her hand. She hadn’t spotted me yet, closing the door behind her.
They looked exactly like their family portraits hanging in Alicia’s apartment. A weird sensation took me over as their stationary smiles shifted to real life before my eyes.
Then she turned, her frame immediately seizing when her green orbs caught on me. Her bitter gaze made me cold, as if my brain was getting freezer burn the longer I remained in her presence.
“Um, nice to meet you,” I croaked.
“Hmm, is it?”
Why did I engage?It wasn’t a conscious thought—my mind was in survival mode, so my mouth was running on its own.
Shut your fucking mouth, idiot.
I pivoted my gaze from her narrowed one to the young boy beside her, searching for some reprieve from her unimpressed glare.
The little guy tilted his head, perusing me with open curiosity.That’s it!
I gave him my most charming, gleaming smile—the one I gave all my fans and decided would win over Alicia’s nephew.
“You want an autograph, young fella?”
“What’s an autograph?”
Umm, awkward.Metaphorical crickets sounded between us.Fucking kill me. Dead. Right now, please.
“Ahh, it’s a signature. My name for you to keep later, to show you met me.”
“Why? Who are you?”
