Page 33 of Pieces of Us

A knock at the door brings me out of my depressing musings.

‘Come in,’ I call, granting access to whomever is behind the closed door.

‘Just thought you might need some company,’ the sultry voice of Billie sounds out.

‘Billie. Who is manning the front desk?’

She pouts as she steps into my space.

‘I just thought everyone has gone home, and I could help you…with whatever you need.’ I don’t miss the innuendo in her voice or the fact that her eyes drop to my lap.

I shake my head. ‘I’m good. Thanks.’

A determined glint shimmers in her eyes as she crowds me, moving forward into my personal space. Any closer and her ass will be polishing my desk, or worse, my lap. ‘But I’ve always known what you needed.’

‘Billie. We need to remain professional.’ I try to correct her behaviour.

‘We can do that too.’ She winks as she slides her dress inches up her thigh, stopping at her lacy underwear.

‘Hey!’ I immediately jump from my chair, moving it in front of me so it acts as a barrier between us. ‘You need to leave.’ I avert my eyes from her translucent G-string.

‘Come on. Let’s just let off a bit of steam. Your dad’s not here. Mr. Hartford isn’t here. Everyone has practically left for the day. I need a screaming orgasm, and I miss how hard you fuck me. It’s been weeks.’ She hasn’t made any attempt to cover up.

She slithers closer, but I push the chair in front of me to stop her from getting to me. I won’t lie. Her offer is tempting. She’s what I’ve known for so long. If Amity wasn’t back, I can’t say I'd be turning her down like this. I’ve always loved fucking, and Billie fucks damn good. I just know that if I go back to my old ways, it’ll be harder to break this vicious pattern.

‘Not going to happen, Billie. Never again.’ I really didn’t want to have to be so brutal, but I need her to get the message, once and for all.

Her face flushes in anger as she yanks the dress down carelessly.

‘Fuck you, Lincoln,’ she hisses before storming off. I can see half her ass cheek is still hanging out, but I don’t want to embarrass her in front of those who might still be lingering, so I let her teeter back to her desk.

I don’t think Billie is a bad person. I just think she does bad things and makes bad choices sometimes. She gets in her head too much. Admittedly, I think I’ve made her worse with how I’ve strung her along. If there was no Amity, I could see myself with Billie. But there is an Amity. Forever. Even if she doesn’t want me.

I’ve made a clusterfuck of this twisted love triangle. ‘Fuck. Me,’ I exasperate out loud.

My phone goes off as I slump back down.

Dad: Amity is on her way over.

Chapter 16

D.I.E

Amity

I would have been perfectly content avoiding any place that put me in the vicinity of Lincoln.

What agitates me even more is the fact that this building should make me feel like I belong. My dad took part in building it from the ground up, and I spent more afternoons here growing up than I can count.

I trace the vintage photo of Dad, me, Uncle Jacob, Lincoln and Jas hanging on the wall from when we first opened. It’s part of a collection that marks indelible milestones that make up the history of the company.

Feeling a melancholic smile grace my lips, I peer at Uncle Jacob, holding a baby Jas in his arms while Lincoln and I are holding hands in front.

My freaking name is on the damn building, yet standing here just inside the front reception feels foreign, like I’m a stranger in my own home.

I don’t expect any of the newbies will connect the dots that I’m the daughter of the Managing Director, but I’m prepared for people to recognise my notoriety.

Fortunately, I know the building like the back of my hand. My heart is in my throat as I duck and weave past reception, begging every god in the universe to help me evade Billie. She isn’t here, so it’s easy to slip past, but my anxiety and apprehension are reaching Jodie-Foster-level panic at the prospect of coming face-to-face with her again.

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