Page 57 of The Art of Deception
They may not be blood, but they are family.
I lean forward, taking Greta into a massive embrace. She’s the mother figure missing in my life, the mother I need.
Greta pulls back, gazing into my eyes. “I know you don’t wantto hear this, sweet girl, but the father has to know, no matter how much you might despise him.”
My stomach rolls again.
I grimace with a single nod of my head.
Shit.
Chapter Sixteen
ALEX
One Week Later
It’s been so long since I’ve seen Tomi.Fuck, I miss her.I’ve been trying to play it cool. The last thing I need is to overcrowd her. She’s still angry, but with me sending her a text every now and then and some flowers just to let her know I’m thinking of her, I’m hoping it will cement that we are good together. That this wasn’t just some elaborate plan. I want her to know that I’m in, I’m all in. I have to wait for her to thaw enough for me to make my move.
But for now, I’m at the building site. The demolition has taken place. I’m grateful Tomi wasn’t around when Hope & Faith Ink’s building was demolished. Even I was sad to see it go. But now the framework is up for the new megacomplex, and I’m walking around in my tailored suit wearing a freaking hard hat like a damn fool.
I stride over to where Tomi’s new shop is going to be positioned. She may not have broken yet, but I’m hoping she will cave when she sees what it looks like when it’s finished. I know she’s working at the grocery store as a cashier. I ask Henry to drive past there every night so I can check up on her. She’s clearly more tired and dejected as the days progress. It’s so hard not to message her every damn second, but restricting my messages is the right thing to do, even if it’s fucking hard. I don’t want to smother or push her further away. Though, her replies let me know she’s not completely out of my reach.
She’s still my feisty girl underneath it all.
I’m standing right out where her front door will be situated when my personal cell beeps. It rarely goes off these days, so Ipull it from my pocket.
There’s a message from Tomi.
My heart hammers as my eyes widen, then I swipe to read it.
Tomi:Meet me for a coffee?
My chest tightens as I type back immediately.
Me:Name the time and place.
The three dots appear, so I know she’s writing back.
Tomi:Now? Your place?
I can’t help but tense up. The last time we were at my place, shit went south real quick. I’m hoping for a better outcome this time.
Me:See you soon…
I spin on my heels, dodging and weaving through the construction workers as I make haste for the car. I jump in the back, yanking the stupid hard hat off my head, and loosen my plum tie as Henry glances at me. “Leaving so soon, sir?”
“Afraid so, Henry. To my apartment, and hurry!”
Henry turns back to the front and then speeds off in a race-car-like fashion. Just what I need. The thought of seeing Tomi after all this time apart is like a drug hitting my system. I’m alive and swamped with chaos all at once. I have no idea what she’s going to tell me or what she intends to say—good or bad—but I just need to see her up close so I can hopefully persuade her to follow my way of thinking.
Eventually, we arrive at the apartment. I don’t even wait for Henry to pull the car to a complete stop before I’m out and running toward the elevator, but letting the attendant know Tomi’s on her way and to let her up. I hop in then press thebutton for my suite. My foot taps nervously on the tiled floor as I ponder what I need to tell her, the pictures I can show her of how her shop is coming along.
I have so much I need to say.
So much I want to say.
The elevator dings, the doors open.
