I sighed and took another deep breath. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to seem like I was overreacting,” I prefaced, “but Zander called me last week.”

Tobias’s eyes widened. “And what happened?” he asked.

“He sort of…threatened to come after me…”

Tobias swore. “You mean to tell me this happened last week ago and you didn’t tell me, Jo? What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn’t you say something?”

“Because I never told him where I was going, and he doesn’t know anything about you or this company, so he has no way of finding me.”

“How do you know he isn’t tracking your cell phone?”

“Because I blocked him.”

Tobias shook his head. “You’re not making sense. And besides, if you blocked him, how did he call you?”

I swallowed nervously and averted my gaze, looking down to the deep burgundy and tan carpet lining the floor. “He didn’t call my cell phone. He called my office phone. Here.”

Tobias was silent for so long that I had to look up at him. He simply stared at me in disbelief. “How did he find out your office phone number, Joanna?” he finally said at the long pause. “I just gave you that line. No one should have it.”

“I know… And I don’t know,” I said with a sigh.

Tobias looked toward the exit door behind me as if he had suddenly developed x-ray vision and could see right through it. The grimace on his face made it seem like he was looking right at Zander, ready to smash him to smithereens. “I can’t believe you waited this long to say something, Joanna.”

“Because it’s not important!” I said, growing defensive.

“Is he out there now?”

“No! How could he be? He doesn’t know where this place is, I just told you that. I just…I don’t know. It’s been a long day. I’m tired and I must have been imagining things. My imagination got the best of me, but I’m fine now, so I’m going to go.”

I turned around, but Tobias called after me. “Not so fast,” he said. “And stop being so stupid, Jo. If he found out your office phone number, stop acting like he can’t find this place. You don’t underestimate crazy people like Zander. I wouldn’t put anything past that bastard. We need to file for a restraining order against him.”

“Tobias, you’re overreacting.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, his voice firm and final. “I’m not going to have my little sister getting terrorized by a creep. Not under my watch. So we’re filing a restraining order, and you aren’t leaving here without me. You don’t need to be out there by yourself with that asshole possibly lurking around.”

“Tobias, stop it!” I said, my temper flaring. “I’m not a child anymore, and you can’t tell me what to do! I said it was no big deal. I just want to go home and lie down.”

Tobias sighed in exasperation. “Joanna, I’m just concerned about you.”

“Well, don’t be.”

“I’m your big brother. That’s not possible,” he said, his voice so sincere that it was hard for me to stay upset. My temper began to settle down again as I folded my arms across my chest. Tobias looked me in the eyes. “Okay. Fine. I know you’re grown now and I have to respect your decisions. So just look me in the eye, Joanna. Do you want a restraining order against Zander? Would it make you feel any better? Just to be on the safe side?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t want a restraining order against him,” I said, ignoring his latter questions. Deep down, I wondered if I was being stupid. But again, the thought of putting a restraining order on Zander made the danger feel too real. It would force me to admit that he was still a problem in my life, and I just didn’t want to face that realization. I didn’t want him to have that kind of power over me. If I put a restraining order on Zander, he would become the boogeyman in my mind that I couldn’t free myself from. I needed to get over him on my own. It was the only way for me to officially move on.

“Well, do you at least want to hang out in the office until I can leave with you, so you don’t have to be by yourself?” Tobias asked.

I could hear how desperately he wanted me to say yes, but again, I shook my head. “No. I’m fine,” I repeated.

“How about Anderson?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Huh?”

“Anderson is about to leave in a few minutes. I could ask him to follow you home, just to make sure you got there safely. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

I shook my head again, but much too quickly this time. “No.”

“Are you sure?” Tobias said. “It wouldn’t be a problem.”

Tags: Nicole Elliot Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net