I tugged the door open a scant inch and peeked into the main office area. No one was here yet, aside from Fat Suzy, but she was too busy stuffing her face with donuts. Making a break for it, I rushed down the hall to James’s office and used my key to let myself in. Obviously, he never thought I’d return. Closing thedoor behind me, I hurried over to his desk and rifled through his things. He always kept everything neatly categorized for me to find, but since he fired me, his desk was a mess.

I chuckled to myself when I thought of him scrambling to get through his day without me there to hold his hand the entire time. I bet London Barbie didn’t do anything to help him out. Holding his dick wasn’t going to make sure he made it to his meetings.

After finding nothing on his desk, I yanked open his super-secret drawer that everyone in the office knew was where he kept his personal documents. “Bingo!” I said when I pulled out the form on top.

“I can’t believe the asshole did this,” I said to myself. Most of my things were replaceable, but this…I stuffed the paperwork into my pocket and was just about to head for the door when I heard voices outside his office. There was only one place to hide, and I knew he hardly ever used it this early in the morning. I hurried over to his closet and slipped inside just as the door to his office opened and he walked inside with another man. I pressed my ear to the door, listening as he talked about his day with Todd, the floor manager.

“I’ve already made sure her card was revoked.”

“I want to make sure she never steps foot on another one of my properties again. And have that friend of hers fired.”

I held back a gasp when I realized who he was talking about. He was going to fire Jeanie? Why?

“My whole fucking place is ruined. That bitch put insulation in my bed and my shirts. I have fucking fiberglass digging into my skin!”

Oh. Oops. In all my drunken glory, I sort of forgot about what I did last night. I stifled back a snort and listened as he moved closer, only then realizing the error of my ways. He was walkingover here to change, and he was about to find me hiding in his closet.

Double shit.

I frantically looked around for anywhere to hide, but it was a closet—and a small one at that. It was nothing like the spectacular closet we shared at his apartment. He was going to open that door and not only catch me, but probably wrap his hands around my throat and strangle me.

But the bastard deserved everything I’d done to him.

Okay, I might have taken things a little far, but he took all my things! Everything was gone. He had no right to get rid of my stuff after he blatantly cheated on me the morning after proposing. And probably every month we were together.

I sucked in a breath as the doors swung open and light shone bright. I squinted, waiting for the inevitable smack, but it didn’t come. He hadn’t seen me yet, but only because he was still looking at Todd. I saw my opportunity and took it, darting out of the closet in a flash and racing from the room. I heard him calling my name, cursing me to hell as he chased me, but I was fast.

All heads in the office turned and watched as I scrambled to the stairway door. Whispers went up in a flurry, but I didn’t stop to catch what they were saying. I only had to escape. I yanked the door open and burst into the stairwell, catapulting myself down the stairs. I hoped he would give chase and not take the elevator. If no one tried to get on, he would surely beat me to the first floor.

I nearly let out a scream when I heard the door bang against the wall, but I only spared a glance behind me. I nearly rolled my ankle in the heels, but held on tight to the railing and prevented a massive wipeout. I rounded the corner and hit the next set of stairs at a fast pace. Thankfully, I was going down instead of up. I wouldn’t have lasted five seconds in the other direction.

Fear and alcohol fueled me until I finally shoved the door open to the first floor and broke out into a sprint across the lobby. The security guard saw me racing across the room, but wasn’t fast enough to stop me. I felt his fingers brush my coat as I raced out onto the sidewalk. In just a few short strides, the early morning crowd swallowed me. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder as I pushed through the hundreds of people. This was my one chance to escape. If I was caught, I didn’t want to think of the consequences.

“Taxi!”I shouted, holding up my hand. I could still see James’s men chasing me, but they were far enough behind that I could take the chance to steal a cab. The first taxi zoomed right past me, but the second pulled over, giving me just enough time to slip inside and the cab to take off before James’s hound dogs caught me.

“JFK,” I demanded as we took off down the road. By New York City standards, we were moving fast. We soon lost the men tailing me and I could relax for long enough to remember what I had heard in my cheating ex’s office. I shoved my hand in my gigantic purse and fished around until I found my phone.

Get out! He’s going to fire you!

After sending the first text, I knew I’d have to come clean about my plans. Gazing down lovingly at her heels, I prayed she would forgive me for not returning her things at the end of the day as promised.

I’m sorry, but I have to keep your heels for a little longer than I thought.

What? No, I need those back!

Sorry, but I have to see a man about a horse.

You do not need to poop wearing my shoes! Those are my I Feel Amazing shoes!

And I’m really sorry you won’t have them for the weekend. Maybe they could get together with my “Wish I had million-dollar heels” and they can have a party.

I swear to God, I’m going to feed you to my fish.

You don’t have any fish.

Then I’m going to get piranhas and sic them on you.

That’s a little harsh for not returning shoes on time. The library only charges a quarter for late fees.