Page 41 of Not Mine To Love

I winced. I felt terrible.

“She wanted some dirt on you. She wanted to know if you were really the guy you pretend to be.”

“Pretend to be?” he laughed humorlessly.

“That sounded terrible. That came out all wrong.” I realized now that I was crying. “Look,” I said, “I know you’re a decent guy.”

“You don’t know anything about me. Tell your employer that she’s been found out. Have a nice life, Becca. Whoever you are.”

I didn’t know what to say. He got into the car without another word, and I just stood there and watched him drive away. I didn’t try to stop him. I just let him go and wiped at the tears running down my face.

My friends were suddenly standing there next to me. “So umm, I’m guessing that didn’t go too well,” Piper said.

“Yep. You guessed right.” My voice sounded small and shaky. “You guys,” I said swallowing back tears and being embarrassed about it, “I think I’ll head out now. Thanks for coming along.”

“Hey, are you alright?” Dana asked, grabbing my arm.

“I’ll be fine.”

At least, I hoped I would be. I walked away from my friends and back to my car. I was glad they didn’t insist on following me. I wanted to be alone.

I got in, pulled out, and turned on the music really loud to block out my thoughts. I drove home, but I couldn’t make myself go in. I had to stop Julius from telling Claire that he knew. I had to stop him. I needed that money desperately. Maybe he would listen to reason. I had betrayed his trust, but I had a good reason. Right?

Without stopping to think, I texted him.

“Let me explain.”

He texted me back. “I’m blocking your number.”

I sighed. At least he was polite enough to tell me.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. I pulled out from the condo parking lot and headed in the direction of the one place I had no business going: his home.

Thanks to being a paid stalker, I knew exactly where to find him. I only prayed that it wasn’t too late. I hoped that he hadn’t confronted Claire yet.

I didn’t even hesitate as I climbed out the car and marched to his front door. I knocked hard. And then I noticed the doorbell. I pushed that instead and waited for what felt like a million years.

Finally, the door opened.

“What the hell are you doing here?

I opened my mouth and then closed it. What was I doing there? This was a really bad idea. I turned and walked away, turning bright red and feeling like an idiot.

I made it all the way to my car and then saw my reflection. I looked defeated. Like a quitter. I didn’t like what I saw.

Squashing how stupid I felt, I turned around and walked back to Julius’ closed door and pounded on it.

While pounding, Julius ripped his door open.

“Look, you crazy person, go home before I call the police.”

“Call them.”

He folded his arms across his chest, looking amused and bemused at the same time. “Dragon Lady must be paying you a small fortune.”

“Listen, I’m sorry. Okay. I know that’s not enough. But I needed the money. Really needed it. So don’t be mad at me. I was just doing my job.”

“Apology not accepted. Have a nice life, Becca,” he said, moving away from the doorframe and slamming the door.