"Hi, I'm Christina."
"Hi, I'm Jennifer," she responded, smiling warmly as she shook my hand. I looked in her eyes. I wanted to see if I could spot a spark. Maybe in the weeks they'd been together, he would have mentioned me to her. Her eyes were dead. I was just another woman. She then glanced down at her watch. "Crap, I'm late for my next client. It was a pleasure meeting you, Christina!"
When she left, I was left standing there with Melinda. I turned to her.
"In about three minutes, I'm going to take the elevators to Mr. Slate's place."
"I can't let you do that."
"You're not going to let me do anything. You were on a smoke break."
Melinda nodded knowingly.
***
The elevator brought me to the first of his floors. I walked down the hallway and knocked on the door.
"Christina?" he asked, opening the door. "What are you doing here?"
"Let's cut to the chase." I put my hands on my hips. "Just how serious is this thing with you and Jennifer?"
"I told you--"
"I told you not to lie to me. I'm giving you a clean break right now. Just tell me the truth."
"I'm sure it looks serious to everyone. Perhaps even to Jennifer."
"That is a very vague description."
"What do you want from me? I told you how I felt about you. You just need to trust me on this one."
"What you didn't tell me was that I was the little secret you were keeping."
"What are you talking about, Christina?"
"That beautiful cabin in Colorado, away from the paparazzi so Ms. Madison would never have a clue."
"You're paranoid."
"Am I? You never took me out to dinner."
"What about that dinner on the rooftop?"
"Our little secret spot." My eyes narrowed more and more, I was realizing the extent of what I was saying as I was saying it. "Where no one could see us."
"Or hear us." He gave me a wicked grin while his emerald eyes sparkled, but I wasn't having it.
It was silent between us. I was trying to calm down but I've never been so angry before. I knew my face was red with anger because I felt hot all over.
"Blake, we've been talking for ten years. Stop treating me like some random woman off the street and tell me the truth," I pleaded. "I can take it." He put his head down.
"Christina, you are going to see and hear things over the next few weeks, but I need you to trust me on this. I have this under control. But I admit I am sorry for putting you through this."
"Sorry for which part? Having sex with me? You and Jennifer? What part are you apologizing for?"
"I'm sorry for hurting you. I can't tell you what's going on, I just need you to trust me."
"Just tell me who she is," I pleaded, my eyes welling up. As much as I wanted to believe Blake, the evidence was pretty damning. "Please."
Blake looked at me with his beautiful dull green eyes and took a breath. "She's my fiancee."
The words pierced me deeply. I welled up. I was so angry and infuriated. The red hot feelings were rising even higher. I just looked away and shook my head before running back to the automatic doors to leave.
"Christina!" Blake's voice called to me, and I heard him take a few steps towards me. "Give me a chance to explain."
"Fuck off, asshole," I sobbed, my vision blinded with hate and tears. It didn't matter what he had to say. The betrayal ran too deep. Time for me to wash my hands of Blake Slate once and for all.
Chapter 15
"Christina!" Vanessa came running across the street to hug me. "Thank God!" She was so happy to see me. "I was so close to calling the police. I thought after you went upstairs that maybe he harmed you in some way." She pulled back from our hug and kept me at arm's length with her manicured hands. "Honey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I flashed her a brave smile though I know it wavered. My eyes closed as I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself down. "Everything is going to be fine."
"I'm glad to hear that. You know, I like watching those crime shows. I heard of this one story where this guy and girl were talking online, she went to his house, he killed her, and then went on the run. You don't even want to know what else went through my mind. I would have called you, but you left your cell in the car."
"Right." I nodded, barely hearing what she was saying.