Page 11 of An Eye For Illusion

I suddenly sit up and reach for the phone, my heart pounding at the thought of maybe finding a fucking way out of this mess.

My shoulders drop slightly when I see who’s calling.

“Hey, Bridge,” I answer.

“I figured you’d still be up. You still scrolling the deep dark web for Elliott’s secrets and lies?” she teases.

I huff. “Nooo. I’m lying here contemplating running off to Fiji and hiding out for the rest of my life.”

“You’d never leave me here with the wolves, and you know it.”

I sigh because she’s right. I’d never do that to her, but I would take her with me! She’s my cousin, but she’s also my best friend. She’s the only one in my family I trust with my life and my darkest fears, including those about Elliott.

“Wouldn’t I?” I respond, teasing.

“You forget, Jade, I know you—the real you,” she says softly, slamming me back into reality. Bridgette knows me better than anyone, even better than my own father. She’s been more like a sister to me than a cousin.

“I know. Everyone else believes I’m a raging bitch.”

I wrinkle my nose at that thought. I gave myself this image, but I wish people knew the real me. At least, the people closest to me.

“Hmmm, I wonder how they got that impression.”

She doesn’t wonder because she knows this is exactly what I want people to believe. The little girl who got pushed around re-emerged as a powerful, take-no-shit businesswoman.

I wish I felt that confident dealing with Elliott, though. This whole situation has made me feel out of sorts, like I’ve been thrown into a world of unknowns and scary possible outcomes.

I sigh. “You know it’s better this way.”

Bridgette has always told me I’ve worn this mask for too long, taken this charade too far. She always tells me if I’d just let people in, they’d see who I really am. That I’d gain their respect that way instead of through the fear of me theoretically ripping them to shreds.

“It’s not…but I don’t want to go down this road with you again tonight. What’s the PI found on Moore?” She changes the subject quickly to prevent an argument spawned by her wanting what’s best for me and me vehemently avoiding it.

“Pfft. A lot of fucking nothing. He’s supposedly the best, but judging by his lack of information and lack of communication skills, I’m not so sure.” I roll my eyes at the thought of him.

Cocky bastard.

“Mmhmm.” I can hear her tapping the keys on her laptop.

“He tap dances on my last nerve. I don’t know that any man on the planet has ever annoyed me even a fraction as much as Colin does. If I didn’t need him so fucking much, I’d trade agencies.” I huff.

The tapping continues before she says, “Ah, I see.”

Surely, she isn’t looking him up. I mean, his picture won’t be anywhere; he’s a PI. Remaining anonymous is absolutely necessary. I tried looking him up on social media myself only to come up empty-handed. What if he uses a fake name online? What if he’s using a fake name with me? What if he isn’t really Colin Brooks?

My mind is reeling.

“What are you looking at over there? What are you typing?” I ask, barely taking a breath between questions.

“I’m updating my website for a new specialized therapy I’m offering. Calm down, Jade! I’m not spying on your man.”

Her giggle makes me turn red. I feel heat creeping across my cheeks. I don’t know why my mind jumped to that conclusion.

“He isn’t my man! He’s working for me, nothing more.” I pretend to be exasperated with her. She’s just giving me a hard time, and I enjoy the distraction from where my mind was before she called.

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”

“You don’t believe me? Colin is only working for me to get me out of this engagement with Elliott. Then we go our separate ways. That’s it.”

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