Chapter Thirty
Halfway through the week, things began to quiet down. The news of our marriage spread like wildfire. Some people were more hesitant to approach me, but I stayed friendly and kept working.
In time, things would settle. At least that vile woman, Andrea, never made another appearance. I kept expecting to see her around every corner. Love made people do stupid things, but I had a feeling Garrick’s threat would keep her at bay.
I perused some cloth swatches for a charity event Shaw International was sponsoring. The plan was to use the beach house. Goodness knew it was large enough, but it would be intimate for a costume ball come spring. It was fun working on the details; I hadn’t realized how much I missed being plugged into something. Even Garrick noticed the difference in my attitude and outlook.
This evening, we’d planned to talk about how we were going to decorate the house for Christmas. It was our first Christmas together. I couldn’t wait.
Sensing him before I saw him, I looked up. “What brings you to my office? You won’t be able to tie me up here.”
“I’m sure I could manage.” I squeezed my legs together. The last few days, we’d gotten creative in Garrick’s office. “Knoah, don’t give me that look.”
“What?” I asked innocently.
His lifted an eyebrow. “You have that look. I don’t think you want people to hear you scream.”
Oh my gosh! There were people in the offices on either side of mine. “Umm…you make me lose all coherent thought.”
“I like that answer, sweetheart.”
I looked at the time and realized it was lunch. “Are you ready to go eat?”
The disappointment on his face told me he wouldn’t be able to make it. “I’m going to have to cancel lunch. I need to fly to Miami for a meeting.”
“Everything okay?” As far as I knew, nothing was wrong with any of the businesses in Miami.
Garrick ran his hands through his hair, clearly irritated. “They’re talking about a union strike. Before things get nasty, I want to see if I can intervene. If not, I’ll have to take other steps no one will be happy with.”
“Sounds like a headache.”
“Yes, it keeps me away from you. It’ll be after dinner before I get home. But regardless, I will be back.” Garrick hated leaving me.
I stood. “I’ll miss you. I’ll be thinking about your conference table.” Yesterday at lunch, Garrick had bent me over the conference table and taken me from behind.
He kissed under my ear and whispered, “Be ready and waiting for me tonight.”
“I will be. I hope I don’t touch myself before you get back.”
He trailed a finger along my collarbone, and I shivered. “You won’t.” He kissed me long and hard before he pulled back. “I have to go. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Be safe.”
“Always.”
Garrick strode away, and I cursed him for telling me not to touch myself. No doubt he would know. I watched him talk with a few people, feeling an overwhelming sense of awe. This man was mine. Mine.
Joe approached me. “I’m going to ride with Garrick to the airport. Then I’ll be back. Arnold will be here if you need anything. Are you going to eat downstairs at the café?”
“That’s the plan. Then I’ll be back in my office until my PR meeting this afternoon.” Arnold filled in regularly when Joe needed to be somewhere else. Joe’s son was a good guy, but he seemed like an adrenaline junkie—at least from the stories he’d told me.
Joe texted a few things and then turned his attention back to me. “I’ll check in with you when I return.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It is. I think we’re getting close.”
“Good.”
If we were getting close, that meant things would hopefully be normal sooner rather than later. To do something simple, like get in my car and just drive somewhere, sounded heavenly. I knew Garrick would tell me later since the office was not the place to discuss the situation in detail.
Joe hurried off, and I checked the time. If I went downstairs now, I would beat the rush. I’d planned to have lunch in Garrick’s office again today. Jeez, I’d been sex crazed this week. It seemed like Garrick and I couldn’t get enough of each other.
I searched the room for Arnold, who stood against the far wall. Most of the time, security blended in well. I nodded to the elevator, and Arnold acknowledged me. He joined me at the elevator.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Shaw. Dad said you would be going to the café and then back to your office.”
“Yes, I’m a pretty boring person.”
He gave me a grin. “Boring is good. Makes it easier for us. Men will be stationed around outside, as usual.”
Being on guard nearly 24-7 had to be tiresome. “Thank you for all you do.”
For a second, he paused. “It’s a pleasure.”
Is it uncommon for people to say thank you? In an easy silence, similar to the one I often shared with Joe, we rode the elevator alone to the lobby.
Perfect. The lunch crowd had not come to the café yet. I took my normal seat at the table near the window. It was safe to sit there; Garrick had replaced the windows with bulletproof glass before I began eating here.
Marlena approached moments after I sat down. “How are you today, Knoah?”
“I’m good. Seems like I’m eating alone for the first time in forever.” She placed my coffee down. “I guess I’ve become predictable.”
She frowned. “Is there something else you wanted? I can make something else.”
“No, just a Cobb salad. Thanks, Marlena.”
I really wanted to be free again. Free to go to a different restaurant, have coffee from one of the places I used to love. Maybe go to the Greek restaurant.
I took a sip of my coffee and texted Garrick.
Me: Let me know when you make it.
Garrick: Of course. Keep Arnold close.
Me: Of course.
Taking a few more sips, I looked at my calendar. Next week, I would meet with my therapist again. She’d been out of town for the last two weeks. Though I was ready to see her, I felt grounded. It was a good place to be. Even with everything that had been thrown our way, I felt healthy.
I wondered how Kurt and Sawyer were fairing. So far this week, I’d only received one- or two-word responses. To give them space, I decided not to call. But it would be odd not to check in with them from time to time. I pulled out my phone.
Me: How’s it going?
Sawyer: Really good.
Me: Great! Girls’ night when you get back.
Sawyer: Yes!
Hmm…something was definitely up. Normally, Sawyer was much wordier.
Oh man, my stomach was a little nauseated all of a sudden. Thinking it might have been from hunger, I took another sip of my coffee and added a few deep breaths for good measure.
But it was just getting worse. Much worse.
I needed the restroom.
Motioning to Arnold, I headed to the restroom at an even pace. The intensity of this had taken me by surprise. I was barely able to lock the stall door before I was violently sick. It seemed to continue forever.
I heard the door open. Ugh. I hoped I was done puking. Having a stranger listening to me getting sick would be awful.
My hands were shaking, and I felt sweat gather on my forehead.
Man, this came on fast.
Get back to the apartment. Sleep it off.
I tried to stand, but I felt a little dizzy. Something was very wrong. Leaning against the wall of the stall, I pulled out my phone to call Garrick, but the call went to voice mail.
“Hey, it’s me. I feel terrible. Going home to rest. Love you.” Even my voice sounded weak. I should tell Arnold.
I managed to get to the sink to wash my hands. My eyes looked dilated, but it was hard to tell because my vision was blurry. It was getting worse. Much worse.
Do I need a doctor?
In the corner, I noticed something large—it could have been a laundry cart, but it was hard to tell with how blurry my vision had grown. I looked at the phone to try and focus on Arnold’s number. But I wasn’t able to see the keypad.
That’s odd.
I wiped at my eyes, and the cart came in and out of focus.
“Knoah, are you okay?”
Who’s that?
The voice sounded familiar, but the drumming in my head overshadowed it. I blinked my eyes repeatedly, hoping my vision would clear.
Only for a second did it clear up. The bathroom stall door opened. The person swayed into my line of sight, and I stumbled to the counter. If I can just get to Arnold. I forced myself to remain standing and tried to focus.
“Knoah, it’s me, Marlena.”
Thank goodness. Someone I knew. I grabbed the sink. “Umm…Marlena. Can you help me get outside?”
“No. I can’t.”
What? I jerked around.
Things were becoming more sluggish. More muddy. I needed to get out of there, but my body just wanted to sleep.
“Marlena…please,” I barely managed to whisper.
Something was wrong. Bad wrong. I took a lunge to the right and swayed a bit. When I was just out of reach of the door, something pierced my neck, and slowly the world went black.