Page 148 of In Love After Office Hours

"I'm saying I'm Acheron Simonides' girlfriend, and they don't fucking believe me! They say he's not receiving visitors, but I know—-" Amelia lifted her chin, saying aggressively, "He'll talk to me, okay? He just has to know it's me."

"I see."

"Then can you get me in?"

"I...might." Without letting herself think, Pippi pulled her phone out of her bag, all the while despising the way her fingers shook. Wickham had given her his number earlier, when everything was still...fine.

Wickham's phone only rang once before his familiar gruff voice came down the line. "Good afternoon, Ms. Jones."

"I'm here at the lobby with a woman named Amelia—-"

"Amy?"

"And she says she's Mr. Simonides' girlfriend."

"Ah...ah..."

The fluster in Wickham's voice was all she needed to hear, and it felt like having the ground under her disappear. "She's very distraught, Mr. Wickham, and she would like to see Mr. Simonides as soon as possible."

"We'll be right down, Ms. Jones. And—-"

"Thank you, Mr. Wickham." She ended the call, not wanting to hear any of the factotum's no doubt well-meaning but pointless excuses.

"Was that Wick?" Amelia asked eagerly as soon as Pippi looked at her.

"It is." And even as her world continued to crash around her, Pippi managed to say kindly, "Mr. Wickham says they'll be right down with you." And she needed to leave before that happened. "Is it alright if I leave you now?"

"I...guess. What's your name again?"

Pippi pretended not to hear this, saying, "I'm just glad to be of help." She turned to leave, but she had only managed several steps when she heard people gasping, and Pippi knew right away what it meant.

Acheron.

Her mind begged her to just keep walking, but she couldn't help it. She turned, her heart beating faster and faster, and when her gaze finally found them, it was exactly what she expected, and pain once again started ripping her heart into pieces.

Amelia in his arms, sobbing against his chest, and not once did Acheron even realize that Pippi was watching them the entire time.

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