“Well, that was easy,” I tell myself out loud.
If I’m honest, I am a little disappointed. I have always wanted to try the pencil trick. It’s almost anticlimactic, I think. I chuckle at my ridiculous inner monologue. I should be thanking my lucky stars that I got the address quickly and painlessly. Now I just need to get the hell out of here unseen. I open the door and peek out into the hall. Nobody’s looking this way right now, so I slip out, rush to the break room, and plop into a chair. As I sit, I exhale and let out the breath that I wasn’t even aware I was holding.
“Well, don’t you just look like you’ve been up to no good.”
Jesus.
I gasp and clutch my chest.
“What the frank, Stacy. You scared the crap out of me! I didn’t even hear you come in.”
She looks at me for a moment, studying me.
“That would be because I was already sitting here when you came in.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I am not feeling quite myself today.”
She smiles at me.
“You okay, doll?”
I return her smile.
“You know what? I actually am okay now. Thank you.”
The end of my shift doesn’t come swiftly enough. I am annoyed that I cannot just jump into my car and go check out this address. I can hardly take a team of security with me, and I wouldn’t even know how to explain where we were going and what I am up to. This team may be protecting me, but they still work for—and report to—Mika. I am off tomorrow, but the same problem remains. I googled the address, and it’s quite a drive out of town. Who is to say that the person she’s meeting is still going to be around? If I wait to go tomorrow, I might waste a trip. I groan. This is so frustrating, and it’s times like this when I resent having a security team. I know I shouldn’t be sullen, that I should be grateful that Mika cares enough about me to want to protect me, but I want to go and see who Layla is meeting. Tonight will be a great time. Mika will be home late today since he’s out of town. I can get there and back before he gets home, and he’ll never have to know. Clark falls into step with me the second I put a single toe out of Mr. King’s room. There is no way I can shake them off here. I am going to have to go home first and then figure out a way to ditch them. I also need to figure out how I am going to get a car. Mine is parked in my garage at my house. I wonder if Jillybean is home? I get into the SUV, and Clark speeds off the second I’m buckled in. Once he has pulled out into traffic, I pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot her a text.
Raeva — Hey! Are you at Serenity or the penthouse?
Jill — Just about to head to the penthouse. Why?
I want to tell her, but I also know that she won’t approve of my escape plan. The last thing I need right now is a lecture, no matter how well intended.
Raeva — Just seeing what you were up to. Plans for tonight?
Jill — I was thinking about heading out for some drinks! Wanna come?
Perfect.
Raeva — Okay, sounds great! Why don’t you invite Mik, too? I’ll see you in a bit. Xoxo
If I have any hope of getting away tonight, it won’t be from the penthouse, but I can quite easily slip out of a crowded bar. I feel bad using them like this, but I don’t really have time to come up with a different plan. Right now they are my only hope.
When I get home, I jump into the shower and put on a cute outfit. Mik came over to do my makeup while Jillybean helps me curls my hair. My phone buzzes from across the room. Since the two of them are busy being my glam squad, I answer with my new iWatch. I smile when I see my caveman’s number flash on my wrist. I’m so easy when it comes to him.
“Hey there, captain. How goes it?”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he replies.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Are you on your way back?”
“Actually, no. I am calling to tell you that my trip home has been delayed. There is a storm coming, and they will not clear us for takeoff. They told us to try again in the morning.”
“Oh, my gosh. Yes, stay there. Be safe. I’ll be fine. I am going to have a couple drinks with Jillybean and Mik. Girls’ night out.”
He’s quiet for a moment.
“It’ll be alright, big brother. I’ll take care of her!” Mikaela chimes in.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
Mikaela scoffs.
“You’re just worried I will finally convince her that’s she’s way too good for the likes of you.”
Mika’s turn to scoff.
“Hardly. I’m pretty sure she is already aware of it. I remind her daily.”
“Alright, you two,” I say, unable to hide my amusement. “I’ll miss you tonight, but we can make up for lost time tomorrow.”
Mikaela sticks her finger down her throat, imitating a gagging motion, and Jill joins in. I roll my eyes, but the smirk on my face clearly paints a different picture.
“Promise you’ll call me when you get in?”
“Of course.”
I know I’m smiling goofily, and when Jill mocks me, I don’t even care. We say goodbye, and I hang up. Mikaela continues to work on my makeup.
“You guys are adorable,” Mikaela says with a smirk. “He’s really crazy about you. I’m so happy that he found you.”
Our eyes meet. Her golden eyes are sparkling, and I can see the fondness I feel for her reflected in her gaze. I push down the little pang of guilt I feel at using them as a cover to escape, but I don’t want to involve them. I tell myself that since I have no malicious intent, it’s not so bad. When we are all dressed, our hair and makeup on point, we head down to meet with security. To my relief, it seems that Clark has the night off tonight. Not surprising since he has been watching over me nonstop lately; the guy deserves a break. Even though he’s a little stiff for my taste, I can’t deny that I’ve grown fond of him. I would hate to give him the slip and get him in trouble. It isn’t fair on the others either, and I will have to make it up to them afterward.
We get to Palladium in under twenty minutes. It is already very crowded, and I am pleased. It will need to be very crowded for my plan to succeed. We take a seat in a large booth and order a round of pomegranate martinis. When the server returns with our drinks, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, leaving Jill and Mikaela in deep discussion about who’s hotter: Scott Eastwood or Mitchell Wick. I walk off, shaking my head and smirking. Obviously, the answer to that question is clear. I start walking toward the lady’s room, and when I’m about halfway there, I turn to look at the booth. The girls are still in deep discussion. This is my chance. I make a beeline toward the double doors that lead to the kitchen. Tammy, the nursing assistant who works at Hillcrest, works here part-time in the kitchen and told me I could use her car and that she’d usher me through the back entrance. For the first time, the insistent paparazzi scumbags have actually worked in my favor because as it turns out, they are the perfect excuse to make a shady exit—no questions asked. I push through the doors and step into the kitchen. It’s busy, but the hustle and bustle simply continues. Nobody even looks up when I walk in. I walk farther in and easily spot Tammy. She gives me a warm smile.
“Hey Rae!”
“Thanks for this, Tammy,” I tell her, smiling.
“No problem!”
She holds out the keys, and I happily accept them.
“My car is out back. It’s the white Ford Fusion.”
She walks me to the back door and shows me the car. I thank her again, pull up the GPS on my phone, and tap the address in.
“Here goes nothing.”
I’m literally driving in the middle of nowhere, and the only living beings I have come across were a herd of cows about 30 miles back. Besides that, there has been nothing but endless fields and trees, rundown houses, and old barns since I pulled off the interstate about an hour or so ago. I glance over at my phone, and I have a bunch of missed calls and even more missed text messages. The calls stopped a whil
e ago, and I think that’s probably because I have spotty reception at best. I did send the girls a text message before I drove off letting them know that I was safe and would be back later. I asked them to not tell Mika, at least for a little while, so I could do what I needed to do. I didn’t explain exactly what it is I need to do, and I feel bad for giving them the slip. I know that Mika will be furious with me. I tell myself that in this case, it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. None of them would think this is a good idea. Honestly, I myself am not sure how good of an idea this is, but I also know that I have to find out once and for all what is going on, even if it’s just for my own sanity. As I get closer to my destination, the empty feeling in the pit of my stomach grows. I grip the steering wheel a little tighter, and I notice that my hands are clammy.
“Just get it together, Raeva. This is for Mika,” I say out loud.
My GPS informs me that I am two miles from my destination. I start to wonder if I should park my car a little ways away so they don’t see me coming. I turn left onto a small and dusty side road, and I can see a small light ahead of me. I kill the headlights and drive just a little farther. There is a small stretch of woods ahead of me, and I can tell from the map that my destination lies just beyond them. I pull over and park the car, making sure to pull off the road enough to not block other vehicles that might come by. Although honestly, it doesn’t look like there is much traffic here. I get out of the car and turn the flashlight on my phone on. I also make a mental note to remember to buy Tammy some new sneakers. The Louboutins I was sporting are stunning, but they aren’t exactly suitable to hike through the woods with. I’m grateful that Tammy had a pair of sneakers in a bag in the back of her car and that I noticed it. Luckily, she is only half a size bigger than me so they fit, even if they are a little roomy. I start walking, making sure to point the light at the ground before me, and it isn’t very long before my eyes adjust to the darkness properly. The crisp night air caresses my bare shoulders, causing me to shiver. I should have brought a jacket, I tell myself. I always thought that when you get outside of the city, it gets quiet. But now I am rethinking that. I can clearly hear bugs chirping—crickets maybe? I suck in a breath when I hear some rustling behind me, and my heart rate accelerates. I turn around and shine my light at the small bushes not three feet away from me, and again, I hear the rustling sound. My eyes widen and pretty much pop out of my skull when a small raccoon appears from the bushes. I cover my mouth to muffle my scream, stumble backwards, and fall flat on my backside. The little creature isn’t even impressed. It just sits on its back paws and tilts its head to the side while eyeing me.
Crap.
I sit here for a moment, dazed. I’m on my butt, scared by a freaking tiny forest creature, while on a mission to spy on people and fooling myself into thinking I am badass enough to do it. I mull over the complete ridiculousness of my current situation, and I just start giggling. I cover my mouth once more, trying to mute the sound of my laughter. It takes longer than it should to collect myself, and when I finally scramble to my feet, I rub my painful derriere and wish I had dressed in something a little more sensible. I keep walking straight ahead, and after about fifteen minutes, I can see a quaint little log cabin. There are lights on, so someone is there. The cabin is small, but it looks idyllic. Even though it’s slightly chilly, the night is a clear one. I turn the flashlight option off and take a minute to let my eyes adjust to the darkness. The moon is mostly hiding tonight, but here, miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the night sky is beautifully lit with an abundance of stars. I continue my quest with renewed determination. My breathing seems to become shallower with every step I take, and my pulse accelerates. Strangely enough, while I can hear my heartbeat in my eardrums, I can also clearly hear every cricket and every critter around.
I am now just a stone’s throw away from the cabin, and I realize that I didn’t even think this through. What was I even thinking? I am going to walk up to this cabin, and then what? Knock on the damn door? I should probably have planned this out a lot better. My sole focus has been getting to where I wanted to go. The entire drive here, not a single moment was spent thinking about how to proceed when I got here. Now that I am this close to the cabin, I realize that I approached from the back.
I marvel at the beauty of what I see before me for a moment before I come to my senses and get back to the task at hand. I creep around the house and note that there is only one car in the driveway. I am sure it is Layla’s; I shouldn’t know what her car looks like, but I do. I walk warily back to the side of the house and to a window. Inching myself onto my tiptoes, I sneak a peek inside. All I see is a bedroom, and there isn’t anyone inside of it. The walls are covered with purple and white wallpaper that’s outdated and flowery. There is a full-size bed smack in the middle of the room, and on each side there is a small bedside table; the room isn’t large enough to hold much more. There is a worn down chest drawer at the far end and a green velvet armchair and a standing lamp on the other end. I walk around a little and attempt to look once more. This time, when I steal a look inside, I swear I have flashed back to the flower power age. I feast my eyes upon a kitchen that has been directly transported from the 70s. Strangely enough, while the orange and yellow kitchen has dated appliances and accessories, none of them look old or overused. I duck away hastily when Layla's red hair is the first thing I notice when she walks into the kitchen and toward the window. Well here I am, back to wall, hiding from the person I came to confront. I turn and sneak a peek through the window; her back is turned to me, and she is pouring two glasses of red wine. What is the point of coming all this way if I am just going to creep through a couple windows? I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“In for a penny, in for a pound,” I tell myself, quoting Jillybean.
I walk back around, head straight to the front, and knock on the door. It’s not long before the door swings open, and Layla appears in the doorway, looking as spectacular as always. She isn’t wearing the same clothes she was in earlier today. Now she is wearing white denims with a matching white knit sweater. Her red hair sits in a perfect bun on top of her head, and her makeup is flawless. I assess her, top to bottom. Her feet are bare, and of course she has perfectly manicured feet. Layla Hayes is the kind of woman that makes the rest of us feel inadequate—beautiful, smart, and successful. I expect shock. I expect exasperation. Hell, I even expect irritation. None of those things happen. Layla looks at me and smiles brightly, almost as if she is happy to see me.
“Raeva,” she says, stepping aside. “Come in.”
I hesitate for a moment. Alarm bells are going off in my head, but of course, I ignore them. I step inside. Why didn’t I tell anyone where I was going? I walk past Layla and into a spacious living area. There is a fire going in a large stone fireplace in front of a brown leather sectional, and on the coffee table are two glasses of red wine. I look around.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Layla has caught up with me and motions for me to take a seat. I walk over to the couch and sit.
“Not at all,” she says as she takes a seat next to me. “In fact, I was expecting you.”
I can’t control my reaction; against my will, my eyes widen slightly.
“E-excuse me?”
She nudges her head to the two glasses of wine.
“I knew you would be here. I left the address for you after you followed me to my office.”
I want to hide my reactions because I really do not want her to know that I am affected by what she says, but it is hard not to react. It’s even harder to not show it, especially knowing that she not only knew that I followed her, but that it seems as if she has set this all up. My very first thought is to deny it, but what’s the point? She knows it to be a fact. After all, I am here. I open and shut my mouth several times, trying to say anything in my defense. Layla is silent as she analyzes me. She reaches over to pick up the glasses of wine and holds one out for me. I
look at the glass and then at her. She raises her brow in question, and I take it. She smiles, and then takes a sip of her glass.
“Why did you lead me here, Layla?”
“I just wanted to talk.”
Sure, and I love to have my teeth pulled.
“Why the charade? Why not just ask me to talk?”
“You wouldn’t have agreed, and I need you to know about what’s been going on between Mika and me. I mean, I have never been interested in being the other woman, and I feel bad for you. You need to know the truth.”
Layla actually looks genuine—like, holy crap this woman needs an Oscar. There is not a single hair on my head that thinks Mika has touched any woman besides me since we’ve been together, and definitely not her. He loves me, and for a man like him, that is something. What’s more, I trust him. Anger boils from the very tips of my toes.
“Cut the crap, Layla,” I tell her sternly.
She chuckles and takes another sip of her wine.
“Oh, Raeva, I am just having a little fun. Can’t you take a little joke?”
A little joke? Really?
“A little fun? I’m sorry, I am not very amused. Claiming that you are having an affair with my boyfriend isn’t exactly my idea of a joke,” I reply dryly.
After Tomorrow (Kingsley series Book 2) Page 14