Page 6 of Nova

"I love you too. Now, what time are you coming? I'm leaving the office now. I should be home in twenty minutes."

I look down at my watch. "Maybe an hour. I need to stop by the office before heading your way."

"Alright, girl. See you then."

I hang up with London and make my way to my car. Unlocking it with my key fob, I open the door and toss my bag and briefcase onto the passenger seat, but before I get the chance to slide in, a hand grips my arm, stopping me. My breath catches in my throat when I come face to face with Leon Velasco.

"Miss Bailey, you walked away before I could ask you to dinner. A celebration of sorts."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "I'm sorry, Mr. Velasco but I'm going to decline your invitation to dinner. I have to get back to the office."

Leon Velasco studies me, his face hard. I can tell he doesn't like my turning him down. Just like he didn't like the numerous times I confronted him on his sending me flowers. His grip on my arm tightens briefly. "Perhaps some other time, Miss Bailey." He lets me go and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Mr. Velasco steps away and starts making his way back across the parking lot to where his men are waiting for him next to a black SUV. He gets about ten feet from me when he stops and turns. "I'll be seeing you around, Miss Bailey."

Five minuteslater I'm sitting in traffic and my phone rings again. This time it's Thomas.

"Where are you?"

Typical Thomas. He can't so much as say hi. "I just left. I'm on my way back to the office now."

"How'd it go?" he asks.

"Mr. Velasco is a free man." Thomas's only response is a grunt. Again, not surprised.

"I'll be out of the office by the time you arrive. I'm taking Avery to dinner." I roll my eyes and don't get a chance to say another word before the line goes dead.

Avery is my stepsister and three years younger than me—twenty-nine to my thirty-two. Avery is also spoiled to no end, and the biggest bitch I know. What's worse is she's a daddy's girl and has Thomas wrapped around her finger. She is lazy and has no ambition. Her biggest worry in life is deciding what color her nail polish should be. And her only goal in life seems to be spending her dad's money until she finds some rich, spineless loser to marry and do the same to him. Growing up, Avery made it her mission to make my life a living hell. I'm the orphanherdad was stuck with raising and she never lets me forget it.

Then there is Jackson, my stepbrother. He, on the other hand, is a great brother and nothing like his sister. Jackson is a couple of years older than me and is also a lawyer. He knows how difficult my life has been with Thomas and Avery and has always been an ally of mine. Jackson resents the way his father treats his sister. Jackson and I busted our butts in law school to make Thomas proud while Avery skirts through life as a freeloader. Jackson has voiced his opinion on several occasions, telling his father he needs to make Avery grow up, but Thomas sees nothing wrong with his precious daughter. Hell, I'm not even blood, yet I followed in Thomas's footsteps right alongside Jackson, and I still get treated like an outcast. I sometimes wonder why Thomas offered me a job at his firm in the first place when I passed the bar. I think it's because he still feels he owes it to my mother. My mom has been gone for years, and the one good thing I can say about my stepfather is, he adored her.

Just after my sixteenth birthday, we lost my mom in a skiing accident. Me, my mother, Thomas, Jackson, and Avery were on a trip to the mountains. Our second day there I decided to try my hand at skiing and begged my mom to take me. Once we were out on the slope, I realized I forgot my helmet. Mom gave me hers. Neither one of us thought there was any real danger to not wearing one. We were wrong. Twenty minutes into our adventure mom lost her footing and fell backward, hitting her head on the snow-covered ground. She insisted she was fine and was back on her feet within minutes. She even had a good laugh at how clumsy she had been. We skied and goofed around for another hour until mom started complaining of a headache. We went back to the cabin where everyone else was and watched a movie while lounging in front of the fire. Mom seemed fine by the time I went to bed. She even said her headache was getting better. But the next morning, we found out mom was not fine. She went to sleep the night before and never woke up. She had died in her sleep. The doctors said the cause of death was a hematoma caused by a blow to the head. It was a freak accident. That day will go down in history as the worst day of my life. And though Thomas has never come out and said the words, I know he blames me for my mother's death. Had I not forgotten my helmet, mom wouldn't have given me hers, and she would still be here today. I don't need Thomas or anyone to blame me. I blame myself.

By the time I arrive at the office, I realize I practically drove all the way here on autopilot. Peering around the parking lot, I spot Avery's BMW, but I don't see Thomas's car. I also note the familiar Jaguar belonging to Brad, parked in its usual spot. Brad is my fiancé and works for Thomas too. He was hired about four years ago, and we started seeing each other not long after that.

Brad proposed two years ago, and I accepted. An engagement and moving in together is as far as our relationship has progressed. He keeps nagging me about finally setting a date and planning our wedding. Only I'm dragging my feet. Something has me holding back. I care for Brad, but I can't say I'm in love with him. I'm in love with the idea of him; of having someone care about me. Also, Thomas treats Brad like a second son. That alone is another reason I have stayed with him as long as I have. Every decision I make is based on whether or not I think Thomas will approve.I'm beyond messed up.

I'm standing behind my desk, putting away some files, still lost in thought when Brad's voice causes me to jump. "Hey."

I look up, and he takes a step forward. Brad stands at 5 feet 11 inches, is lean, and has sandy blond hair. His looks are nothing to write home about, and he doesn't make my tummy flutter. He's a tad on the dull side, but he's a decent guy. "Hi," I return.

"How'd court go? I heard you won."

I give him a small smile. "Court was fine. What about you? How was your day?"

"Good. I just wrapped up a meeting with a new client. I saw you come in and wanted to let you know I have another meeting in an hour so I'll probably be home late."

I wave him off. "That's fine. I'm going to London's for drinks anyway." Brad rolls his eyes at my statement. He doesn't like London, and to be fair, she hates him too. They only tolerate each other for my sake.

"You've been spending a lot of time together lately. You're at her place more than ours," Brad accuses. "We hardly spend time together anymore. And it's a wonder you haven't been mugged yet going tothatside of town."

I ignore his last comment and go straight for his first accusation. "Really? Says the man who has been having a lot of late evening meetings the past couple of months. Look, Brad. You're busy with work, and I get that, but don't pin the fact that we don't see each other as much on just me. There are two people in this relationship. If you are off at a meeting, there is no reason for me to stay home bored to tears when I can be having a few drinks with a friend."

Brad and I have drifted apart these last few months. Hell, it's been weeks since we've had sex. And in the last year, he's gotten lazy about it. More times than not, when he's finished, I go into the bathroom with my vibrator to finish myself off. Sex with Brad has never been mind-blowing, but he used to make sure I was taken care of.

Brad sighs. "You're right, sweetheart. I'm just stressed and taking it out on you." He kisses my cheek. "See you at home tonight?" he questions.

I look at him for a moment and nod. "Yeah. I'll see you tonight."

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