Out of the Storm - COMPLETE

Chapter 36

Jules

ANNA PUTS THE password in and pulls up today's footage. "I'm going to wait at my desk in case Charlie comes. Hurry up."

I glare at her, wanting to put her in her rightful place, but instead I drag in a deep breath. Sometimes, you just have to let things go. Pick your battles. This isn't worth it. She's right. Time isn't on our side. "I will. Thanks."

Once the door is closed, I scramble around, opening and closing drawers. Surely there's an extra jump drive in here. I can't take the whole memory card or it will screw up everything. I just need to delete this footage and add my footage on to something else. I should have brought one in here.

Standing on my tip toes, I peer over one of the shelves above my head. Running my hand across it, my fingers connect with plastic. It's the right size. Pulling it, I open the cap and bingo. Just what I need.

Picking up the phone, I dial my own number while I wait for the computer to bring up the contents of the memory stick. There are some other videos on it. Previous days. But there's some extra room, so I drag and drop today's footage onto it before deleting it off the main system. Maybe he'll just think there was a malfunction with the system. Maybe I should delete yesterdays too? To make it look more realistic.

When my voice mail picks up, I enter my password. Listening to the menu, when the prompt gives me the option to change my greeting, I choose the corresponding number for that. When I was waiting on the elevator, I looked up Theo's floor. It's the only thing I can think of that may give him a hint that this wasn't my decision. He said he likes to unscramble things. I need him to keep working, to keep thinking outside of the box, to somehow trust me even though I betrayed him. Shaking my head, I hang the phone up, then watch as the bar turns green, indicating all the files have been moved. Clicking on today's and yesterday's, I hesitate over the delete button, but only for a second before jabbing it, snatching the flash drive, and leaving the room exactly how I found it minus one flash drive.

Anna glances up at me, her brow arched. "Did you finish?"

I nod, and she gives a slight smile before going back to her work.

Walking back to my office, I go to pull my computer from my bag as my hand grazes the cold metal of a firearm I didn't ask for or want.

"Where the fuck did you go after you left the subway?" Charlie storms into my office, slamming the door behind him, and I'm thankful I have my bag because I let the flash drive fall into it along with my computer before carefully placing it down by my feet.

Batting my eyes, I stare at him.

The lines of his forehead crumple, his lids closing slightly. His rigid jaw pops, his fists ball.

"Where did you go after the subway?" I ask, my voice even and cool, not reflecting the way my insides are simmering, on the verge of boiling and spilling out.

"None of your business. Answer me."

"None of your business." I stand, bracing my desk, leaning closer to him. "Answer me."

"Jules." His voice rises. His right eye brow arches. "I mean it."

Mirroring his facial expressions and adding a smile, I watch him nearly squirming in front of me. "You. Do. Not. Scare. Me. Not anymore. And just because I put this ring back on my finger." I glance down at it. "Doesn't mean we're together. I don't owe you anything. Certainly not explanations."

He nods, then steps closer and puts his hands on both sides of my face. He pulls me closer, claiming my lips. "You. Are. Mine. Until I say you're not. Not the other way around."