Thomas starts shaking his head, but he stops himself and nods instead.
I cover my mouth with my hand. "It’s all true, then, isn’t it?" I ask. "Everything she just said? Even about the women? And her? You slept with her, didn’t you?"
"Everywhere you can imagine," Jessica answers. I'm starting to get irritated with her answering for Thomas all the time. "Even the elevator."
That's it. It's enough to break me.
"I can’t believe you," I snap at Thomas. Suddenly, out of nowhere, tears spill over my cheeks. "I trusted you! I loved you."
I don't know what else to say. I do the only thing I can think of.
I flee.
The elevator door opens just as I press the button, thank God. I can't imagine anything worse than having to wait for it with Thomas and Jessica right there. I step into the elevator and press the button for the lobby.
"Nicole, don’t go," Thomas says and rushes toward me. The doors close, cutting off his voice and takes me away from him.
Thomas
I can't get her back. No matter how hard I push the elevator button, it won't bring her back to me. After I stand there hammering the button like an idiot, I run toward the stairs. I take the stairs two at a time, hurling myself toward the lobby. It's far down, but adrenaline surges through my body, and I won't stop for anything.
When I burst into the lobby, everyone stares at me.
"Is she gone?" I ask no one in particular. They all blink at me. Nicole isn't in the lobby. Of course, she'd be gone.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial her number, a number I know by heart now. Her phone rings until it rolls over to voicemail. I hang up and dial again. The ringing rolls over to voice mail a second time. I lean one hand on my knee, trying to catch my breath. When I dial her number a third time, it goes straight to voicemail. She’s switched off her phone.
"Dammit!" I shout. Everyone looks at me again.
"You," I say, pointing at the doorman. "Why did you let Jessica up?"
The guy blinks at me. "I thought she was a friend. She’s been here so many time before."
He's right. She hadn’t come back to my place since I’d told her off. I hadn’t thought to tell the doorman that she wasn’t welcome here. He'd done nothing wrong.
I turn back to the elevator where an older lady just steps in. I step in with her. She glances at me. I refuse to talk to her or even look at her. I'm fuming. I'm so angry, I could break something. Angry and hurt.
The lady gets off at the fifth floor, and I ride the rest of the way alone. When the elevator door opens, Jessica is still standing in front of my door.
"Why the hell are you still here?" I ask.
"Tommy, don’t be like that," she says, reaching for me. I step out of reach.
"Don’t call me that!"
"You’re angry," she says.
"What gave it away?" I asks, my voice dripping with sarcasm. If she knew what was good for her at all, she'd leave me the hell alone.
I unlock my door. Nicole should be here with me, not Jessica. I step into the apartment and turn around, blocking Jessica who has started to follow me in.
"You're not welcome here," I say. "Not in my apartment, not in my life. I never want to see you again. If I do, I’ll have you arrested."
I don't know what my face looks like or how she interprets my voice. For the first time, she looks like she realizes I'm serious. I glare at her. Without another word, she turns around and walks to the elevator. I watch the doors close behind her, and she disappears out of my life. For good I hope.
Inside, I try Nicole’s phone one more time. It's in vain, of course. It's off, and she won't switch it on tonight. I need to talk to her, though. I need to explain everything Jessica said to her. Everything can be explained, except Elanda and the fact that I'm a prince. And my leaving. Fucking Jessica. Why the hell had she opened her stupid mouth? I know the answer to that. Revenge. Malice. Where had she found out? Very few people know that I'm leaving. I guess she was desperate enough to find out something like that.
Nicole’s face flashes before me. She looked so confused. Shocked. Hurt. I had never seen her cry, and I hat that I had been the cause of it. I can't take it anymore. I have to talk to her.