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The silence is deafening Three hours into my confinement in the luxury suite, and I have not heard from Terrance or Dah the hotel reception yielded any results I begin to question all as, not toa new career path There is no way the entire casino staff is locked down in rooms like this, and I can’t help but read into the silence I’ tickets, and this is unnerving enough to havethe phone to ring

By the time I’ve been tormented by my scenario for a full four hours, I know I have to do what I swore I never would again I attempt to call Texas for help, not sure if I prefer the pain of talking to my asshole father, the attorney, or my asshole ex, the attorney I just need to find out if I can walk out of here without getting into legal trouble Turns out that I don’t have to choose between hometown assholes: I’m forbidden any calls outside the casino even from the hotel phone they can easily monitor

Threeprivileges at least half a dozen times I’ve even threatened to leave the room, only to be quickly assured that the floor is on lockdown, including elevators and stairwells On another call, some employee named Derek instructs ht—co to make this wait bearable Nor will a clearance froh people know I’m on lockdown thatthe truth about why she was fired, I’ll probably be fired, anyway

And on that note, I decide to work outresearch questions for an explosion piece on the Vantage properties and their CEO Things happen for a reason, and e a full two pages of ideas and notes I stare at them I say I crave honesty and I have to start with e are objective, but I aht now, I do not want Da this story I shut the computer with a finality I hope proves to be true

By seven o’clock, I a the sun descend into the jagged line of high-rise hotels and mountains, when there is a knock on the door I whirl and charge across the roo and breathing who can set me free

I open the door and all but gasp at the unexpected sight ofintensely male and completely unaffected and perfect as ever “We need to talk,” he says, as if this is a casual event requiring nothingtreated like a felon

“Talk?” I de up in o Noe don’t need to talk”

He steps forward, crowding ive him space or let hie to shove him, but I retreat into the room instead He steps closer and kicks the door shut behind him, and damn him, that delicious scent of hi eruption of sensations in ry I don’t want to feel the way he makes me feel I don’t want hi in me that no one else does

“I couldn’t call,” he has the audacity to say “Just like I couldn’t tell you I knee had a security breach when you toldin my office”

“So you kneas happening and didn’t tell me?”

“There’s a procedure to—”

“I don’t give a damn about procedures, Mr CEO, especially froiness inupAm I free to leave?”

He looks down at er in his face There is soot you cleared, but—”

Relief is instant, and I cut hi you need to do” I try to turn away, intending to gatherup my arm and over my chest

“Let go,” I snarl, hating a h hell It’s like I’m a masochist Why else would I be drawn to yet another powerful asshole?