Page 68 of His Good Girl
“Slightly. I wasn’t aware I was in the running for a sector.”
He snickers. “Rue didn’t say?”
“I didn’t ask for the details, in all fairness.”
“Ah, well, yes. Tony is about to be canceled. He has made several errors in judgment recently, and we are not able to accept any more fuckups. So are you in?”
“Yes.” I don’t even have to think about it. If I get promoted over Quentin in his sector, that means I can have him canceled as well. It’s, and there’s that word again, perfect.
“Marvelous. I shall make the arrangements. You may stay here in Grove City as your base.”
“And Quen?”
“That is now for you to handle.” He holds his hand out for me again. Gripping it tightly, he places his other hand on my elbow. “No mess, no fuss, yes?”
“Yes.”
He nods, and with a slow, almost predatory smile, he backs away with a mock salute, filtering back into the crowd of the ballroom, leaving me to inhale deeply, close my eyes, and exhale slowly, opening my eyes again as reality strikes me between them.
This is more than I cared for, but I will do whatever it takes to make Serena mine and to remove any obstacle that prevents us from being together.
Striding back into the ballroom, I search for Serena but find no trace of her. Rue is with her mother, but Serena has vanished. Scouring the crowds almost frantically, I march over to Rue, pausing to give Francesca a quick double air kiss before I focus on Rue.
“Where is she?”
Rue frowns and glances nearby. “At the bar…” Her eyes narrow.
“You did not lose her!” I hiss.
“No, she was there literally a second before you came over. I saw her. I’m keeping an eye on her.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?” I grit out, scanning every inch of the ballroom for her.
“I wanted to. She said she needed a minute. I had eyes on her, I swear. Dammit. She’s a sneak. I should recruit her.”
Francesca looks between the two of us. “Do it,” she says. “She is wonderful. I love her to bits and pieces already. She would be an asset to us.”
“What?” Rue says, distracted momentarily, but I don’t have time for this.
Storming off, determined to find her, I forget about everything else except finding Serena. It is my only priority.
Chapter38
Serena
Removing the mask from my face, I take a slight breather. I’ve found a deserted back staircase, which is probably used for staff or a fire escape, maybe. It’s cooler in here, but I fan myself with the mask anyway, feeling relief at the small breeze and the lack of a crowd. It was getting a bit overwhelming. I know Rue means well, but she was hovering, and I just need a minute to pull myself back together before I have a mini meltdown. Shoving the gloves carefully down my arms, the dry scabs pulling slightly on the fabric, I rub the unmarked skin around the wounds. They’re itchy as fuck and irritating me with these gloves on. But I wasn’t being seen in public without them. Leaning against the wall with the gloves bunched around my wrists and the mask dangling from my hand, I close my eyes momentarily, but they snap open when I hear the door open opposite me.
Panic spikes my blood when I see it’s John Jeffers. I’d managed to avoid him last week at work, even with Logan out at court, but now he is looming in front of me.
“Ah, Serena. There you are, dear. I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
His slimy voice makes me cringe. I push forward and turn to head down the stairs, but he grabs my arm quicker than I anticipated for such a heavy-set man.
“Where are you going? I just got you alone.”
“Let go of me,” I grit out, wondering if anyone would hear me scream. Or even if screaming is such a good idea when I’m supposed to be flying under the radar.
He grunts and shoves me back to the wall, his beady eyes roaming all over my body. “So tasty,” he murmurs, reaching out to trail a finger down my throat and over my bare shoulder.
