Private Listing Tease Me, page 27
She looks at me like I’m insane. “Why don’t you just text him?”
I make up an excuse. “I forgot my phone.” I don’t want to let my stalker know that I’m telling Blake anything.
“Fine.” She types up a quick message and sends it.
“Thank you.” I swallow and take my package out to the curb. It doesn’t take any time to hail a cab and I’m on my way to my old apartment. Fuck.
The box sits on my lap, but it might as well be filled with poisonous snakes the way I hold it. I’m not eager to find out the contents. Why wouldn’t he just leave it in the apartment?
Fuck, the locks. Blake changed the locks and I don’t have a key, but apparently, one is in this box. Biting my lip, I open the ribbon and lift the lid. Inside on top of some white tissue paper is the key.
I quickly grab it and put the lid back in place, tying it shut. My phone buzzes and it’s the group chat with Hope, Sara, and Kayla. He has her phone so I know he’ll see whatever message I send to them.
Sara:
Still on for Thursday dinner? I need some margaritas!
Kayla:
Yasss!
Biting my lip, I consider what I can say that will make them suspect something is wrong. How much does the stalker really know about me? How many conversations has he listened to?
Me:
We should have daiquiris at McAvoy’s. They’re the best.
Sara:
Girl, yes. OMG, Kayla, you have to try them.
Kayla:
No need to twist my arm. I’m down.
Me:
We need to remember to take a selfie. We forgot last time.
Please, Sara, remember the night at McAvoy’s. When the stalker sent me pictures of us. The cab stops in front of my apartment and I pay the fare. I swallow down my fear as I enter the building and head straight up the stairs. He could be here waiting for me.
I know it’s a trap, but when will the door shut behind me and make it impossible to escape?
The cameras in the apartment are probably back to watch me. After all, he has a key. Bile rises in my throat. Why would he want me to come back here? As I top the stairs, Robert’s door comes into view.
We’ve eliminated him time and again, but what if he is the stalker? I don’t trust anyone outside of my small group. My friends and Seth, Blake, Noah, and Coop.
The key fits the lock on my door and I push it open. I choke down a scream because the apartment, which should be empty, now has furniture in it. It’s like I never left.
But as I get closer, I can tell it’s not the furniture we had. The couch isn’t dingy or stained. The table isn’t scarred from Jeff’s knife digging into it. Everything looks the same but new.
Dread pools in my stomach. When I enter my bedroom, sure enough, it looks exactly how I had it. Like I never left. With my heartbeat throbbing in my ears, I glance up at the light. I could climb up and see if there’s a new camera in there.
It probably wouldn’t be there though. That would be too easy. Underestimating my stalker is dangerous. He’s gone to a lot of trouble to set this up. If I don’t do what he says, I don’t know what he’ll do to Hope. Placing the box on the bedspread that looks like my old one, I stop. I need to breathe. I need to scream. I need to run. But I can’t.
He has Hope. No one but me knows that. I need to help her. Even if I told someone else, we have no clue who the stalker is. We’d never be able to find her.
I swallow and open the box, pushing the tissue away to uncover the new floral sundress that I loved. When he sent the torn one, he said he’d bought the same dress. My stomach flips and my hands tremble as I lift it out. There’s a note beneath it.
In bold script, it reads:
I want our first time to be special.
Take your time getting ready.
Wash thoroughly.
Listen to your favorite song.
Wear your favorite dress.
Tonight is all about you, little one.
The urge to ball the note up and throw it across the room rides me hard, but I resist and let it slip back into the box. There’s a small box inside and I open it to find my grandma’s bracelet, which was in my jewelry box in the apartment. There’s another larger box with a pair of sandals, brand new. They match a pair I wore to death because I loved them.
Nothing about this freaks me out anymore. I just feel empty and numb. Of course he gathered all these things and set this up. I’m sure he had a part in making sure all the guys were busy when he texted me and sent me the box.
I just want this over. If today is my last day, so be it. I’ve loved enough in the past month for a lifetime. I want my future with my men, but that can’t happen with this stalker plaguing my every step.
I’ll fight when I can, but I need to make sure Hope is safe first. I can’t believe he dragged her into this. But I’ll do what he wants to keep her safe. He better not have hurt her.
There’s another thing wrapped in tissue paper. It feels like fabric when I pick it up, so I unwrap it, revealing pristine white panties and a bra. In my size.
A shiver creeps down my spine as I try to keep from making a face of disgust. Instead, I pick up all the items and head into the bathroom. Against the wall facing the shower is a flat screen that wasn’t there before.
I notice the camera lens at the top, and when I turn on the shower, the light clicks on and the screen comes to life. The same song by Hozier, “Talk,” comes on, but this time it starts from the beginning. The screen begins a slideshow of pics and videos of me over the past four years.
Private moments. Candid moments. Even some with me and the guys I brought home during college. I never looked comfortable with those guys. I never felt comfortable with them. Not like Blake, Noah, Coop, and Seth make me feel.
Do they even know I’m gone yet? Ignoring the screen, I strip and step into the shower. Blake and me in this room fills my mind as I wash with soap and hair products that are brand new and the same as mine. The song fills the room with its haunting melody, but my gaze keeps being drawn to the door.
The lyric about being loved by my stalker cuts at some fragile part of me. I might not get out of this. No one will come riding to my rescue. I have to figure out how to save myself.
My gaze flicks back to the door.
What if he comes in? What do I do? How do I fight him off and find out where Hope is?
It all feels so hopeless right now. I finish the shower and dry with the towel hanging where it always did. I let my brain turn off and just go with muscle memory as I get ready like I would before I met my guys. Everything I need is exactly where it should be.
The stalker knows my life. He knows me. But he can’t know everything about me. Not my thoughts or feelings. I smooth the brush through my hair before putting on cotton candy pink lipstick.
I haven’t worn this brand since freshman year. I’m not even sure if they still make it. When I’m finished, I watch the video for a few moments and listen to the ominous tone of the song. When I leave this bathroom, everything will change.
I’ll save Hope and find out who my stalker is. Then I’ll figure out how to get away from him by leaving a trail my men can follow to find me. Please let them find me.
Chapter 159
Clock Out
Blake
The bar isn’t crowded for midday, and I see Andrea right away. Heads turn when she walks in. She’s always attracted attention no matter where she goes. Her dark hair hangs in loose curls down her back. Her blue eyes find me immediately. She’s slightly taller than Madison. Her dress clings to her curves.
At one point, she was all I could think about. She consumed me, but now, I can’t stand the sight of her. To me, she represents all the women who tried to come between us. Who tried to destroy us.
She played us. That would be bad enough, but she tried to hurt Madison. Luckily Robert isn’t a fool except when it comes to Madison. I can’t blame him. She gets under my skin like no one else has.
I love her.
Andrea’s red lips curve into a familiar smile as she approaches.
“Blake.” She holds out her hand. “I’m glad you reached out.”
When I shake her hand, she joins me at the bar. She gives me a coy look.
“A handshake?”
“What were you expecting?” I take a sip of my drink and hold my finger up to get the attention of the bartender.
“You always greeted me with kisses.” She sighs as she crosses her legs toward me.
The bartender saves me from saying something I might regret. I need her to give me information. She asks for a glass of red wine and he gives her a nod.
“You’ve stayed in touch with Courtney?” I keep my tone casual.
“Yes, we grew close while we worked together. It shocked her when you asked for my number, but I knew.” She’s smug.
“What did you know?”
The bartender sets the wine in front of her, and she takes a sip, trying to draw my attention to her lips. She turns to me and gives me this smile that says she’s hopeful.
“That your new assistant isn’t everything you hoped she’d be, so you’re looking to resume our liaison.” She purses her lips.
I chuckle. She has no fucking clue. “You’d let go of the past? From the way you left, I figured you were finished with us.”
“Definitely finished with the group, but you know I’ve always been more interested in you.” She tips her chin down to look up at me. “You treated me the way I need to be treated.”
“Hmm.” I take a drink as if contemplating her offer. When compared to Madison, Andrea is severely lacking. “Why do you think our current assistant isn’t exactly what I need?”
Laughter spills out of her. “She’s barely an adult. She probably gets along best with Noah, does everything Seth tells her to, and Coop . . . He’s probably still fucking everything that moves. I don’t believe they’re engaged for one minute. Maybe he needed someone to get his mother off his back.”
I give an acknowledging grunt.
“But you . . .” She smiles and runs her red-nailed fingertip down my sleeve. “You need a woman to give you what you need. Someone who will obey your every command.”
“We had a good time.” I give her that because she’s a narcissist and will eat it up like candy.
“We did.” She spins her bar stool toward me. “We can again.”
“It was Seth’s idea to bring her on.” I just need Andrea to feed me information. Prove to me how smart she is.
“He always did like a pretty face.” She sips her wine. “I’m sure she’s eager to please everyone too, like a little puppy.”
My jaw clenches but I smirk. “She doesn’t know what it takes to please someone like me.”
“I’m not surprised.” She sets her hands on the bar. “Courtney says she’s naive. You need someone who will be cunning and cutthroat.”
“And you’re that woman?” I tip my glass, watching the fluid shift, waiting for her to give me what I want.
“I’m the best you’ve ever had. As a lover. As an assistant. As a partner.” She leans back and slides her foot against my calf. “I could run circles around that little girl.”
“Hmm, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get out of the contract.” I give her an assessing look. “We agreed to exclusivity this time around.”
“I don’t think she’ll be a problem for long.” She smiles.
“What makes you say that?”
“I’ve heard she’s got someone who will do anything to make her his.” She slides her hand over mine. “Which means you’ll be free to choose whoever you want.”
“Do you know who it is? If anyone could figure out the mystery, it would be you.” I turn my hand over to hold hers and raise her knuckles to press a kiss on the back of them. I meet her heated eyes. She thinks she’s got me. Fuck this bitch.
“I wish. He didn’t seem in a hurry to get her away from you guys.” She shrugs delicately and rubs my hand with her thumb. “I got a little too eager.”
“How so?” My skin crawls from her touch.
Her eyes narrow on me and I give her a cocky grin.
“You’ll be mad.” She blows out a breath and pouts. “It’ll be just like before. You’ll choose those guys over me.”
“Maybe I’m done being second best. Maybe I’m ready to go out on my own so I can be with the best I ever had.” This is almost too easy.
“I was pretty angry at the way you guys treated me.” She meets my eyes.
“We had to make a statement, especially when you tried to blackmail us.” When her hand tenses in mine, I run my thumb over hers. “We couldn’t let you sell our story.”
“I tired of waiting for you to figure out I was the one.” She sighs. “You didn’t seem to want to be away from your friends, even though they just weigh you down.”
I nod like I agree with her. “So you helped Courtney try to ruin our reputation so you’d force me to go out on my own.”
Her eyes widen briefly before she nods.
“Only because I knew that’s what would be best for you. I started collecting your clients, knowing you’d want to help me make my company the best. I just need you to make it complete. The only problem in our way was the girl, but that guy is definitely taking care of her.” Her smile is wicked. “We’ll be able to be together.”
I have to stop myself from squeezing her hand. From forcing her to tell me what the fuck that’s supposed to mean. My heart pounds, and the need to check on Madison rides me hard, but she’s safe in the building with the others. “What do you mean he’s ‘taking care of her’?”
“He’s taking her now.” She smiles and bats her eyes at me. “So you’ll be free to come to me. And we can tell all the clients I liberated that they’ll have the best of the best, because it will just be me and you.”
He’s taking her now. Fuck.
“Who is he?”
“Who cares?” Andrea runs her hand down my tie. “You and I have a lot of making up to do, but I forgive you for being cruel to me.”
“How do you know about him?”
She straightens at my tone a little. I need to calm the fuck down and get what I need from her.
“I’m just amazed you know. It’s not common knowledge that she has a stalker.” I lift my other hand to push her hair behind her ear. “You always kept me guessing.”
She smiles. “Yvonne. She told Courtney. She’s been helping us a little with our plans, too, since she knows your schedule.”
My blood turns to ice. I release her. “So you admit to compromising our business and that you were the one who talked to Robert.”
She seems a little confused as I draw away, but she nods. “Robert was a mistake. He couldn’t follow through, but he definitely seemed like the kind to kidnap the girl. I did it all for you and me.” She sets her hand on my thigh and looks at me like I’m the prize. “I wanted to make sure you knew I cared about you. That I wanted you to be number one. You don’t deserve to be Seth’s lackey. You should be the boss and I’ll stand beside you. We can do it together.”
“You’ll hear from our lawyers soon. Potentially the police.” I stand and nod to the bartender to close my tab.
“The police? What?” Her blue eyes blink up at me.
“That’s what happens when you break the law, Andrea. And I want to thank you for proving that Madison is the only woman for me.”
She laughs. “This is a one-time deal, Blake. You can take me now or join your friends as your business crumbles around you.”
I shake my head and walk out of the bar, pulling up my text messages. I need to check on Madison. There are no new text messages.
Me:
Where are you?
Madison:
. . .
I get in the car and Tim heads in the direction of the office. All the while those three dots appear and disappear and then stop. My pulse races. My hands are clammy. When I text the others, I don’t get any responses. I pull up the app I installed on Madison’s phone to track her location.
I’ve never needed to use it, but it’s standard on our corporate phones in case someone loses it. It’s at her old apartment. I open up the group chat with Seth, Coop, and Noah.
Me:
Does anyone have their eyes on Madison?
Turning to Tim, I say, “Change of plans.”
I give him the address for Madison’s apartment, and he turns the car around. There’s no way I’m letting anyone else get their hands on the love of my life.
Noah
The meeting drags on. I tap my pen against the conference table and think about Madison. Every night with her is amazing. Last night was no exception.
This meeting should have been over twenty minutes ago.
Adam keeps talking about the differences between last year’s numbers and this year’s. I should take notes. Instead, I’ve been worried about what happened yesterday. The stalker almost had her. His bruises formed on her skin this morning.
More fucking bruises.
If he can get to her here at work, he can get to her anywhere. Though I’m all for making it as hard as possible for him. The problem is, we still have too many suspects. I know the guys are focused on the stalker being a man, but there’s still a slim chance it could be a woman. Or multiple people.
A dangerous obsession with Madison could drive anyone mad. But she’s my obsession, ours. I keep going over conversations in my mind, trying to figure out who the stalker could be.
“Mr. Burns?”
I wince at the name, but Phoebe is new. “Just call me Noah. What can I help you with?”
