Allison

Later Malibu

It’s Sunday morning when I open my eyes and squint from the bright Malibu sun pouring into the room. It’s not beautiful today, not the sky, not the sun, or the ocean waves. Nothing is the same without Ridge. I reach out and find his side of the bed cold and empty like I knew it would be. I’m still in the nightmare. I’m not going to wake up and find Ridge lying next to me. If he doesn’t answer his phone this morning, we are flying to Montana. Anger blinds him, and I plan on giving him his sight back with the truth.

I slide my phone off the nightstand and make the call. No answer. I don’t waste a second calling the airline to book our tickets to Montana. They’re expensive, so expensive I worry we might not be able to pay for a flight from Montana to New York when we get there. One thing at a time, Allison—focus on getting to Ridge and setting him straight and then worry about how to get home.

This isn’t how I usually operate. I plan things down to the second, but Ridge’s disappearing act has thrown a wrench into our plans. I get out of bed more determined than ever and toss my suitcase on the bed and open it. David walks past my door and stops, backing up when he sees me packing.

“So we’re leaving?”

“Yes, we’re going to Montana. Ridge isn’t answering my calls, and I need to talk to him. Our flight leaves at one. We need to be at the airport at eleven.” I continue to pack as I speak. We have plenty of time, but I’m focused, and I need to keep the momentum of my plan moving forward.

“Okay, I’ll go pack,” he says with disappointment in his voice.

I stop packing. “I’m sorry, David. I hate to cut things so short, but I have to fix this thing with Ridge right away.”

“It’s cool. Two days in Malibu is better than none.” He shrugs his shoulders, and I walk to the door to hug him.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Love you, too.” He pats my back awkwardly, and I release him. Teenage boys aren’t into hugging, but I don’t care. He needs to know I love him and sometimes a hug is the only way to show it.

“Okay, get showered and packed. We can eat breakfast, and I’ll call an Uber to take us to the airport.”

“Okay, can I go say goodbye to Jack?”

“Yes, we should have time.”

An hour later after I’ve showered and packed, I roll my suitcase to the door. My phone rings from the bedroom, and I rush back to answer it praying it’s Ridge.

It’s not.

When I see Caroline’s name on the screen, my heart jumps. I’m disappointed, but if it’s not him, I’m glad it’s her. I’ve wanted to speak to her and find out what she said to Ridge, but we have strict rules about calling management on the weekends. Apparently, management has no qualms about calling employees, though.

“Hello.”

“Allison, why haven’t you answered my texts? I sent two of them twenty-four hours ago,” she hisses.

“I’m on vacation, Caroline. And frankly, I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“Say you’ll send me the photographs you have of Mr. Noble, it’s simple. And I need you back in the office first thing tomorrow morning if you want to keep your job. I know nothing is wrong with your aunt. You’re vacationing in Malibu with your new beau. I have eyes everywhere, Allison. You can’t hide from me or lie to me so don’t bother trying anymore.”

My vision blurs with rage. How dare she spy on me and threaten to fire me. I’ve been a perfect employee for years. I’ve never missed a day of work, and I have never asked for time off other than my usual week of vacation until now.

“I’m not giving you the pictures. I will be back in the office tomorrow morning. I apologize for lying about my aunt, but I think you know why I needed to get out of town.”

“Allison, you need to think long and hard about those photographs. Do you want to be stuck in the same position here at Realm forever? And if you’re planning on working for another magazine in New York, you can forget it. I’ll blackball your name so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

She has all the power, and she knows it. She can keep me stuck in my position forever, that’s fine. I’m willing to give up a promotion for Ridge. I can’t risk losing my job—the pile of bills on my kitchen table can attest to that. I have David to think about, he is my priority, and if I lose this job and Caroline makes it impossible for me to find work, we’re screwed.

“I’m sorry, Caroline. I can’t give you the photographs, and if that means staying in my position, so be it. I will be back tomorrow. Now if that’s all, I need to get to the airport.” She sighs an irritated sigh and hangs up.

Damn it. She had me so frazzled I forgot to ask her what she said to Ridge that has him so upset. And now I can’t even go to Montana to find out without getting fired. If I’m not at Realm bright and early tomorrow morning, we will be homeless in a matter of weeks.

I sit down on the edge of the bed and collect myself for a moment before calling the airline and changing our flight. It will take months to save up enough to fly to Montana and talk to Ridge. I can’t wait that long. Why won’t he just answer his fucking phone?

I flop face down onto the mattress and scream as loud as I can. I have never been more frustrated in my life.

“You okay up there, Ally Cat?” David calls from downstairs.

“No!” I yell back. He climbs the stairs and sits on the edge of the bed opposite me.

“What’s up?”

I roll over onto my back and pull my hair. “What is up is my boss is a total bitch, and the man I love is being a ridiculous baby not answering his phone.”

“Oh,” he says stunned. I never lose my shit in front of him, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve cursed in front of him.

“I’m sorry, this isn’t for you to worry about. I’m just really frustrated, and I have no control over what’s happening.”

“What is happening? I’m not a baby anymore, Ally. I can handle adult stuff.”

He’s probably right, but I feel guilty dumping my problems on him, he doesn’t deserve that.

“Long story short my boss wants me to give her some pictures I took of Ridge, and I think she spoke to Ridge yesterday, but I have no idea what she said.”

“And Ridge still won’t answer his phone?”

“No.”

“You can try him from my phone. He doesn’t have my number, does he?”

“It’s the same area code, but it can’t hurt to try.” He slides his phone from his back pocket and enters the code to open it before handing it over. I dial Ridge’s number and hold my breath while it rings.

He answers on the fourth ring. “Hello?”

“Ridge, thank God you answered. I need to talk to you about…” The line goes dead before I can get another word out. “No! Dammit, dammit!”

“What?”

“He hung up on me. I had one chance, and I blew it. Now he knows your number, and he will never answer it again.” Hot tears spring to my eyes, but I quickly swipe them away when they fall down my face. I will not cry in front of my brother about a man. Not now, not ever.

I take a deep breath and blow it out before I stand up and straighten my clothes. “Let’s go home, David. I’ve had enough of Malibu.”