Chapter 27

I was relieved when Monday morning came around, I needed to get some space and think more about what Trent had said.

“Hi Abbie,” Peter said as he dropped my mail onto my desk at work.

“Thanks, Peter.”

I flicked through the envelopes looking for a document I needed to sign when I came to a mysterious pink envelope that had been mailed. It was addressed to Abbie McAllister. Only a handful of people knew about our marriage. But I couldn’t think of a reason any of my friends would mail a card to my work.

I slit open the envelope with my thumb and pulled out the folded paper inside.

Poor Abbie just got married and already about to lose her husband. Unless he pays. Make him pay. For your own sake.

That was it, nothing else. No signature. Nothing else in the envelope. I shook from my core. This blackmailing was getting out of hand. If Jay wasn’t going to go to the police about it, then I would.

As confused as I was about my feelings about him I would not let anything happen to him. I loved him far too much for that.

Without touching it more than I had to, in case there were fingerprints on it, I slipped the letter and envelope into a large folder. With it firmly gripped in my hand, I left the office and walked to the nearest police station.

At first the police hadn’t taken me seriously. Then I told them the letter was referring to James McAllister, a billionaire. The police officer filled out some paperwork and took the folder with the letter from me.

I gave them Calvin’s name but I didn’t know his address.

“Thank you.” I turned and left, not convinced they would do anything useful.

* * *

“Hi, beautiful.” Jay pulled me into him after I’d gotten home, but I kept my arms at my side.

“I’m worried about the blackmail.” I’d already decided not to tell him about getting the police involved, knowing he’d be angry. I was the person who was angry, he had no right to be.

“Don’t be, it’s fine. It’s no big deal.”

“How do I know that isn’t just another of your lies?”

“What lies?”

I pushed my body away from his and looked deep into his brown eyes.

“Like the way you lied about not wanting your picture taken because you’re insecure about your looks.”

He tilted his head to the side, almost rolling his eyes.

“You know why I said that.”

“Yeah, now, after Calvin exposed your lie. What other lies are you telling me?”

“None.”

“But then what did Trent mean about you having me headhunted?”

“I told you. I don’t know!” He hadn’t raised his voice at me very many times, and it unnerved me a little but I was determined not to back down.

“This is what you meant when you said you wanted me for years. Not that you meant you’d wanted to settle down with someone. You wanted me. How did you know who I was?” My hands balled into fists as I spoke, so tight my fingernails dug into my palms.

“I’m not hiding anything from you.”

“Is it really your reputation that matters more to you than money? Or is it something else, like another little tidbit of information you’re trying to keep secret from me?”

“Abbie, no. There’s nothing. Stop with your baseless accusations.” His teeth were gritted, and I’d had enough.

“You are just like Matt!”

“I am nothing like Matt, NEVER accuse me of that.”

We were in the entrance hall, I hadn’t gotten any further into the house. I turned on my heels and stormed out the door. I found the Tony the driver in the garage and demanded he take me to Jenny’s house.

I hadn’t even had time to grab my toothbrush or a clean pair of underwear.

* * *

Jay texted me I didn’t know how many times. I hadn’t responded. Not even once. Tony told him I was staying at Jenny’s. At least he hadn’t turned up at her door.

I called in sick on Tuesday and Wednesday. After much debate, I went into work on Thursday. If nothing else, I needed something to distract me from all my thoughts before I drove myself insane.

There was no doubt in my mind Jay was hiding something. How did he find out about me? If Trent was right and Jay had me hunted down and given a job, how on earth did he know who I was? I was a nobody.

The more worrying thing was why he wouldn’t tell me. If he’d come across me through my old company, Hamilton’s, why didn’t he just say so? What possible reason was there for him not telling me?

* * *

That night, on Jenny’s sofa, I decided there was only one way I’d ever find out the truth about James McAllister. The same way I’d found out the truth the first time. Calvin.