Page 136 of Fixation
“Fuck, Anderson.”
I let out a sigh, looking at the tiles as if he’ll break our walls down any second now.
While I clean myself. the fog in my head is still heavy. My legs are shaky, my chest too tight. I force myself into a new pair of panties, black leggings, and a gray T-shirt anyway.
Time to tackle the day.
On my own.
To distract myself further, I play music on the speakers in my kitchen. My favorite playlist is on, and I start my coffee. My breakfast. Two scrambled eggs, bread with butter. The eggs heat, and in the meantime, I check my emails.
Emersyn’s the most recent one from two hours ago.
No body text, just the subject line—DON’T FREAK OUT.
My brow furrows. This isn’t like her. Even when her favorite movie star’s agent contacted us about custom designs for her premiere, she was cool about it. Hopped and clapped her hands in the office, but her emails betrayed none of her excitement.
It was the middle of the night in California when she sent me an email. Why was she even up this late?
Before I get to click on the email, her caller ID flashes on my screen.
Again, it’s too late. Or too early.
This can’t be anything good. My thumb trembles before I hit the accept button.
“Did you see my email?” This abruptness is nothing like Emersyn, either.
“I was just about to open it.”
“I didn’t want to call and wake you, so I emailed. You wouldn’t answer, and I couldn’t sleep, and—anyway. Sit down,” she instructs, her voice hoarse.
She never orders me to do anything.
“What’s going on?” I take the eggs off the stove. I don’t dare pour coffee into my mug.
Her call feels serious. My heart’s stuttering like it’s bracing for impact.
It feels like maybe…
No. Anderson wouldn’t post naked pictures of me. That isn’t the kind of humiliation he gets off on.
Yeah? You think you know him that well? Do you even have the slightest idea about what he did to you when you were drugged and at his mercy?
None.
My ass lands the seat in my dining area. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
“There’s no easy way to say this.” She inhales, and my elbows hit the table. Something has to hold me upright before I drop to the floor. If he posted pictures of me naked…No. He wouldn’t. “Werner is dead.”
The relieved sigh that bursts out of me is disrespectful to the core. It can’t be helped.
I’m not relieved for long, though.
My father’s contract. My debt is about to come to an end.
The dangerous people looking for Anderson.
What kind of debt is it?
