Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I dropped my face to my hands, sobbing as I shook my head.
You’re such an idiot.
And I knew I was. I’d been an idiot to fall for any of it — his seductive words, the way he’d looked at me, the way he’d touched me. God, he’d probably known I was a patient before I walked into that bar. He’d probably followed me there to play out a sick game of seduction.
I thought of Naomi’s words, and of the other girl he’d had — the one he’d knocked up. My stomach heaved, and my heart sank as the reality of it sunk in: I’d fallen for bullshit, hook, line, and sinker.
I was still crying when I heard the doorknob turn, and the door yanked open. I gasped, slipping off the box and crouching down in the dark shadows behind the shelf full of paper towels as a dim over-head light flicked on and footsteps entered the storage closet. The door shut with a click.
“So, this is really happening?”
The man’s voice was whiny sounding and nasally. But it’s when the other person responded that my jaw dropped.
“Oh, it’s happening. He’s gone.”
My eyes went wide. The second voice was her — the bitch who’d just ruined my world in the hallway. Naomi.
“You’re really ready to go through with this, huh?”
“To help my little brother with a job that should have been his?” Naomi scoffed. “Absolutely. Plus, Doctor Owenson is an arrogant prick anyways.”
The man — Naomi’s brother, apparently, laughed. “So, it’s personal?”
She snorted. “Maybe?”
Oh my God.
My hand went to my purse, and as quietly as I could, I slid my phone out. I knew I couldn’t see much without exposing myself, but that didn’t stop me. I flicked onto my camera, switched to video, and hit “record.”
“What’s your deal with him? I mean, Naomi, don’t get me wrong, I’m psyched you’re hooking this up for me, but what’s the deal there?”
“It’s nothing, he’s just an asshole.”
The man snorted. “He turn you down or something?”
There was silence, and then the man laughed. “Holy shit is that it? He turned you down!”
“Shut up, Kevin!”
The man chuckled. “Sorry, sorry. Hey, whatever it is, if you say he’s a dick, he’s a dick.”
“When this is over, trust me, he’s gone,” Naomi hissed. I felt my blood run hot, and for a minute, I almost stormed right out to confront her. But, I waited, my phone still recording.
“Those charges you’ve got on him. I mean, they’re not going to hold up in court or anything.”
Naomi snorted. “Of course they won’t. But it's the accusation that will stick no matter what, and once he resigns, it’s yours. I’ll make sure the board sees how good a candidate you are.”
“Perfect. I owe you huge for this, sis.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
The man — Kevin — cleared his throat. “And the girl?”
“Who, Deliah?” Naomi laughed, gleefully. “She’s my fucking housekeeper’s daughter. She knows this isn’t going to court, so she was willing to do it for a few hundred bucks. College kids are cheap, Kevin.”
I saw red. My blood turned to fire in my veins, and my hands balled into fists. This woman was awful. Forget the fact that she’d obviously only stopped me to make me feel terrible, she was actively plotting on destroying Aiden’s life.
I kept on recording as she laughed about tearing down a man’s life just so she could hook her brother up with a job, until the two of them turned and walked out of the room. The light turned off, and I finally let the breath out that I’d been holding.
No. Fucking. Way.
My cheeks were still stained with tears, but I wasn’t upset anymore.
I was mad.
I was furious. That bitch thought she could mess with Aiden’s life. She thought she could ruin him. She thought she could hurt the man I loved.
…I was going to show her how fucking wrong she was. And then I was going to make her pay.
* * *
Chapter 13
Aiden
“And don’t forget, call Doctor Brody tomorrow. Jackson is a friend, I’ll let him know to expect you.” I smiled at Mrs. Watkins, turning to shake her husband’s hand.
“Hey, you guys are young, you’re healthy, you just started trying, and Doctor Brody is the best there is at what he does. Trust me, you’re not going to have any problems conceiving.”
The young couple beamed at me, thanking me profusely before they headed out.
I grinned as I collected my things. Yeah, this was what I loved about my job. But now that the day was over, it was time to go find the thing I loved more than anything in this world, and hold her like I’d never let her go.
Natalie.
I’d been too busy to call or text her since she’d left an hour before, but I could imagine her waiting for me at my place. I growled, hoping that I’d find her how I hoped I’d find her: naked and in my bed. Or maybe, naked and sitting on my kitchen counter. Or maybe naked in my bathtub on all fours.