Chapter 152
The elevator doors slide open with a quiet ding. Aaron and I step out into the parking garage, the cool underground air brushing against my skin. The place smells faintly of oil and concrete, cars sit in neat rows under the fluorescent lights, their metal bodies reflecting under the sun.
I walk ahead of Aaron, my heels clicking against the polished floor.
He’s quiet for a few seconds but I know he wants to know what tje hell just happened between me and that secretary
Then he finally asks.
“What happened in there p>
I keep walking.
“Nothing p>
Aaron makes a small sound like he absolutely does not believe that.
“Nothing p>
I reach the car and Marcus is already stepping out of the driver’s seat, opening the back door for me.
Aaron waits until I slide inside before leaning slightly toward the door.
“Elaine p>
I sigh. He’s not going to let it go is he?
“You know you’re a little I stop myself and look at his size “well big gossiper p>
He gives me the eye and a smirk pulls on his mouth.
” i just put the secretary in her place, nothing much.” I say simply.
Aaron blinks.
“You what p>
“I warned her p>
“Warned her about what p>
I lean back against the seat, suddenly feeling tired.
“She was being disrespectful to me p>
Aaron processes that for a moment, then he exhales through his nose.
He closes the door and walks around to the other side of the car, sliding into the seat beside me.
Marcus starts the engine and the car pulls smoothly out of the parking space.
No one talks for a minute, the quiet should feel peaceful. Instead it gives my thoughts too much room and the the moment they start moving again p>
Zane’s voice echoes back into my head ask him how it feels knowing his best friend is fucking his little sister.
My chest tightens immediately.
I stare out the window as the garage exit approaches, sunlight spilling into the darkness ahead.
I shouldn’t care, I know i shouldn’t that’s the problem. I shouldn’t care about the things he said, but something about the way he said them… the deliberate cruelty in his voice… it’s sitting in my chest like a stone.
The car pulls out into traffic as the city moves around us, life continuing like nothing happened.
My throat tightens.
No. Absolutely not, j am not crying because of that man. I refuse, not anymore and I know if I go back to that house right now, I know exactly what will happen.
I’ll go into the bedroom, close the door and the moment I’m alone… everything will come crashing down.
The anger, the confusion, the hurt and I will cry over him, over his stupid stupid words, and that his stupid smirk.
I clench my jaw.
No. Not today
I pull my phone out of my bag.
Aaron glances at me briefly but doesn’t say anything.
My thumb hovers over the screen for a second before I tap Ivy’s name.
The phone rings twice, then her bright voice fills the line
“Elaine p>
Just hearing her immediately lightens something in my chest.
“Hi, baby p>
“You called!” she says excitedly. “Did you miss me already p>
I smile faintly despite myself.
“Obviously p>
Aaron gives me a sideways look but stays quiet.
“Are you done shopping already?” I ask.
There’s a rustling sound on the other end like she’s shifting bags around.
“Yeah, I just finished actually,” she says. “Why p>
A small idea forms in my head, maybe it’s petty, maybe it’s childish but right now I need something that isn’t heavy conversations and dead sisters and angry men. And if it happens to annoy Zane a little bit Then well, that’s just a bonus.
“Where are you?” I ask.
Ivy perks up instantly.
“Why? Are you coming p>
“Maybe p>
“Oh my God,” she gasps dramatically. “Yes please. Shopping alone is soooooooo boring p>
I laugh softly.
“Poor thing p>
“I know, right? Tragic p>
“So where are you p>
She tells me the name of the shopping center she’s at.
I glance toward the front seat and Marcus catches my eyes in the rearview mirror.
“You can come here,” Ivy continues. “There are like five other stores I haven’t gone into yet p>
“That sounds dangerous p>
“For your wallet maybe, but you don’t have to worry about that your husband is a freaking billionaire.” she says sweetly.
I chuckle.
“Alright. Send me the exact location p>
“Already doing it p>
A second later my phone buzzes with the pin.
“Give me like… twenty minutes,” I tell her.
“Perfect p>
“And Ivy p>
“Yeah p>
“Please don’t leave yet, I know you have a tendency of leaving stores once you don’t see anything you like p>
She laughs.
“As if I could. I’m guarding the stores p>
“Good p>
We hang up and for a little while I just sit there holding the phone in my hand, the heaviness in my chest hasn’t disappeared.
But it’s… quieter and manageable now.
I lean forward slightly.
“Marcus p>
“Yes ma’am p>
“Can you take us here p>
I hold my phone out so he can see the location.
Marcus glances at the screen briefly then nods
“Of course ma’am p>
I’m about to correct jim on calling me ma’am as it makes me uncomfortable to some extent but i decide to let it be.
He taps something into the navigation system and the car smoothly changes direction at the next light.
Aaron looks at me.
“You’re going shopping p>
“Yes p>
“Randomly p>
“Yes p>
He studies my face for a second longer.
“You alright?” He’s asked me that alot today
I look back out the window as the city blurs past in streaks of glass and concrete.
“I’m perfectly fine p>
Aaron doesn’t say anything else but I can feel that he doesn’t quite believe me.
And honestly I’m not sure I believe it either.
But one thing I do know is this… I’m not going home to sit alone and think about Zane Whitmore.
Today I’m going shopping with my little sister.