Watch Me (Phoenix 1)

“None,” Zoey replied.

Elise owned a private investigation company, which was how they’d learned about the financial gift that came along with doing the show. But she’d also obtained the necessary code to access Phoenix’s portal through the cigar club’s website. After Zoey entered the code, it brought her to the application with the required photographs and intimate details about her life.

The conversation about Zoey applying to Phoenix to confront Jake and Scott didn’t happen all at once. It was a handful of conversations and lots of late-night thoughts. Both Elise and Hazel had been there for Zoey after she graduated and began trying to bandage her life back together again. Two strangers had been her shelter through a fierce storm. Ava and Julie had moved back to their hometowns, and the communication grew silent after that. Zoey hadn’t spoken to them in over six months. She’d never forget what Elise and Hazel did for her, picking up all her broken pieces until she resembled a human again. But one night, after a first date ended with Zoey having a panic attack, she decided this was her way out. Her do-over.

“Well, I’m glad they didn’t suspect anything,” Elise commented, grabbing some chips out of the bowl. “The last thing I need is Rhys Harrington coming after me.”

Zoey nodded. “Yeah, no kidding.” From what she read up on the owner online, he was the CEO of Harrington Finance before he stepped down when he bought the cigar club. The New York City Harringtons were a wealthy family, coming from old money, and were very powerful.

“So, you’re in the clear?” Hazel asked. “All this is over? You can finally move home and start fresh?”

Like a world of pain had suddenly been shed from her skin, Zoey smiled, feeling more honest than she had in a year. “It’s done. Over.” A sudden, unexpected lump formed in her chest, but she cleared her throat and pushed past it. “I can finally move home.”

At whatever crossed Zoey’s face, Elise cocked her head. “That’s good, right?”

Again, Zoey smiled, only this time, it didn’t feel so honest. “It’s good.”

“I’m just so happy for you,” Hazel said, still bouncing on the couch. “And so proud of you.” She jumped up and all but threw herself at Zoey again, hugging her tightly. “That took some balls, to do what you did tonight.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Zoey said, resting her chin on Hazel’s shoulder. “Without either of you.”

Elise gave a rare soft smile from across the room. “That’s why we’re here, babe. We got you.”

And this…this was good too.

Chapter 4

Late into the next afternoon, Zoey was covered head-to-toe in dark-colored dog hair. The veterinary office always smelled somewhere between wet dog and sanitizer, and she never could get it out of her nose. And now, with Charlie, the big brown Labrador on her grooming table getting a blowout, her nose was also covered with fur. The dog pressed his head against Zoey’s chest as she finished up drying him. By the time she was done, Charlie was wagging his tail and he had his tongue out in the biggest smile she’d ever seen on a dog. She kissed his nose. “Yes, you are the most handsome boy in the whole wide world.”

He wagged his butt at her.

“And you know it too, don’t you?” She laughed, helped him jump onto the stool, and then down onto the floor, and waited for him to stop his dancing before she reattached his leash and opened the door. Charlie went full steam toward the waiting room, promptly yanking himself out of Zoey’s hold.

His owner caught the leash and reined the dog in with a laugh. “Was he a good boy?”

“Always a fantastic boy,” Zoey said, finally reaching them.

Patty, Charlie’s owner, stroked the dog’s head and gave Zoey a curious look. “Any chance you’ve changed your mind on moving away?”

“No, sorry,” Zoey said, aware that, like with last night’s lump in her throat, her chest tightened whenever this subject came up. “Sadly, this is our last appointment, but have no worries at all. The lady replacing me is amazing.” Well, Zoey thought so. She’d only met her replacement once, but she seemed friendly.

Patty gave a heavy sigh, still patting Charlie on the head. “Well, if you ask Charlie and me, no one can replace you, but we wish you the absolute best.”

“Thanks, Patty.” Zoey gave her a quick hug and Charlie another kiss on the head before they headed off to the receptionist, Betty, to pay their bill. Moving away from Brooklyn would be hard. She really did love her job and her clients. Most of all, she wasn’t quite sure how she could live without Hazel and Elise. But Manhattan was too close, a harsh reminder of the NYU days she hadn’t been able to escape. She needed freedom from the pain. She wanted to be the woman who wanted love, who wanted children, who wanted that quiet life. All she had to do was find her again.

She returned to her room and set to cleaning it up to leave for the day. Charlie had been her last appointment, and tonight was a girls’ night. She quickly rinsed off, changed into skinny jeans, a black blouse, and black heels in the adjoining bathroom, and applied some darker makeup, throwing her hair up in a messy high ponytail before she left the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Have an awesome weekend, Betty,” she called as she headed for the door. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Bye, sweetie.” Betty gave a quick wave before turning back to her monitor.

Zoey focused on the front door again, noting how different she felt than the last time she’d left work. Stronger, maybe. Sexier, for sure. The shy girl from Sacramento had had sex in the most exclusive sex club in New York City. She laughed and shook her head to herself. Even she had a hard time believing it.

When she took a step outside, into the early evening, she nearly tripped at seeing Phoenix’s head of security, Archer, leaning against a big black truck. He was the one who’d interviewed her and met her on the night of the show. She’d liked him then. It worried her that he was here now.

He gave a lopsided grin. “I’m sorry if I’ve surprised you.”

She gathered herself enough not to stumble and hurried to his side, a million questions rushing through her mind. “Is everything okay?” she asked.