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Tech genius, Kylie Peterson, found cozying up to ex-boyfriend, business magnate Grant Thorne. For the fourth day in a row, the couple have been seen together at some of the trendiest Manhattan restaurants. Ms. Peterson, the brains behind KP Computing—a subsidiary of Thorne Industries, said their relationship was purely business. However, sources say Ms. Peterson was seen leaving Thorne’s penthouse late yesterday evening. Could they be negotiating a more personal relationship afterhours?
“You should stop reading that garbage,”Jake said behind me. “Ms. Peterson is testing the security of our servers. She’s been working round the clock on it and had to drop all her high-priority projects to dothat.”
Not even embarrassed at being caught, I left the screen where it was and turned to face him. “He has time to have lunch and dinner with her, but he couldn’t spare five minutes to call me?” Or send even a singletext?
“You know that call isn’t going to last only five minutes,” Jake said. “You two have a lot to work out. And I sure hope Mr. Thorne can wrap up his business today because Tyler said he’s been hell to workfor.”
“Is Tylerokay?”
Jake smiled. “He’ll be fine. Just needs to get a thickerskin.”
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” I argued. “Wedidn’t do anythingwrong.”
He sighed. “I know, but Mr. Thorne is still figuring out what to do withyou.”
“What do youmean?”
“You’re a game changer for him, Blaire. At the moment, I think you’re bad for business.” Jake chuckled when I scowled at him. “But the times I see him with you, I think you’re the best thing that ever happened tohim.”
“Why, Mr. Donovan, is that actually acompliment?”
He smirked. “It is, but don’t let it go to yourhead.”
* * *
That evening,I dressed with excitement. Grant was coming home. He was flying in at seven and Jake had already left to pick him up. We were meeting him at a trendy restaurant in the Boston North End to celebrate the successful acquisition of a five-hundred-million-dollar property in Moscow—the Galleria Development. Amelia was picking me up first and then Valerie. The senator would join us at the restaurant since he had a late afternoon meeting with his advisors that was running a littleover.
Colette had already left, and I was pacing the living room waiting on the car. There was a fluttering in my stomach, an anxiety I couldn’t quell. I chalked it up to almost three days of not talking to Grant or Liam. I needed some closure on one of the unknowns plaguing mylife.
I heard a car pull up the driveway and one of the new security guys called me on theintercom.
I left the house and saw Morris holding the door open to the Bentley. Amelia was inside, smiling atme.
“You look beautiful, Blaire,” she said, noting my red lace over black satin sheathe number. The Spanish-influenced dress dipped in the back, exposing enough skin without being tacky. I wasn’t wearing a bra and I felt no guilt that I was using all my assets to blast through the wall Grant erected betweenus.
Getting in beside his mother, and grabbing my seat belt, I smiled. “Thanks, and you look gorgeous as usual,Amelia.”
“Now that we’re done with the mutual admiration,” she paused and smiled widely. “Are you looking forward to seeingGrant?”
“I am,” I said. Amelia had been a great source of support during Grant’s radio silence. She’d come over for tea in the afternoons, making excuses that she liked Colette’s teacakes, but I think she was trying to distract me while her son had to do whatever was needed in Manhattan. I enjoyed her company, and she managed to keep my mind off this festering issue between Grant and me, which I was determined to resolve before the night was through. Now if only Liam would callme.
The vehicle pulled into traffic and headed to Harvard to pick upValerie.
“It’s been a crazy few days,” Grant’s motherobserved.
“Yes, it has.” I had googled news of the deal and there were a lot of speculations about the different entities interested in acquiring the mixed-use properties included in the real estate deal. A powerful Russian oligarch was the lead competitor against Thorne RealEstate.
“I’m glad that’s over.” The words barely left Amelia’s lips when the bottom of the carjolted.
An explosion deafened my ears, yet screams pierced myhead.
The world tilted on its axis, until itdidn’t.
Pain pounded all around me, and then I feltnumb.
I stared confused at all the blood covering Amelia’s face, while horror setin.
21
