Page 47 of The Enemy's Daughter

“Oh.”

“Oh, is that a good oh or a bad one?”

“It’s a good one.” That didn’t tell him anything at all.

“I wish you were here,” she said.

“I could take a cab? I had a drink. I can’t drive, babe.”

“No, no, don’t worry about it. I’ll see you soon enough. Give Buster a kiss from me.”

“Will do.” He stared down at his dog, and knew he wouldn’t be kissing him on the lips at least. “Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

He hung up the phone, knowing he wanted to say one more thing—I love you.

****

“This is a bad idea,” Bella said, staring up at the large building as she talked to Rebecca.

“Why is it?” Rebecca asked.

“I’ve never been to his work place, and you should see this building. It’s huge. Scarily so. I feel so stupid.”

“You’ve got him lunch. Did he tell you to never go to his work or something?”

“Well no, but he’s never asked me to visit him, and right now, it feels wrong. He doesn’t even talk about his work.”

“I thought you loved this guy.”

“I do.”

“Then what do you talk about if you don’t talk about each other’s days?”

“We talk about whether we’ve had a good day or not.”

Rebecca sighed. “Sweetie, you can’t be afraid to go and visit him at work. You’re not some mistress, and if you are, you really need to go and find that out before it’s too late.”

“You’re right. You’re totally right. I’ll call you.” She hung up her cell, and took a deep breath.

It’s totally fine. Just go into and ask to see him.

Squaring her shoulders, she entered the main building, and approached the scary looking desk with three women. All of them without a single hair out of place. It was all slicked into styles, and their suits were without a crease. She had to wonder who the guy was that her man worked for.

When Bella approached the woman on the left, her face seemed devoid of emotion like the other two.

“How can I help you today?” the woman asked.

“Hi. I don’t have an appointment or anything but, er, I was wondering if I could speak to Blue Patterson.”

The woman smiled. “You mean Alaric Patterson.”

“No, I mean Blue Patterson. He works in one of the major departments.”

The woman held her finger up, and pointed toward the back wall. Bella turned, and froze. There, on the wall, for everyone to see was a picture of the man she knew as Blue, only beside it was a different name.

Her mouth opened, and then closed.

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