Slow Burn - a Novel: The Elite (28 page)

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Authors: Kb Winters

BOOK: Slow Burn - a Novel: The Elite

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However, inside my head… nothing was settled or calm. Every thought was jarring, like a shout, and my heart was thudding against my chest in such a frantic pace, like a wild beast trying to break free of a trap. My palms were coated with sweat and I kept them folded on my lap to keep them from shaking so badly George would notice if he glanced in the rear view mirror.

By the time we pulled up in front of the sprawling Redwood Plaza, a complex of professional offices in the heart of the city, I’d managed to talk myself down from the ledge. I was going through with the plan. It was no longer optional. Things were in motion that would be difficult to undo and if I kept second guessing myself, I was going to make a mistake.

One that could prove to be fatal.

“Thank you, George,” I said, exiting the car as he came around to open the back door for me. I smoothed the back of my heather grey pencil skirt as I stood on the sidewalk. “I shouldn’t be long. Would you please wait nearby?”

George tipped his hat. “Of course, ma’am.”

George was a middle-aged man, probably in his early fifties, and was one of the friendliest people Henry kept on staff to tend to us and our estate. We had a full security team, a horde of house cleaners, landscapers, and even our own event planner who’d drop everything to set up functions if Henry or I called on her. Most of the people in our employ were aloof and kept to themselves—I was sure that was Henry’s doing. He wanted me to feel as alone as possible. Anyone who was too chatty was quickly dismissed and replaced immediately. George was always kind but made sure to never ask too many questions that went beyond the border of his job description. But, as my driver, he knew more about my life than anyone else—except my lawyer.

However, as kind as he was, he was still Henry’s hire. I knew I couldn’t drop my guard and confide in him of my true whereabouts and plans. Which, was why I’d selected an attorney that was conveniently located in the same office complex as my longtime doctor. That way, the visits could be chalked up to medical and would never raise an eyebrow. As far as I knew Henry didn’t even know I’d visited the doctor six times in the past three months. If he did, he hadn’t bothered to ask about my wellbeing.

But that was par for the course.

I pushed it all aside, and poured my concentration into taking quick, confident strides into the main set of doors to the largest of the group of buildings, not looking back as George pulled away from the curb and drove off to wait for my text message when I was ready to be picked up again. Inside, a shiver crept up my spine, and it had nothing to do with the blast of air conditioning.

This is the right decision. The only decision
, I reminded myself, looping the words through my mind like a cadence as I approached the elevators.

My doctor’s office was on the third floor. Dr. Honey. But I soared past the third floor, not stopping until I arrived on the twelfth floor. No one was in the corridor and I released a slow, shaky breath on my way to the frosted glass door with the silver placard to one side that read:

Matthew Hart

Attorney at Law

The sign didn’t specify the details of Matthew’s practice, but his name garnered recognition as one of the top notch divorce attorneys in the area. Which is exactly what I’d need if I had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting away from Henry.

“Good morning, Mrs. O’Keefe,” Susie, Matthew’s receptionist called out to me as I stepped inside the small office. Matthew was an excellent lawyer, in a wealthy city, but didn’t seem to be much for flash and sparkle. A trait I appreciated. I’d had enough flash and sparkle to last me a lifetime.

“Hi, Susie. I’m a little early,” I said, stepping up to the smooth marble counter that concealed Susie’s desk.

She smiled up at me. “Not a problem. I’ll let Mr. Hart know you’re here.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her and then made my way to one of two overstuffed chairs arranged on either side of a round coffee table. I ignored the magazines laid out along the top. I had no interest in celebrity scandals, gluten-free carrot muffin recipes, or the latest and greatest that the car world had to offer. Clearly, Mr. Hart’s clients fell into three succinct categories.

“Melissa.”

I snapped up at Matthew’s voice and stood from the chair I’d been perched on. “Hello, Mr. Hart.”

He gave me a lopsided grin. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Matt?”

I returned his smile and followed after him as he passed by Susie’s desk. He took me into his office and waved at one of the wingback chairs while he rounded the walnut desk that dominated the space and sat down behind it. A large manila envelope placed in the center of his desk caught my attention as I sank down into the offered seat. Matt caught my gaze and cleared his throat. “I know it’s difficult for you right now, but how are you feeling about everything?”

I brought my eyes back to Matt’s and drew in a slow breath, processing his question. It was simple enough in nature, but considering the circumstances, I struggled to find the right answer. There wasn’t a way to sum up the hell and chaos that had been ravaging my mind and body over the past weeks.

“It’s a lot…” he said softly. Matt was anything but the stereotypical divorce attorney. He saw me as a person, a bleeding heart, not just another client or cushy paycheck.

A flicker of a laugh escaped my lips. “Yes. It’s a lot. But I’m sure. I’m ready.”

Matt nodded but his expression shifted, something dark forming behind his eyes as he glanced down at the envelope before him. “Well before we get started, there’s something I need to share with you…”

My heart screeched to a sudden stop inside my chest. Had Henry figured out what I was doing? Had he called Matt and threatened him? Was all of my careful planning going to be for nothing?

Matt peeled open the flap on the envelope and slid out the contents, three glossy black and white photographs. He laid them out for me. “Do you recognize this man?”

I leaned forward in my chair to study the picture and when a flash of recognition went off in my head, a wave of nausea rolled through my stomach. “His name is Val…he’s part of Henry’s security team.” I pressed my eyes shut, no longer wanting to look at the images. Or think about what they might mean. “He was here?”

“Yes. Two days ago.”

I forced my eyes open again and stared at Matt. “What did he want?”

Matt put the pictures back in the envelope, as though he could sense that I didn’t want to see them anymore. “He came in asking why you were here two weeks ago. I don’t know how he found out you’d been here. Didn’t you tell
me you were using the cover of going to see your doctor?”

I nodded. “Shit…”

“Well, not to worry, Susie was a real stickler. She neither confirmed or denied that you’d been here. Which, as you might expect, didn’t go over well with this Val character…but she stood firm.”

I made a mental note to bring her a gift of thanks on my next visit.

If
there would be another visit.

“Okay.” I ran my fingers over my ear and blinked twice to clear the raging fear swelling in my chest. “So, what do we do now?”

Matt studied me for a moment. “That’s entirely up to you, Melissa. I have the paperwork drawn up. All I need is your signature and then I can send someone out to serve Henry at any time. But I wanted you to have this information before you made that call.”

I tipped my chin and stared down at my shaking fingers. I’d been planning my escape for so long, and yet standing on the threshold, looking at the glimmer on the other side, a deep rooted terror tugged me back. A terror made even darker knowing Henry knew I’d visited a divorce attorney. Having the element of surprise was a critical part of my plan—now that was gone.

Which meant I only had one choice.

“Where do I sign?”

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