Page 51 of Pucking Curves

“Um, give me five minutes, and then show him back,” I mutter to Laura.

“O-kay,” she says before turning on her heel, clearly annoyed that I’m not spilling the beans to her. As if I would. The woman wields gossip like a weapon.

As soon as she’s out of my office, I dial Archer’s number. It rings twice before going to voicemail.

“Fuck,” I mumble, and then hesitate for a split second before I dial Micah.

He sends me to voicemail, too.

I dial Alice, praying she answers. There’s no way I can do this on my own. I need help. Or advice. Or something.

“Hey!” she says on the third ring.

“Alice!” I nearly sob with relief.

“Wren? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have a lot of time to explain,” I hiss into the phone, my eyes glued to my office door. “But Charles Montaque is in my building right now. He knows that Archer and I are married.”

“He…hold on. You two aremarried?” she growls. “Since when?”

“Um, since Vegas?”

“Jesus, Wren. Does Micah know?”

“No.”

“Fuck,” she mutters. “Don’t confirm anything to him, but let him in. We’ll see what he wants. Keep me on speaker.”

“Okay.” I inhale a panicked breath, trying to calm myself down. “I’m freaking out.”

“There’s no time for that. You need to breathe, and you need to act like you don’t have a care in the world. Don’t give him any fodder, Wren,” she instructs. “He’s looking for a way to redeem his reputation after the shit he pulled, trying to out Logan’s sister’s health issues. Donotlet it be you.”

“Okay. Okay, I can do this.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself, but I have to do this. If Micah finds out about me and Archer from a reporter, he’ll never forgive us.

I put Alice on speaker, and set the phone on my desk, taking deep, calming breaths. Not even ten seconds later, Laura stops in the doorway with a man I recognize only from television. Charles Montaque. He’s smiling, but I immediately don’t like him. That smile is too false, his blue-eyed gaze too sharp.

“Mr. Montaque,” I say, motioning for him to come in. “You’re the last person I expected to see today.”

“Ms. Erikson.” He pauses, his expression hawkish. “Or is it Mrs. Graves?”

Laura’s eyes widen from the doorway.

“It’s Erikson,” I say before glancing at Laura. “Thanks for showing him back here. You can go now.”

Her expression slips, but she stomps away, leaving the two of us alone.

“Montaque, why are you harassing Micah’s sister?” Alice asks, taking him by surprise. “Didn’t you learn your lesson when you went after Logan’s sister?”

“Alice.” The way he says her name makes it obvious that he doesn’t like her much. It sounds like the feeling is mutual. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised she called you.”

“Of course she called me,” Alice snapped. “You’re a relentless little toad. Did you think she’d want to face you alone after everything you’ve done to her brother’s teammates lately?”

“I’ve only told the truth, Alice.”

“Right. And whattruthdo you think you’re trying to tell this time?”

“Were you aware that Wren and Archer Graves got married in Vegas twelve days ago?” he asks her.

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