Page 27 of The Reality of Us
Fingers like butterknives, Alice dug through her bag, trying to find her purse. She pulled out the card and handed it over.
“It’s time for you to grow up, Alice,” he said.
He wasn’t wrong.
If only she knew what she wanted to do with her life.
10
Owen and Jessica were in the middle of a meeting when his office door burst open. Phoenix Storm fell into the room.
“Can I help you?” Owen put his pen down calmly.
“Where is she?” Phoenix demanded. His eyes were red, his beard scraggly and unkempt. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days and smelt like a few of the uni parties Camille had dragged Owen to. What had Alice ever seen in this guy?
Frankie peered around Phoenix’s shoulder before squeezing past him, fluffing her hair. The top two buttons on her blouse were undone. “Phoenix Storm is here to see you.”
Owen bristled. “Yes, thank you, Frankie. I’m with a client right now.”
“He said it’s urgent.”
Owen didn’t for a second think her flushed cheeks were from embarrassment, but he had bigger problems to focus on.
Phoenix paced from one side of the room to the other, muttering to himself.
“I think I’ve got everything I need for today, Jessica. We’ll reconvene next week. I’m sorry for this interruption.” He stood and buttoned his jacket, turning his attention to the furious Swede. “Let’s discuss this somewhere else.” He shooed Phoenix out into the hallway.
“Where is she? You won’t believe what she did!” Phoenix growled.
Owen pasted a bored expression on his face, determined not to let on that he had no idea what Phoenix was talking about. “If it’s in regard to your estranged wife, you should discuss it with your lawyer, not me.”
Phoenix wiped a dirty hand underneath his nose. “She kicked me out!”
Well. That was one way to send a message. Owen fired off a text to Alice, warning her Phoenix was in Wattle Junction, while Frankie fussed around the musician.
“That must have been a big shock. Maybe you’d like to have a seat? A glass of water?” she cooed.
“Nope. Time to go. Take this up with your lawyers, Mr Storm.” Owen pointed towards the front door.
“I want to see Alice.” Phoenix scratched his arm. A long, angry red welt bloomed underneath the Norse tattoos covering his pale skin. Owen had a sneaking suspicion he knew what was causing those sores and Phoenix’s erratic behaviour.
“She’s not here,” Owen said calmly. Hopefully, she wasn’t home. Or if she was, she’d see his message and wait until the coast was clear.
“Ring her then. Get her here. Tell her I’ll only play nicely for so long. She knows I can bury her.”
Owen rocked back on his heels and kept his expression neutral even though his mind scrambled, trying to decode Phoenix’s threat. Alice hadn’t mentioned anything that he might try to blackmail her with. “No.”
“I’ll knock on every fucking door if I have to.”
Owen moved closer, noticing the stale scent of alcohol. This was going to end badly. “Fine. Let’s go out the front and I’ll call her. Reception’s better out there.”
Phoenix stumbled sideways before drawing himself up to his full height. Owen hated that Phoenix was looking down at him.
“She’s not going to get away with this.”
They were almost back in the foyer. A few more steps were all he needed. “Get away with what exactly?”
“Pretending she’s a victim.”
