Falling into Exposure (Falling 2)

The door swings open, and I’m greeted by Alanna, who is staring at me like I’m an idiot.

“She isn’t here,” she snaps.

“Bullshit, she isn’t!” I argue, pushing past her.

I stomp to Victoria’s room and open the door, but she isn’t there. I check the bathroom, only to find it empty too.

“Where is she, Alanna?”

“Hey, look here asshole,” she hisses, “you don’t get to come stomping in here acting like you own the fucking place. I live here! I don’t know where she is, and that’s the truth. She’s really hurting, I’ve never seen her like this before. What the hell were you thinking?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snarl. “She broke up with me.”

“Yeah, because you took that stupid bitch Anya to the charity event with you,” Alanna states caustically. “The same bitch who hounded Victoria outside of your apartment, calling her a cheap whore. You know, the one who told her she was going to be your wife?”

I collapse onto the couch, feeling like the biggest douchebag on the planet.

“She never told me,” I rasp.

“Of course she never told you.” Alanna rolls her eyes. “It’s Victoria, she’s far too stubborn for that. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

“I had no idea,” I say. “If I did, I never would have taken Anya. I only went with her because she was the only woman I know who would drop everything at the last minute to come. She would do anything for a little media attention.”

Alanna sits down beside me on the couch, staring at me in disappointment.

“Gabriel, I wasn’t rooting for you in the beginning. Honestly, I thought you would be the typical asshole that she attracts. I didn’t know if you would be good for Victoria, given her past…”

I arch my brow at her, wondering what the hell she keeps hinting at about Victoria’s past.

“But I’m rooting for you now,” she continues. “There’s so much about her you don’t know. And it’s not my place to tell you. But she trusts you, I think, more than she’s ever trusted any man. You need to get her to talk to you, somehow. I don’t know. But if you don’t…” Her voice wobbles. “I’m afraid she will run… and soon.”

I shake my head, feeling defeated. “I don’t know what to do. She won’t tell me anything.”

“Well please, for both our sakes… figure something out,” Alanna begs with tears in her eyes. “I love Victoria, more than anyone in this world. She deserves to be happy, and I think you can help her somehow. But if you don’t and she decides to leave, I have to leave too. And it might be selfish of me, considering I owe her everything… but I want to stay. I want both of us to have a chance at a real life for once.”

***

When I climb back inside of the car, my phone rings. It’s my secretary Margie, and I almost send it to voicemail, but when I look at the time, I decide against it.

“Yes,” I answer in a clipped tone.

“Um, sorry Mr. Maddox, I didn’t want to disturb you after work, but there was something I thought you should know.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“Well, it’s just… I was walking in the park, and I saw Miss Kelly there. But there was something strange, maybe I’m just being paranoid, but…”

“What is it Margie?” my voice softens. “I want to know.”

“Well, I saw that detective you use, Allen Ricketts. He was following her and taking photos. I thought it was strange since you only hired him to do a background check… and you already got that report from him.”

I stiffen, wondering what the fuck that scumbag is up to.

“Thank you, Margie,” I say quickly. “You did the right thing telling me this. Now what park was she in, and what time?”

Chapter Fifteen

Victoria

All afternoon I’ve been feeling uneasy, and I can’t quite figure out why. It feels like I’m being watched, but every time I look around, I can’t see anybody. I think my paranoia is getting to me again, my conscience telling me it’s time to run.