Page 237 of This Woman Forever

“I’ve seen women on the street before who looked like Lauren.” I stopped one. She was understandably startled. “And I got chills too.” I get it.

John hums his agreement. “I think maybe you ought to step in.”

Yes, Lauren’s dead but, like I’ve said, John doesn’t make somethings out of nothings. So I will be stepping in. “I hear you,” I say, as another call comes in. A quick glance tells me it’s Cook. “I’ve gotta go, Cook’s calling.” Walking to the couch, I lower. “Steve.”

“Hey, so here’s one for you,” he says. “I’m on my way, by the way.”

“Hit me.” What’s he found out?

“I have a friend of a friend of a friend who got hold of Haskett and Sandler’s inventory. Clients, businesses they’re valuing and selling, that kind of thing.”

“And?”

“They’ve recently valued the company Ava works for.”

“Rococo Union?”

“Yeah.”

My brain is clearly on the lag. “Peterson’s selling?”

“And the company he’s using to sell have been checking Van Der Haus’s financial records.”

It hits me like a brick to the face. “Fuck, no,” I breathe, rising slowly up from the couch. “He’s?—”

Stay away from my wife.

I might find that impossible.

“Oh my fucking God.” I feel like I’m in a flat-out panic, not able to get anything to work. “Are you saying Ava’s boss is selling to Van Der Haus?”

“I’m saying the information I have certainly points to it, but I can’t confirm.”

My phone dings, announcing another call. I ignore it. “She’s in a meeting with her boss.” I inhale. Is Peterson telling them he’s selling up? “Fuck!”

“Could he also be introducing them to the new owner?” Steve asks.

I freeze. Hell, no. My phone dings at my ear again, and this time I look. It’s John, and I have a horrible feeling I know what he’s going to say. I quickly switch the calls. “John?”

“Van Der Haus just went into Ava’s office. What do you want me to do?”

I snatch my keys off the desk and head out, nearly taking Drew and Sam off their feet as I steam past them, the floor shaking under my feet. “I think he’s bought Rococo Union,” I gasp, out of breath, not that I’m running. I’m just... breathless.

“What?”

“I think Van Der Haus has bought the company my wife works for.” I swing the door of the Aston open and fall into my seat.

“What?” Drew and Sam yell in unison, both of them in the way so I can’t close my door.

“Move,” I bark.

“No.” Drew shakes his head. “Never, no way. You’ll fucking kill yourself driving in this state.” He points to my hand on the door handle. It’s vibrating so much, it’s almost a blur. “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down?” I ask.

“Tell me what’s going on,” Drew demands. “How do you know this? Where’s Ava? And Van Der Haus, where’s he?”

I look at him, feeling spaced out, trying to remember every question he just threw my way. Can’t.

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