For The Love Of Sir (Doms of Decadence 3)

“Tara?”

She glanced around to find Eloise standing there.

“Oh, Eloise, hi,” she said. “I was looking for Tim.”

“He’s in Chicago on business. Can I help?”

Tara could leave the laptop and pen drive with Eloise, but it didn’t feel right. She’d rather give them to Tim and then her conscience would be clear. She’d often told Tim she didn’t like carrying important documents around on a pen drive.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll wait until Tim returns.”

“Tim won’t be back for a few days. You need to leave that laptop with me. It is company property after all.” Eloise’s voice had turned icy. Tara’s hackles rose. What right did she have to look down on her?

“I know the laptop is company property, Eloise,” she replied, standing her ground. “I’m going to call Tim and find out what he wants done with it.”

“I really think you should give that laptop to me.”

Eloise’s gaze narrowed and she took a step toward Tara. All of a sudden Tara felt threatened by the other woman.

“Back off,” Tara told her.

Eloise smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. “Of course. I’m only trying to be helpful.”

Tara wasn’t fooled. The other woman was angry. Tara just couldn’t work out why.

“Is Ryan in?” Maybe she could pass these things off to him.

“No, he’s with Tim in Chicago,” Eloise snapped. “Really, Tara, you were fired. You need to give me the laptop before I call the cops.”

“So call them. I’ll make it easy on you. I’ll even wait right here.”

There was something wrong with the other woman. Why the hell did she want the laptop so bad? All the documents were passcode locked on both the laptop and the pen drive and what would she want with them anyway?

But Tara had learned to listen to her instincts and they were screaming at her not to leave anything with Eloise.

“Fine,” Eloise said. “Leave. But I’m going to tell Tim about this.”

She turned and stormed away. Tara rolled her eyes at the other woman’s dramatics. As soon as she got home, she’d call Tim and see what the hell was going on.

Leaving the building, she headed toward the bus stop. She didn’t really feel like heading straight home, though. That encounter with Eloise had left her feeling unsettled. So instead of getting a bus back to her apartment, she decided to head over to see Tilly.

Tara got off at the bus stop closest to the diner where Tilly worked and walked the rest of the way. The smell of fried food hit her as she entered, making her stomach rumble. She glanced at her watch, surprised to see it was already four in the afternoon. She hadn’t eaten since dinner last night when Alex had brought over some Chinese. He brought dinner each night, always calling her first to make sure he got something she could eat, knowing she was gluten intolerant.

It was those little ways he took care of her that made her feel special, like she actually meant something to him.

She waved at Tilly who was serving a young couple. After taking their order, Tilly worked her way over to where Tara had grabbed a seat at the counter.

“Hey, how are you?” Tilly asked.

“I’m okay. What time do you get off? I need a drink.” She didn’t often drink but right then she really needed one.

“Give me forty.”

***

A few hours later, Tara made her way down the corridor to her apartment, feeling better and yet absolutely exhausted at the same time. She and Tilly had walked to one of their favorite bars. Tara only had one drink; she couldn’t really afford more, and then stuck to water while Tilly had indulged. She’d seen Tilly into a taxi before grabbing a bus home, still carrying her laptop.

She unlocked the door to her apartment and walked inside, shutting and locking it behind her. She frowned as she realized the lights were on.