Chapter 0040
ALEXANDER
The Tale-Tell Heart.
I had thought that story was ridiculous when I was in school. The heart under the floor, beating, driving the madman insane…
How could a dead heart beat?
I got it now, though, because in my desk sat a file, one I could practically hear beating away, mocking me.
The one that contained everything Nathan could find on Bailee Evans.
I had requested it after learning about Caleb Johnson’s divorce. I hadn’t known it was Bailee Evans at the time, yet I had discovered as much at the bar that very night.
After seeing her, the last thing on my mind was calling Nathan to tell him not to bother digging into her past. A part of me still wanted to know everything there was to know about her.
The next morning, when I walked into my office, it was there on my desk.
Only, I hadn’t found it in me to read it yet.
I hadn’t seen her in seven years. I knew nothing about her, and while that folder was the key to finding out how I could win her over, it felt wrong.
Sliding my chair back, I opened the drawer and stared at the manila file once more. It was thick, filled with more information that I expected anyone to be able to find so quickly.
Nathan had done his job well. Either that or I would see a hefty bill for a rush PI expense on the company credit card in a month. Either way, I was okay with it. I trusted him, and he did exactly as I asked and had it on my desk before I had come into the office
the next day.
“Mr. Kingston,” Nathan said, and I slammed the drawer closed like a kid who had just been caught looking at a Playboy Bunny magazine. “Sorry to disturb you, but your car is here.”
I nodded, standing from my seat and straightening my tux.
Bailee was waiting, and I refused to be even a minute late.
When I arrived, I jumped out of the car before the driver could open the door for me, and I had to take a deep breath before pressing the doorbell.
“Alex,” Ben said, opening the door and welcoming me in. “Do we need to talk about this?”
“No,” I said, pressing my lips together to bite back the anger that sparked every time he brought Bailee up. Things had been different when we were teenagers. I would have expected him to give me the big brother speech, but not now and not tonight.
Our friendship had only survived this long because we didn’t talk about her.
“Mommy!” Brinley yelled, running from the tornado of toys that had hit Ben’s once pristine living room to the stairs, only for Ben to grab her just as she tripped over her feet and dove face-first toward the hardwood.
“I’ve got you,” Ben said, swinging her up and making her giggle as he tickled her.
Bailee’s heels clicked on each step, and I held my breath as she descended.
She was a vision, absolutely flawless.
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Chapter 0040
I had never seen anyone as perfect as her.
My chest felt light, and I swallowed hard when her eyes met mine. The room faded around us, and she appeared brighter, glowing as she reached me.
God. How could I have ever walked away from someone like her?
Had she put in this much effort for prom seven years ago? Had she picked the perfect dress and had her hair and makeup done?
Would she have blushed at me like she was now as I handed her a corsage while her parents snapped pictures of us?
Probably, but I would never know.
Had she cried when I hadn’t shown up, making her perfect makeup run? Did she ever wear that dress again or had she returned it after realizing that she wouldn’t be going?
Who took her to prom the next year while I was overseas? Did they treat her the way she had deserved?
No. I couldn’t even think about another man with her, especially since she had made it clear that she only wanted to go with me tonight because of Caleb.
I had told myself on the drive over that it had been the only reason I had wanted to go, too. I had wanted to get under his skin, but that had been a lie.
All day, I had been excited to see Bailee again and terrified that she would stand me up like I had stood her up all those years ago.
“You look incredible,” I said, looking her over. Her hair was pinned back from her face but fell curly down her back. Her eyes had a dark, smoky look that made her look dangerous.
The long gold dress she wore was sleek and simple yet elegant.
It was perfect for her, molding to her every curve. Had I not known she was wearing it to get Caleb’s attention, I would have dropped to my knees, ready to worship the ground she walked on.
Instead, I was furious that she had put in so much time and effort for him.
“You look nice yourself. Are you sure he’s going to be there? I don’t like leaving Brinley unless I have to. I only get a few hours with her each day after work as it is.” She looked around me to Brinley in Ben’s arms, the two laughing loudly as Ben faked stealing her nose and eating it. “Never mind, she’ll be fine.”
Ben looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and the previous look of warning was gone. After her comment, he understood that tonight was all about Caleb and had nothing to do with Bailee and me.
There was no Bailee and me.
That ship had sailed years ago, though, from how my body reacted to her when she walked down the stairs, I knew it hadn’t
sunken.
It was still out there. I just had to pray it wouldn’t return because I didn’t think I would be able to get over her a second time, and she had made it clear that she despised me.
“He’ll be there. He also confirmed he is bringing a plus one,” I said, and anger rushed through me when Bailee’s face fell. Did she really still love that son of a bitch after he treated her like shit and cheated on her?
“Lorna will be there, too?” Her hand landed on her stomach instinctively, and I wasn’t sure if it was because the idea of seeing her ex and the woman he had cheated on her with made her feel sick or if she was thinking about the baby growing inside the other woman.
“He didn’t give a name for his plus one, but he will be there.” I held my elbow toward her and she hesitated but eventually wrapped her arm around mine, placing her hand on the crook of my elbow.
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Chapter 0040
“Ready to go piss off your ex?” I asked, and she nodded.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
