Maybe I should’ve texted first to set up an appointment. They’d never socialized in public or barged in on each other’s lives unannounced. Well, that wasn’t technically true. She’d shown up five weeks ago. And they’d interacted briefly when he’d visited her office last November. How her coworkers had talked!
Vanessa’s going to be a partner no matter what. Did you see how Justin Sterling looked at and talked to her? You don’t think the partners noticed?
Her jaw tightened. When she made partner it would be on her own merit, not because of who her family and friends were.
She pulled her hat lower, then made sure the face net covered her properly. Her red hair was pulled tightly and most of it was hidden under the hat. The black dress was something her mother might wear, but she didn’t care. She wanted to make sure she was difficult to recognize…and unapproachable.
Feeling like a stalker, she stepped out of her rental. The March Chicago wind nipped at her. She shivered, pulling her long, black coat closer. No matter how she prepared herself, the chill of the Chicago winter never failed to surprise her. She wished she had Justin’s coat around her again, then shook herself. This was why she shouldn’t be with him. This pathetic needy side of her was unwelcome, appalling.
As she locked her car, a couple of familiar figures emerged out of the condo. She stopped and looked. It was Justin and London.
They made a handsome couple. Justin’s dark head was lowered, and he whispered something in London’s ear. The blonde’s laughter rang out, bright and merry. Justin placed a hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into him.
Vanessa’s hands shook as another image superimposed itself over the view in front of her.
Her father Salazar’s head dipping, a blonde in his arms laughing at something he’d said… They’d left a downtown hotel together as Vanessa watched. She’d been six at the time, but she’d understood what the woman meant—a betrayal of her mother. By the time she’d been born, nobody was bothering to hide what her dad was up to. And when she was a few years older, she’d realized what they’d been doing in the hotel room.
Uncertainty bled into misery. She should just leave, before anybody noticed her. She should—
“Vanessa!”
She flinched at the high-pitched squeal. London rushed over to her. “Oh my gosh, look at you! What are you doing in Chicago?”
“Meeting some friends,” Vanessa said smoothly.
Justin followed London over. His eyes had gone as cold as the wind.
Ignoring him, Vanessa cleared her throat. “You look great, London.”
“Thanks. Justin and I were about to go to lunch. Wanna join us?” She turned to Justin. “Wouldn’t that be great?”
He didn’t look at Vanessa. “I’m sure she’s busy, dear.”
Vanessa pasted on a smile. “Very.” She made a show of looking at her watch. “In fact, my flight’s leaving in less than two hours.”
“Oh, darn. You know what? We’ll do lunch next time I’m in L.A.,” London said.
“Of course,” Vanessa said. “Well, gotta go.” She slipped into her car before she lost her composure completely and told Justin why she was in Chicago in front of his girlfriend. Then with more force than necessary, she yanked on her seatbelt and stomped on the gas.
* * *
Justin watched Vanessa’s maroon Taurus disappear into the Chicago traffic. What the hell. London seemed to have bought Vanessa’s story about work in the city, but he didn’t. Why was she back in Chicago?
If it was for another night of sex, she could forget it. He was doing quite well on his detox program.
Still…
There had been dark half-circles under the layers of careful eye makeup. And her face had seemed paler than usual, her cheekbones more prominent. Probably working herself to death.
She’d been unusually tense as she’d spoken with London, and if it had been any other woman he might have considered it jealousy. But Vanessa Pryce never felt jealousy over a man. The only thing she cared about was her career, “making partner.” It’d become an obsession during her law school years, although he didn’t understand why. It wasn’t like she needed the money. If she wanted to be a law firm partner, she could’ve just created her own. That would be the easiest way, given her background and financial situation. It didn’t have to be at her current law firm.
“Justin, are you all right?” London asked.
He blinked and looked down at the petite heiress. “Sorry. Thinking about a new project.” He forced a smile. “Let’s go.”
He was going to get through week five and day two of his Vanessa detox program.
Chapter Five