Page 193 of The Darkest Chase

“Of course. Come.” Past the door, his voice is icy and eerily calm.

Stealing one last glance at Joseph for reassurance, I find nothing there except blank withdrawal, save the silent warning in his eyes.

It’s like he’s still telling me not to go in there.

I hold his eyes for another second, then push the office door open and step inside.

Xavier looks more casual than I’ve ever seen him.

His suit coat is draped over his chair, the sleeves of his pale blue dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, the collar unbuttoned.

His blond hair seems disarrayed. He leans back in his high-backed leather swivel chair with one leg crossed, his elbow propped on the arm and his gaze fixed on his laptop screen.

A paperweight on the front corner of the desk pins down a slip of paper that looks very much like the infamous check I desperately need.

How bad would it look if I just grabbed it and ran out the door?

But he looks up, his dead green eyes piercing me as he gestures to the empty chair across his desk. “Come, sit. I have something I’d like to show you.”

Oh, no.

He really wants to talk about the project now?

So much for in and out in five minutes.

But Grandpa’s treatment is riding on keeping Xavier Arrendell happy, so I force a fake smile and pull up one of the desk chairs.

“Sure. What do you want me to see?”

He says nothing, just gives me a measured look.

Then he slowly turns the laptop around so I can see it.

I’m expecting something normal.

A Pinterest mood board with new designs, a home tour video, an Instagram home show that screams we need a whole new direction, suited to his rich, finicky attitude. Instead, I see—

Me.

Caught on video.

First, slipping Micah’s number into Joseph’s pocket, my lips moving soundlessly.

Then I’m rifling through Xavier’s desk, taking photos of his phone bill before I’m pawing through the drawers like a hungry bear chasing honey. I know what’s next.

Taking the camera from his desk drawer.

My vision goes white for a second.

I can feel him glaring, but I can’t take my eyes off the screen.

Every passing second steals more air from my lungs. I can’t seem to make the simple act of breathing work anymore.

I am a flipping idiot.

Of course there was a hidden camera.

Of course someone as paranoid as Xavier would have cameras everywhere.

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