What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,108

laughing at all.

She was screaming.

She cleaned up the mess in the room, scrubbing the floor until the smell of pee was gone. She put all the blankets into the washer, then she checked on Bailey. The girl was wearing her noise canceling headphones – she hadn't heard any of the commotion, which was probably for the best. Valentine briefed her on what had happened, then promised to keep her updated.

After that, she made a couple sandwiches and wrapped them up to go. She also packed a small suitcase with some pajamas for her grandmother, and her favorite pillow. Then she grabbed a change of clothing for herself and threw it in before zipping everything up.

When she got outside, she stared down at her bike for a while. There was no way she could carry the suitcase on it. So she trudged back upstairs and pulled some of the cash out of her hiding spot in the wall. Called a cab and had it take her back to the hospital.

The whole way, she stared down at her burner phone – now her only phone. Stared at Ari's contact information. She sniffled a couple times, then she hit the button to block the phone number.

And then she deleted the information entirely.

I've always been able to rely on myself. I just forgot that for a little while. Thank you for reminding me, Mr. Sharapov.

22

“Leave.”

Ari knew he was being harsh even as the words were leaving his mouth. He could see it in her eyes, how hurt they looked. But he'd been telling the truth – today was not the goddamned day. He cared about Valentine, of course. Fuck, he probably even loved her on some level, but there were still things happening that were more important than himself.

His father had ordered him into the office that morning – Don Sharapov was on the war path. Harper was crying to her father, who was in turn complaining to Ari's father. What the hell was wrong with him? Did he know how important Mr. Kittering was? Did he understand all the problems he was creating by dumping Harper? He was so goddamned selfish. His father had done everything for him, everything. Taught him everything he knew, handed him everything he owned, and this was was how he repaid him.

Maybe Ari felt like he was above Don Sharapov's help. So maybe Don Sharapov should stop helping. Maybe he should take back his hand outs and his connections and his job. Why didn't Ari just think about that?

Then directly after that shitty conversation, Ari was told that ADM was waffling on the deal. Since he had history with them, the partners wanted Ari to smooth things over. Evans had turned up to deliver the news, and he'd take Ari back to ADM headquarters with him. There'd been no time between his father's conversation and the meeting to process everything that was going on.

It's like I got into a speeding car last night with Valentine, and now it's going off the cliff. One thing at a time, Universe, jesus.

And then Valentine had been in front of him. In the bright light of day, in his fucking office building. Wearing a thin t-shirt and no bra, her pants looking like they'd been painted on her, her hair scraped up into a sexy, messy ponytail. She'd still been wearing her makeup from the night before, too, the eye makeup smudgy and naughty looking.

His two worlds, the day time and the night time, finally colliding.

I'm not ready. Not after the day I had. Not right now.

So he'd snapped at her and he'd ordered her out of the building and he'd stomped down to his office, thinking he'd be able to finally get a moment to himself.

He'd thought wrong.

“Who's the broad?”

His father was standing just inside the door, at the perfect angle to see down the long hallway.

“No one,” Ari sighed, swinging the door shut behind him and heading to his desk. “Just some girl.”

“Just some girl?” his dad chortled. “I'm sure. She looked like the time of female you pay to be a lot of things besides 'just some girl'.”

“Are you asking if she's a whore?” Ari checked. They both sat down across from each other, then his father started shaking his head.

“I can just imagine how this will make poor Harper feel,” he sighed.

“I don't really care, Harper isn't my concern anymore,” Ari snapped back.

“You giving me attitude, boy?”

“This conversation is a waste of time,” Ari replied. “Let's get down