Page 115 of Forbidden Desire

In more ways than one. Erica told me to be patient with her, and because of my feelings for her and my desire to be in Josie’s life, I’ve followed her lead. I take every crumb she gives me, never asking for more and being happy with what I’ve been given, which has been our evenings at her apartment.

The flight feels longer than it is, but we eventually land in New York City, just as the sun has set and the lights of the city are starting to flicker on. It’s my favorite time of day. Erica probably got off work an hour ago. I plan on heading straight to her apartment, too eager to see her and Josie to go home first.

I disembark the plane, grabbing my suitcase and breathing in the early evening air. As my usual driver takes me across the city, I go through my suitcase, grabbing some pomade for my hair to touch it up after the flight and spritz some cologne on.I’m still in my suit from this morning’s meeting, but it’s not too creased after my travel day. I see my driver eyeing me through the rearview mirror with an amused expression on his face. I cock my head, shooting him a look. He just laughs and puts his eyes back on the road. I smile to myself, knowing I was caught primping in the backseat.

We arrive at Erica’s apartment right at 6:30. I couldn’t have timed it any better, even though she doesn’t know I’m coming. I practically run up the stairs to her apartment, too impatient to wait for the elevator, and knock on her door. I catch my breath after the stairs and run my hand through my hair, waiting expectantly while clutching the snow globe I bought for Josie at the airport, the specks of glitter still floating around after being shook in my ascent. I hear the locks of the door and smile before it opens to reveal a man standing in the doorway. He’s holding a beer and looks comfortable being there.

The smile on my face falls immediately, until I realize he looks familiar. I know him. It’s the man from the lobby I saw her with. The man from dinner. Erica’s brother, Troy. They have the same eyes. Same hair color. He’s looking at me with a curious expression, his eyes falling to the snow globe in my hands.

“Uh, hello,” I say, tucking the snow globe behind my back. “Is Erica here?”

I hear footsteps from inside and her familiar voice call out.

“Who is it, Troy?” she asks before she comes into view and her eyes land on me. Her mouth falls open slightly, a surprised look on her face.

“Hi.” I wave, immediately regretting it because of how awkward it feels. This whole moment is awkward, and not at all what I thought it would be. Maybe I should have told her I was coming. Maybe I should have gone home first. Maybe this was a bad idea.

“Mr. Vallejo,” she says, taking a step forward. “What are you doing here?”

I wonder why she’s calling me by my formal name. She hasn’t called me that since we first started working together. I don’t like it. I see Josie behind her look up and smile big when she spots me.

“Mah-coooooo!” she squeals and claps her hands. I like the sound ofthatthough.

Troy looks back at her and then at me, a look of total confusion on his face. He has no idea what’s going on. He has no idea who I am. Who I really am. Erica really has kept this a secret from pretty much everyone, even her own family. I don’t know how she’s done it for this long, or why.

“Troy, this is my boss, Mr. Vallejo. Mr. Vallejo, this is my brother, Troy Gunner,” says Erica, talking loudly over Josie’s excited repetition of my name from the living room. Behind her brother, she shoots me a look to play along. I will do it for her, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. I thought we were movingin a good direction. I don’t know why it has to be this big secret, but I remind myself that this is her life. I’m lucky enough to be in it. I have to be patient with her and trust she has her reasons.

Troy holds out his hand and I shake it firmly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Vallejo,” he says, his sentence posed more as a question.

“Likewise.”

“I’ve met you before, yes?”

“I’m sure. At some conference or another. I’m impressed with how you’ve taken the AI world by storm,” I say. I realize I’m trying hard to make a good impression. I had no idea I’d be meeting the family of the woman I’m interested in tonight.

“Thank you,” he says, his wall coming down slightly. “And you. You’ve just been taking every world by storm. Newspapers now?”

“That’s right. Mr. Vallejo has just acquired his first paper in Canada,” says Erica with a hint of pride in her voice.

“Is that right?” He looks at me.

I nod and smile nervously at him, hating that I’m losing my composure in front of another successful businessman.

From behind Erica, I see Josie crawling toward me excitedly. She’s wearing her pink footie pajamas and clutching the penguin I bought her at the zoo. All I want to do is kneel down and hug her. That’s all I’ve wanted to do the past couple of days, but I’m stuck in this awkward situation where I have to play pretend. I have to pretend she’s nothing to me. I don’t like this at all.

Erica notices Josie coming toward me down the hallway and looks at me frantically. I don’t know how she would explain why her daughter is so excited to see me, or why she looks just like me.

“Uh, I have a very important matter to discuss with you,” I tell her.

“Right. Okay.” She nods, knowing I’m trying to get us out of this mess. “Troy, can you watch Josie for a little while?” she asks, looking at her brother, who is still trying to figure out the situation.

“Of course.” He scoops Josie up just before she gets to the door. I look at her longingly as Erica slips out the door and into the hallway.

Troy turns and Josie looks over his shoulder at me, her mouth pulled into a frown. I hate it. I hear Troy mutter under his breath, “Mama should get paid overtime for this, huh, Josie girl?”

I can already tell he’s not my biggest fan. I wonder what Erica has told him about me. I know for sure she hasn’t told him the truth. Maybe he’s just going off my reputation in the business world.

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