Chapter 0121

“Coward,” I hiss, cursing myself as I hurry up the stairs. Damn it, at the first trial of this new, powerful

me I totally collapsed. I dart into my room, pressing the door closed and taking a deep breath, closing

my eyes as I steel myself.

I know that I owe Daniel more than that. But damn it, Janeen and I didn’t plan what I was going to say

to him, and he caught me by surprise. But I could do it – I figure out the best way to break it to him that

I was leaving him for his dad –

“Oh my god,” I mutter, flying open. God damn it, but this was so ridiculous.

I move across the room then, opening the bottle of wine and pouring myself a big glass. This was

Janeen’s advice too – a drink for courage, but not so much that I get sloppy. There was, apparently, a

fine balance. But I drink the glass of wine quickly, my hands shaking a little as I glance towards the

door.

I don’t know if I’m going to be able to find that balance tonight.

I pull a new phone out of my back pocket – one that Janeen gave me this afternoon, one of her

“burners,” she called it, that she usually uses to text her married clients from the club who want a little

more anonymity.

Kent took away my phone when I first got here, but things are different now. I’m not his son’s fiancé

who needs protection anymore. I work for him now – not just as his girlfriend, but as his spy. And as

such, I’m entitled to certain freedoms. Like texting my sister whenever I want.

I send her a quick text now, hoping she can give me a little courage. My stomach is all tied in knots.

Fay: Here now – part one of the plan went just as we want it to! Now, just sitting in my room waiting for

him to respond??

A few seconds later, her reply beeps through.

Janeen: You’ve got this, little sis! Remember – it’s about what you want. Don’t let him pressure you into

moving faster than you want to. Make him wait.

I nod to myself, bolstered by her words. That’s right. It’s about me now. And I may have agreed to be

his – his mistress –

God, I’ve got to stop getting nauseous when I think that word -

But he does not have any right to make me feel –

I jump as a knock sounds on the door and freeze, my eyes going wide. Oh my god. Was that him?

Does he want to…

I hesitate, waiting, but another knock doesn’t come. I put my wine glass down and slowly walk to the

door.

“Hello?” I whisper, sounding more anxious than I want to. But no reply comes.

I lean down to peak through the keyhole in my door, but I don’t see anyone standing there. Curious, I

twist the knob and slowly pull it open.

Outside my door sits a white box tied with a red satin ribbon. I look up and down the hallway but there’s

no one there. I quickly snatch the box, pulling it to my chest as I slam the door closed and lean back

against it, my breath coming quickly.

Then, my curiosity getting the better of me, I hurry to my bed, quickly untying the ribbon and pulling the

top off the box.

Dropping the fabric, I grab at the tiny piece of cardstock, unfolding it.

The message is very simple.

Fifteen minutes?

And then what?