Page 89 of The Chase
“Yes?”
“Not sure I’d have made it out of Christie’s alone.”
Tobias was seemingly lost in his thoughts. “I’m glad I was there.”
He had been kind to me but my guard was still up and no matter how incredible last night had been, I had to remain realistic. Tobias had comforted me through the first night of what would no doubt become a terrible ordeal, and my joining the dots all wrong was going to end in heartache if I wasn’t careful.
And my father’s legacy was about to lead me on into hell.
“I meant what I said, Zara.” Tobias raised his chin. “The art world doesn’t intimidate me like it does you. I make my own rules. You’ve nothing to be frightened of.”
Yet facing the day could only be held back for so long.
After opening the front door for him I leaned against the doorjamb and wrapped my arms around myself. It was impossible to grasp that he still wanted to be with me.
He slid past me. “I’ll call you, okay?”
Tobias kissed my cheek, and I closed my eyes to savor these final seconds with him.
When I locked the door behind him my body ached with the loss of his presence. Last night had been truly heart-stopping and I promised myself I’d hold on to these feelings to get through the day.
My gaze returned to the hallway and rested on the Jaeger file.
* * *
Navigating the many cubicles already filled with arriving employees, I maintained my forward gaze, not wanting to catch sight of any faces that might confirm rumors ofSt. Joan’sreemergence had reached Huntly Pierre.
In a weak attempt to try and cheer myself up, I’d dressed in my favorite Ann Taylor little black dress, and these stilettos were now back on my stockinged feet, having come off when I’d made my usual ascent up the stairs. I’d thrown on this red silk scarf to add a touch of color and dabbed it with Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea perfume.
Making a beeline for my office, I hurried on in and shut the door behind me. I’d made it.
Though the worst still lay ahead, I was a step closer to getting this day behind me.
A small box rested on my desk and it was wrapped in a gorgeous golden bow. I threw my handbag onto the corner chair and almost pounced on the box.
Like Tobias had pounced on me last night.
Thoughts of him made my chest flutter...
I loved presents, especially having rarely gotten them and rarer still seeing the box covered in elegant paper with a pretty bow. After tearing it open, I set it on the desk and lifted the lid—
Upon a bed of black velvet rested a sleek silver screened phone.
Tobias.
He’d promised to get me a new one. I hugged it to my chest and drew strength from this rush of excitement that he was still in my life. With a flick of a button the screen lit up and I laughed when I saw the wallpaper set to a geisha girl.
A text appeared.Have a lovely day. Everything will be fine—Tobias.
I texted back,You shouldn’t have, but I love it. Thank you!
Giddy with the idea of seeing him again, I grazed my lower lip with my teeth, anticipating if that meant another night of lovemaking with Tobias Wilder.
That Charles Dickens’s quote fromA Tale of Two Citiesburned up my brain: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”
Tobias:How are you doing?
I’m okay.
