Page 27 of Virtue & Vengeance

6

EDEN

THE NEXT FEW DAYS I was on edge. It was like I was waiting for Allen to appear. I was continually checking my back and keeping my head low. My eyes scanned every room I was in, looking for his face.

It was a waiting game, and it was no fun.

Even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I went to work. I wanted to find another job, but the timing was terrible. Not to mention, everyone at Empire Sevens knew me. I had friends there, which meant I felt safe when I was at work.

Still, I kept checking myself and the spaces around me. I made sure never to get caught alone anywhere, and when I left to go home, I made sure someone else was leaving, as well.

I walked to the condo the first few days, staying in well-lit areas until Zander found out and insisted on having Jerome, a security member, take me home every night.

He was such a controlling ass. He consistently showed up at the condo to check on me and to make sure I wasn’t trying to leave.

Every night when I got home, I kept the doors locked and stayed downstairs as much as possible. Being downstairs meant I was close to the front door in case someone tried to come in.

And when I was at work, I moved through the room, worried that every table I went to Allen would be there looking back at me. Hustling around the room, I kept myself occupied, taking as many tables as I could, and feeling like my chances of running into him went up with each table.

After a few days, I finally started to calm down a bit, but no matter what, I stayed on guard.

Still, I kept my back to the tiled wall of the shower, so there was no chance of anyone catching me off guard.

I’d just finished rinsing and was about to turn off the water when I heard my cell ringing on the bathroom counter. Quickly, I shut off the water and wrapped a large plush towel around my body.

Snatching the phone from the counter, I saw Aunt Kennedy’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?”

I smiled, happy to hear her voice. “I’m good. Just staying busy at work. What about you? Is New York as fabulous as everyone says it is?”

“I don’t know that I would call it fabulous, but it’s got some fine points.”

“Like what?”

“The food for one. I have yet to go to a restaurant I didn’t like.”

“I’m so jealous. I wish I could’ve gone with you.” I sighed.

“How about I fly you up here one of these weekends?”

“What?” I was sure I hadn’t heard her right. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not. Just for the weekend. I know I can work around your schedule and we can shop and eat our weight in carbs. It’ll be fun.”

“That sounds amazing, Aunt Kennedy. But a roundtrip ticket to New York is going to be expensive.”

“It’s a work expense. I can write it off. I won’t take no for an answer, Eden. Remember, Vaughn stubbornness and all.”

I laughed, and we both knew I’d just given in.

“I’m so excited,” she continued. “You’re going to have an amazing time. Let me go over my planner and see when the best time is to have you fly out.”

We chatted for another thirty minutes before we said our goodbyes and she promised to call me the next night at the same time. She had been calling me every night to check on me and make sure I was okay. I missed her terribly, and I was counting down the days until she would finally be home.

It seemed a quick business trip was turning into much more, but she seemed excited about the new prospects for Empire. No matter how sad I was that she was gone, I couldn’t help but feel happy for her when she chatted about how great things were turning out to be in New York.

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