Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
"Where did you park?" I asked, when I pulled into the lot. She pointed and I followed her direction. As soon as I stopped the car, I put a hand on her arm. "Kayla, don't go."
"Don't," she said, shaking me off of her and reaching for the door handle. "Just let me go."
And so I did. For now.
CHAPTER 6
GOODBYE
KAYLA
I was shaking. I had to sit in my car for several minutes before I felt like I'd be safe to drive.
Axel lingered in the parking lot, but finally, he left and I gradually started to function again.
I was numb as I drove home. Thoughts competed for attention but none won. How did he know who I was? When did he know? Why did he kiss me? Why did I let him? How was I going to handle never experiencing his touch again, now that I'd been in his arms?
I tried to just wipe it all out. I couldn't process it, couldn't deal with it.
I mixed a strong drink when I got home, skipped dinner, and was thankful when the alcohol enabled me to fall asleep.
My head was aching the next morning, and I didn't know if it was the vodka or the crying that had caused it. I got ready to go into the office on autopilot and tried to remember what I'd been working on. I had a few projects underway, but I wouldn't be able to avoid the article about Axel for long, and I had no idea how I was going to manage it. I knew I'd just need to disconnect my heart from my brain, even though my brain was pretty messed up about it all too.
It was important that I do a great job on Axel's feature. Dean had taken a chance on me, and I couldn't afford to let my emotions incapacitate me.
Marlee came over to my workspace shortly after I arrived. "How'd it go yesterday?"
I looked at her and shook my head. "Not good," I said. I wondered if my eyes were still red. They felt like they were.
"Why? What happened?" Marlee came in closer and leaned against my desk.
"He recognized me."
"Oh, no," she said. "And then what? He refused to do the interview?"
"No, I got it. That part's okay." I felt my face heating up and knew I couldn't talk about it yet. "I'll have to tell you later. Deadlines," I said, gesturing to my computer. "Thank you, anyway, for letting me use your name."
"Alright. Get to work. Drinks tonight?"
"Sounds good," I said. I knew I wouldn't feel like socializing tonight, but it was easier to agree. I needed to bury myself in my work, and fast.
Mid-morning, the receptionist buzzed me. "Kayla? Axel Beckers is here to see you."
Shit! Damn it. I wanted to tell her to send him away, but remembered my story assignment, and knew there'd be a good chance Dean would hear about something like that. That would never do. I was trapped, and would have to meet with him, like it or not.
I rehearsed some lines in my head as I walked to the lobby. I'd be firm. I'd tell him I couldn't see him again. I wouldn't think about the way it had felt when he held me.
And damn if Axel wasn't looking even better than he did yesterday. He was clean cut, in denim and a button-down, and he was holding flowers. Shit! I could tell he was not going to make this easy.
He watched me approach, his expression cautious and kind. I led him to a far corner of the lobby where no one could overhear us, and sat down at a small cluster of furniture by the window.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"We need to talk."
I was silent.
"Here. These are for you." He held the flowers out to me, a small rustic bouquet of miniature roses and freesia.
I hesitated and then took them, remembering my manners before I confronted him. "Thank you. But why did you bring flowers?"
Frustration passed across his face. "Because I wanted to," he said.
I set them on the table next to me and folded my hands in my lap. I drew my shoulders back and aimed for maximum composure in my posture and voice. "I'd like to apologize to you," I said. "I shouldn't have deceived you, and I'm sorry. I was assigned to do a feature on you, and I didn't think you'd agree to meet with me, so I used a coworker's name."
"Why in the world wouldn't I meet with you?" He looked at me like I was speaking another language.
"Because of our parents, our history."
He still looked deeply confused for a moment before he spoke. "That was all their bullshit, not ours," he said.
"Well their bullshit was pretty bad. World war caliber. My mother would go ballistic if she knew I was speaking to you, and I'll bet your father would feel the same about me."