The Book of Rook

Chapter 32

PHOENIX

Now that I have a job, the next step is to find a place to live and give Rook his divorce so he can be free. Just thinking about it makes my heart break. I just don't understand why he hasn't told me about not getting the promotion. Does he think I'd be disappointed in him? Not in the least. Sounds like office politics got in the way of his promotion. I'm pretty proud of the changes in him. From the stories I was told, he was a cocky man child. Don't get me wrong, he's still cocky but now he's a mature man. A sex god in my humble opinion.

Shaking those thoughts out of my head, I go to my old bedroom and take out the manila envelope I had hidden in the dresser. Reading over them, it does seem everything is in order. Reluctantly, I force myself to sign them, but I can't find a pen in the room. Can this be a sign from the universe? No. Stop procrastinating. This needs to be done. With heavy feet, I take them downstairs with me in search of a pen. I need to find the courage to give them to him.

This is what he wanted. This arrangement was just temporary.

Then why haven't I given these papers to him sooner.

Because I'm a coward and I don't want this to end. I fell in love with him and I want him to keep me. I love being Mrs. Raines. I love Rook.

Rook will be gone most of the day and probably in the evening since he hasn't been to the club in a few days. Edith has the day off so it's just me, alone in this big empty penthouse. With these stupid papers sitting on the table, unsigned.

Just to delay the signing, I fix myself some breakfast and then grab my phone to text Angel. Maybe she'll want to have lunch or talk about wedding plans. Anything to keep my mind off these stupid papers.

My phone vibrates. A message from Felix to let me know there's a delivery. I look up the code of the day and give it to him. Usually, Rook has things delivered to the office but who am I to question. I grab a glass of water as I hear a knock on the door.

Casually, I open the door and whoever is there rushes me, pushing me inside. I trip over my own feet, dropping the glass and falling hard on my ass. What the fuck? I go to stand up but my hand touches the broken glass so I start bleeding. Shit that hurts. I look up to see the green eyes that I thought I would never see again. Brad. And he looks furious. He leans over me, grabs my shirt by the collar and back hands me. Fucker. I fall to the side and scramble to get up.

What the hell is he doing here and how did he find me? I run around him, throwing a chair towards him to slow him down. Heading to the kitchen to grab a knife, leaving bloody handprints all over the house. I need to stop panicking and get my head straight.

Brad circles around the counter as I keep it between us. I'll go around in circles until I find an opening to run upstairs and lock myself in a room so I can call for help.

"This is not the welcome I thought I'd receive. Come here," Brad orders.

Is he delirious? I notice he's wearing dark clothes and a dark baseball cap covering his blonde hair. Hard to describe if anyone sees him leaving the building. Blends in like an ordinary delivery guy. "What do you think I would do? Jump into your arms?" I ask as I move left, he moves also.

"Come on sweetheart, you know you missed me," he snickers.

He really is crazy if he thinks that. His words make me want to puke so I narrow my eyes at him and fake right. I catch him off guard and jump over the counter to run up the stairs, pushing the table between us. When my foot hits the third step, I feel his hand grab my ankle and pull. I'm falling forward and hit my chin on a step. That's gonna leave a mark. He's pulling me towards him. My arms are trying to grab on to anything to stop myself but there's nothing but air. He flips me on my back, straddles me and slaps me again. I buck my hips to get him off me and kick my feet trying to get some leverage to get him off me. Brad reaches from behind his back and pulls out a rope and quickly ties my hands together. Then he takes a fistful of my hair and drags me to a standing position. Fuck, that really hurts.