“Work. Why?”
“I’m coming to see you.” He disconnected and my stomach plummeted. Great. What could he possibly want?
He sounded angry on the phone, but these days he was always angry.
And I just did not care.
I busied myself with work until I saw his large frame enter the building.
Producing a smile was the hardest feat imaginable but somehow I managed and walked over to him.
“Hi there.”
“Penny, where’s Theo?”
Was this what he wanted to talk about? He rushed all the way over here to ask about Theo’s whereabouts?
“I don’t know.” And I didn’t although I was dying to know.
“You’re meeting with my mother soon, and I had an idea.” His eyes bounced like he was… oh my God, was Dex nervous?
“Ok.”
“I want to move up the wedding to next weekend.” His smug smile made me sick.
I didn’t answer right away. I couldn’t. Words were nonexistent in my brain as I tried to come up with a few. “Why?” Ah, the blushing bride to be, wondering why a wedding would be moved up. Wasn’t it usually the other way around? Wasn’t the bride usually begging the groom to say the nuptials earlier?
Either way, our plan we had would not survive a wedding next weekend. I wouldn’t survive a wedding next weekend.
“Why? Because why wait. We have the venue, and let’s just do it.” He wrapped his conniving arms around me, kissing me on top of the head.
He acted like we were the epitome of love. I knew better. I didn’t answer. I mean, did I really need to? His mind was made up and anything I said wouldn’t weigh in the final outcome of it all anyways. So, I kept my mouth shut.
Moments later, he released his hold on me. Stepping back, he peered into my eyes. “This will be a great thing, Penny. Your father says you’re one step closer to getting everything you’ve ever wanted and that turtle sanctuary is just within reach.”
“Ok, great.” I just wanted him to leave. I needed to be alone.
He stepped away from me and I saw Theo right behind him. They glared at each other like two boxers in the ring.
Dex cleared his throat and straightened his dark blue silk tie. “Theo.”
“Dex.”
And with that Dex left the building and all the air trapped in my lungs rushed out.
Theo brushed past me as he headed in the direction of the office. Of course I followed, I’d follow him anywhere.
Something was wrong. The crease on his forehead appeared an awful lot like worry. And the way he stalked down the hallway couldn’t be a good sign. Did that mean the meeting with the P.I. didn’t go too well?
When we were in the safety of the office, Theo spun to face me. His brown eyes narrowed as he frowned at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“A turtle sanctuary?”
I swiped a few stray strands of hair from my face and moved closer. “What?”