Page 112 of The Innovator

Grayson:I’ll swing by in an hour?

Natalie:Fine.

I picked up dinner and arrived on time. She opened the door, and her expression appeared impassive. She had on makeup and looked like she’d just gotten back from an evening out. I wanted to ask where she’d been and who she went out with, but I couldn’t.

I left a box of her belongings on the kitchen table, along with the takeout dinner and two bottles of water. I didn’t give her back all her belongings. When I missed her, I’d want something tangible to remind me of her.

She gave me a box of my stuff witheverythingin it. My toothbrush, razer, shaving cream, and other toiletries sat on top of clothes.

“Thanks,” I said.

She stared at me. “Are you done? You can go now.”

Her words pierced through my heart and out to the other side. “Do you want to have dinner with me?”

She snorted and made a disgusted face. “Don’t play games with me, Grayson. You ripped my heart out and stomped on it. And now you want to have dinner with me? What planet are you from? Because women on Earth don’t approve of assholes treating them like shit.” She crossed her arms.

“I know you’re mad at me, but I still consider you a friend. Do you want to know how the Three Point Park project is coming along? Just pretend I’m an acquaintance.”

She considered me for a moment and sighed. “No, thanks. I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. I’m tired. I need to rest.” She gestured to the door. “You can go now.”

Ignoring her, I asked, “Why aren’t you back in Paris?”

“Why do you care? Am I an eyesore around here? Am I interrupting your various dates?”

“No,” I said too quickly. “I was just curious how LaRue is doing.”

“It’s fine. Anything else?”

I shook my head and walked to the door. “Enjoy the dinner. I got you sushi.” I left with my box of belongings and sat in my car until one in the morning.

This was my property, so I could enter whenever I wanted. I still had access to her apartment. She’d forgotten to change the code, but even if she had, I’d know it.

For Natalie, I’d done so many things that baffled me. I’d never broken into a woman’s apartment before, but there was no other way. My stubborn woman refused to leave Providence. What choice did I have?

Quarter past one arrived, and I stood in front of her apartment. Pressing my ear to the door, silence greeted me. I used the master key along with the code and entered the dark apartment. I checked the kitchen table and didn’t see the food or drinks I’d left. Pulling out her trashcan, I saw the empty sushi container and one empty bottle of water where I’d crushed a sleeping pill and mixed it with the liquid.

I walked into her bedroom and found her sound asleep. A cute snore escaped her. The other water bottle I’d brought was beside her bed on the nightstand, unopened. I gathered her purse, her laptop, the charger, and a few clothing items, shoving them into a luggage case I got from her closet. Then I carried her to my car first. The second trip was for her luggage. Next, I drove to a private airport where a plane was waiting for me.

I brought her into the plane, and Mom greeted me in a sweatshirt and matching pants.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this.” My mom helped situate Natalie in the reclined seat and covered her with a blanket. “She’s going to hate you.”

Natalie let out a whimper and snuggled into the roomy seat.

“I know. But she’ll be alive.”

“Grayson.” Mom placed a hand on my cheek. “Are you sure this is the only way?”

“It is, Mom. Thanks for helping. Mrs. LaRue will be at the airport in Paris to pick her up.”

Shaking her head, my mom sighed. “Okay. Go home and rest. I’ll text you when I’ve delivered her safely to her mother.”

“Thank you.” I stayed in my car and watched the flight take off.

I remembered when I first asked my mom and Natalie’s mom to help me with this plan. They both had declined vehemently. But I reminded them about her abduction and the danger that surrounded me and the crime organization. I briefly told them something dangerous was happening, and I didn’t want Natalie hurt. If I wanted to destroy this organization, then Natalie had to be far away from me. No one could know I loved her.

Her mother agreed. She’d already lost her husband; she couldn’t lose her only daughter too.

---