Follow Me Darkly (Follow Me #1) - Helen Hardt Page 0,56
voice.
“Annika, is that you? It’s Skye Manning.”
“Hello, Ms. Manning. Mr. Black isn’t home.”
“I know he’s in New York. I wanted to stop by because I have something for Sasha. A doggie gift basket from the Bark Boutique.”
“How kind of you. I’ll send Christopher down to get it.”
“No, I—”
But she clicks off the intercom.
A few minutes later, Christopher steps out of Braden’s private elevator on the far side of the lobby. “Ms. Manning.”
“Hi, Christopher.” I hold the basket to him. “Addison did an Instagram post today for Betsy’s Bark Boutique, and Betsy gave us each a basket. Since I don’t have a dog, I thought I’d give this to Sasha.”
“That’s kind of you. Do you want to take it upstairs with me and say hi to her? Sasha will love it.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
A few minutes later, we step out of the elevator into Braden’s lavish penthouse. Christopher whistles, and Sasha comes running.
“Hey, baby.” I kneel and pet her soft head. “I brought you all kinds of goodies.” I take the basket from Christopher’s arms. “I’ll just put this in the kitchen.”
Christopher wrinkles his forehead but doesn’t stop me. I set the basket on the island and untie the ribbon. “Come here, Sasha!”
She runs into the kitchen.
“Do you know any commands?”
“She knows them all.” Christopher has apparently followed me to the kitchen.
“Great. Sasha, sit.”
The dog plops down on her hindquarters.
“Good girl!” I hand her a small peanut butter dog treat. “There’s some rawhide in here. Toys, too, it looks like.”
After a minute of watching Sasha play, I look up at Christopher. “Could I use the restroom before I go?”
“Sure.”
I walk slowly to the powder room, half expecting him to follow me, but he doesn’t.
I spend a few minutes in the powder room, and then I flush the toilet and wash my hands. Before I open the door to leave, I dart my gaze downward to the magazine rack. It’s filled with mail.
Strange. Does Braden read his mail in here? This is the first time I’ve actually been inside this room. In the past, I always used the bathroom in Braden’s master suite.
None of your business, Skye. Walk away. Just walk away.
But do I walk away? No. I bend down and leaf through the open envelopes. Nothing that catches my eyes until one near the bottom.
The return address.
Ames Hotels.
Without thinking, I grab it and stuff it in my purse. I don’t know why. I honest-to-God don’t know why.
But I’m out of the powder room and down the hallway toward the kitchen, my flesh tingling, before my brain kicks in. I should put it back, but if I walk back into the powder room, and someone on his staff sees me, I’ll look suspicious. The basket still sits on the island, but Christopher is gone. I walk through the living room to the entryway. Christopher stands by the elevator, holding the end of a leash.
“Taking her on a walk now?” I ask.
“Yeah. She needs to go out every time she eats something.”
“Oh. Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have given her that treat.”
“No bother. I enjoy walking her.”
“I should go, too,” I say.
The letter is burning a hole in my purse. My nerves skitter across my skin. This was a huge mistake. I’d put it back if I could, but since I can’t, I need to get home and see what it is. Why is Braden doing anything with Ames Hotels? He and Addison appear to hate each other.
And that bothers me more than a little. A thin line exists between love and hate. I’d much prefer him to be indifferent.
“That would probably be best, Ms. Manning.”
I nod and walk into the elevator in front of Christopher and Sasha. I bend down to pet Sasha. She pants and licks my face. Then the elevator door opens, and Christopher waits while I walk out.
“Thanks, Christopher,” I say.
“See you soon, Ms. Manning.”
See you soon? That’s a good sign.
I wave and walk out of the building, suppressing the shakes that threaten to consume me.
I just stole a piece of Braden’s mail.
What the hell was I thinking?
A half hour later, I’m home, staring at the envelope from Ames Hotels.
It’s already open. All I need to do is look inside. It’s probably nothing. God, I hope it’s nothing, because if it isn’t, not only will I be heartbroken, but I’ll also have to get it back to Braden’s powder room somehow.