Page 86 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“Yeah okay, you got me.”

I couldn’t get the sickening feeling to leave my stomach. I wasn’t sure if he really was joking or why he’d even brought up that topic. It felt wrong. In fact, the whole conversation with him felt off. I just wasn’t sure why.

“Right, well, I should really get back to it… I mean… I heard the boss is a hard arse and all.”

He winked at me before shoving off my desk and strolling out of the room without a backwards glance. And I was left wondering what the fuck had just happened.

I sat staring at my screen and feeling like so many people knew things I didn’t. What the hell was with my cousin? I needed to find out who that blonde girl was. I felt like it was important. He’d been too cagey about it.

Sighing, I realised John hadn’t come back yet. I tapped my fingers against the desk and looked at the clock. It was three in the afternoon. It was the first time I’d been truly alone for weeks. And I really wanted to take advantage of that fact.

Standing up, I got my coat and bag. I slipped out of the office, making a beeline for the stairwell. Saskia didn’t see me leave and I didn’t run into anyone else. I walked down two flights of stairs before I walked out into the lobby of the forty eighth floor and took the lift down the rest of the way. I knew the press would be outside the front, so I decided I’d slip out the back.

I got out on the street and walked towards the nearest tube station. In the midst of the crowded streets, no one noticed me. I had to change tubes a couple of times, but I finally reached the one nearest to my own house and walked the rest of the way.

I let myself in and slumped on the sofa in the living room. Aiden was going to be pissed at me for leaving the office without John and not going home, but I just wanted a minute alone to process everything. And there was something else I needed to do here.

I didn’t bother shrugging off my coat or taking my shoes off as I went into my studio. Sitting there on my easel was the half-finished painting of my dad. The one I really needed to get rid of.

I picked it up and turned it over. Using one of my tools, I separated the canvas from the wood, rolled it up and threw it in the bin. As I was walking back into the hallway, I heard the front door rattling, before it opened.

What?

My tenant hadn’t moved back in yet so it couldn’t be them. The only other person who had the keys was Aiden and it definitely wasn’t him.

When the person stopped outside my flat door and the locks started to turn, I darted into the hall cupboard. I fumbled for a moment before I found the panel. I put my hand on it and within thirty seconds, it registered who I was and the false door opened. I hurried through the doorway and down the stairs. The automatic lights had come on so I could see. The door at the top swung shut silently. I reached the bottom where a huge door lay. I placed my hand on the panel and that door opened too.

I walked into the bunker and pushed the door closed, sealing me inside the room. I tried not to panic, but someone was in my fucking house. I strode towards where the monitors were and turned them on. The display came on and showed me several angles of my flat.

I sat down in the chair and stared at the monitors. I couldn’t see the person properly. Tugging my phone out of my bag, I dialled a number. It was fucking lucky I still got signal down here.

“Princess.”

“Aiden… There’s someone in my house.”

There was silence for a moment.

“What? Why are you at the house? Where’s John?”

I knew he wouldn’t be happy about this, but I didn’t have time for explanations.

“He was speaking to Chuck. I left work because I wanted to deal with something here and I needed space. That’s not the point. Someone is in my flat. They had the key. No one has the key except you and me.”

“Avery… why the fuck would you leave the office without him?”

“Now isn’t the time. There is a man in my bedroom right now.”

“What the fuck? Are you safe?”

I watched the man on the camera walk over to my chest of drawers and climb up on top of it.

“I’m in the panic room. You know there’s cameras everywhere so I can see him… Oh… Oh my god!”

“What? What is it?”

I recognised the man. He was pulling something down from next to where my camera was situated. I leant towards the screen and then I could see exactly what it was.

“Seriously? He put fucking cameras in my fucking flat.”

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