Page 30 of Boss's Fake Wife

“Twenty dollars,” he grouched.

“That’s fine,” I said, getting in. “But hurry, please.”

He nodded and started driving.

The whole time, anxiety was twisting a ball in my stomach. I bit my nails and bopped my leg to help ease all the excess energy, but it didn’t help. My nerves got so bad that the taxi driver noticed it.

“Do you want to stop at a gas station or something?” he asked, concern lining his face. I knew he was probably more concerned that I would throw up in his vehicle than he was for me personally, but it was still nice that he asked.

I shook my head.

“I’m fine,” I said. Just very, very close to being dead.

The fifteen-minute journey seemed to take an eternity, and by the time I got there, my heart rate was through the roof. I opened the door and was about to get out when the taxi driver said, “Hey, hey, hey. I said twenty dollars.”

“I know. I’m not trying to skip out on the payment. It’s just that my money is in there.” I pointed toward the building. “I’m just going to get it.”

He shook his head. “Listen, girl. I don’t think you know how many people have already tried to pull this bullshit with me.”

“I’m not lying,” I said. “I have money in there. I swear I’ll be right out to pay you.”

He shook his head. “No can do.”

“I swear.” I was pretty close to crying at this point. “On my mother.”

He still didn’t look like he believed me, but he nodded tentatively. Maybe he sympathized with how close to the edge I was. “I got my eye on you, girl. Remember that.”

“Thank you,” I said and rushed inside. I went to the front desk and stood in line to request for my key. The best thing about Grand Storage is that I only had to give the password and an ID to access the security deposit box. Not having an ID was a problem, but luckily, I had been in here enough and knew that the woman at the front desk recognized me.

“Hey,” I greeted her. “Sorry, I left my ID at home. But I really need to grab something from inside my safety deposit box. Can you help me? The password is 23cornerstone32.”

“Sure.” She smiled and typed some stuff into a computer before reaching into the drawer and handing me the key. “Are you okay?”

I really wished people would stop asking me that. “Uh-huh,” I said with a fake cheery voice as I took the key and headed around the corner to where my safe was. With shaky hands, I opened it, took out the letter, and turned around.

Only to find myself staring at a man’s wide chest.

My scream got trapped in my throat before fading into a faint squeak when I saw the flash of something metallic nudging into my gut.

“Put a smile on your face like I’m your long-lost brother,” he growled under his breath. “Or die.”

Fear instantly washed through me so strongly that it was dizzying. I immediately wanted to scream and pass out, but I bit back the urge, smiling instead.

I had to stay strong.

“Hey,” I said in a false cheery voice. “Nice to see you again.”

A trace of amusement flashed in eyes that were cold as ice. “Now move slowly but gently to the backdoor.” He shifted until he stood beside me, the gun concealed by his jacket.

I nodded and began to walk, trying not to draw attention, not having much of a choice.

“Who sent you?” I asked because I wanted to know if the Moranos had found me or if this was Chris’ doing.

“What makes you think I was sent by someone?”

“You’re holding a gun to me on your own? You should know, though, that I have absolutely zero dollars to my name.”

“It’s not money I want,” he said, and I instantly knew he was Chris’ man.

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