Page 74 of Irresistible Temptation
For the baby.
I nodded at myself in the mirror, regaining my resolve. I smoothed down the front of my blazer with my hands, relieved that there was no bump showing. It was so early on, I didn’t expect there to be. I knew how far along I was based on how many weeks it had been since going home with Chester from the club that night all those weeks ago. I had yet to go to the doctoryet, but Gabriella had given me her doctor’s information and I had an appointment set up next week. Sadie and Gabriella were going to come with me, which was a relief. I didn’t want to go alone.
In the bathroom, I gave myself a blowout, pinning the warm strands of hair into Velcro rollers to get some extra volume and bounce. As the curls set, I set my small makeup collection on the counter and used every limited product I had. Once the concealer was dabbed under my eyes, the rosy blush was brushed across my cheeks, and I had an extra layer of mascara on, I grabbed my favorite lipstick and swiped it across my lips. It was a rosy shade that matched my blush, and Chester’s eyes had always been drawn to my mouth whenever I wore it.
Once I took the rollers out and my hair had cooled into soft, bouncy waves that fell past my shoulders, I gave myself another onceover in the mirror. It was no boob shirt or ass skirt, but it was good enough. Classy. Chic. Powerful. Even though I didn’t feel like any of those things, at least I looked the part.
I grabbed my purse from the entryway table and headed out the door of my apartment, knowing when I came back that everything would have changed. My plan was to come back here and wallow on the couch with a chick flick marathon and some brownies made from a box.
When I arrived at the office, the cab dropping me off on the curb in my black sky-high heels, I walked into the building, prepared to never do it again. It was early. Our meeting wasn’t until eight, but it was only 7:30. I just wanted to get it over with.
The custodian looked up at the click clack of my heels.
“Early again?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Have a meeting with the big guy upstairs,” I muttered.
“Ahh. He’s busy today,” he said curiously, looking at the watch on his wrist. “He’s got another lady up there now.”
I tried to hide my surprise and the anger that rose in my chest, though I was sure it was evident in the warmth that spread through my cheeks. I tightened my grip on the resignation letter in my hand and strode for the elevators, more determined than ever to finish this. He was probably up there replacing me as we spoke.
Chapter 30
Chester
Chester
The elevator doors opened to an empty floor. Unsurprising as it was only 7 a.m. Still, I had a feeling it wasn’t completely empty by the way the hair stood up on my arms underneath my suit jacket. I looked around the office for any sign of life as I continued toward my office, certain that who I was looking for was already waiting for me there. I almost wished someone had arrived early today to witness this shady meeting. I knew Will was a call away, should I need him.
The door to my office was open and a woman was sitting with her back turned toward me in the leather wingback chair. I slipped my phone from my jacket pocket and navigated to the voice note app, tapping the red record button. I knew I would need evidence to bring this blackmailer down. Without a word, I brushed past the woman with the raven black hair cut close toher ears, taking a seat behind my desk. I casually set my phone face-down on the desk, as to not raise suspicion.
With a cool expression on my face, I narrowed my gaze on the woman sitting across from me with a tight-lipped smile on her angular face. Her smug expression pissed me off, but I swallowed down my irritation and kept my expression neutral. I took a moment to study her familiar face, trying to place her. I knew I had seen her before, but I didn’t know where.
Her pixie cut and striking features would be hard to forget. And those eyes. Dark, yet on fire, in a dance that told me she was enjoying this. She seemed like the type of person who would enjoy toying with others. Enjoy making others’ lives as miserable as she probably was. She was the type of person you didn’t want to get on their bad side.
I ran through a directory of names and faces in my head, trying to figure out who this woman was, not enjoying the fact that she had the upper hand with her anonymous identity. It gave her a leg up on me. A position I hated being in. I wouldn’t let her see that though.
I cleared my throat and leaned back in my chair casually, steepling my fingers against my chest. This seemed to piss her off because the embers in her eyes burned a little brighter. I clearly wasn’t giving her the reaction she had expected when she waltzed in here this morning, holding a huge part of my life in her hands. She shifted in her chair slightly, adjusting the linen gray lapels of her suit.
“You don’t know who I am, do you?” she asked pointedly.
“Can’t say I do.” I shrugged.
“Of course you don’t,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head slightly.
“Should I?”
“I suppose not when your big head is shoved so far up your own ass. The only thing you can think about is yourself.” She rolled her eyes.
Clearly, not recognizing her was a sore spot for her.
“Well, would you care to introduce yourself?” I asked, leading her in the direction I wanted. Leading her to tell my phone what it was waiting to hear. Her name. Proof.
“Mia.”
“Mia…” I rolled the name across my tongue, as if it would help jog my memory.
“Mia Turner,” she said impatiently, her eyes growing slightly wider, waiting for me to put it together. But I couldn’t, though I was desperately trying to behind my cool demeanor.
