Into the Light

“With what?” I asked, playing dumb.

“With Charlie. She texted me and I found her crying in the basement of her building. She didn’t want to tell me what happened but Emma said there was some article about Lex being caught with his pants down this morning.”

“Correct,” I answered.

“Nikki, why are you talking like that? Oh wait, shit, is he with you?”

“Sure, okay, yes, get the papers drawn up.”

“Okay sorry, didn’t realize. Listen, she is in the office. It’s weird, Niks. She took a shower and got changed and it was like a different person emerged from the bathroom. She told me not to forward any personal calls to her, make sure security did not allow Lex in the building and she said no one was to enter her office including me. I don’t understand what I suddenly did wrong?” His voice quieted down. He was hurt and betrayed but he didn’t know the Charlie I knew. The one who, when in that dark place, didn’t care for anyone.

“Let’s meet at midday. We’ll discuss any concerns then.”

I hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

Lex and Rocky glared through the rearview mirror. With Will in the car he couldn’t ask any questions so I wasn’t surprised that he texted me, clearly an act of desperation.

Was that her??? Tell me what the fuck is going on.

I didn’t appreciate him going off at me considering it wasn’t my dick that landed him in this hot mess but I did sympathize with him. I cringed, not liking that I was becoming a soft pussy all of a sudden. What the hell was wrong with me?

No, it wasn’t her. I don’t know what’s going on apart from the fact that she has told our security you are not to enter our building so don’t even try to see her at work, Edwards.

He clenched his fists into a ball as he read my text. It was the last of the conversation as we crossed the bridge into the city.

The sky was gray as we drove in, a far stretch from the perfect blue we had experienced the past few days. The weather alerts predicted severe storms the next few days. How ironic, I thought. Rocky drove to the Waldorf where Lex was staying. As he pulled into the valet parking, I asked Rocky to park the car for a moment so I could have a word with Lex alone.

“Do not fuck this up any further, you understand? Let her cool down. She is stubborn and if you push her, she will fucking run to Julian and then you might as well say bon voyage.”

“What the fuck do you want me to do, Nikki? Stand here and do nothing? I need to see her and explain. You think I don’t know full well that she will run to him? That she’s probably already with him!”

“Explain what, Lex? She won’t listen to you. I am warning you, do not attempt to approach her. Let me speak to her or I swear to God I will chop off your balls and wear them around the city as earrings.”

“I’m sorry, Nikki, I can’t. I need to see her.”

“Don’t be a stubborn asshole. Once again you broke her and once again I am left picking up the pieces. When I met that girl she was broken beyond repair. I don’t know exactly what else you did besides leave her but every night she would cry herself to sleep, wake up screaming your name. You might think this is fixable and maybe it is but you need to back off right now.”

He looked at me, defeated. His eyes no longer shone that green that he was known for. Instead they looked dark, the ramifications of this situation weighing him down. He walked away to the entrance of the hotel before he disappeared through the glass doors. Heading back to the car I asked Rocky to take Will home as I headed into the office.

As I entered the reception area, I caught sight of Eric sitting in his office. I walked in, closing the door beh

ind me.

“What the hell happened, Nikki?”

“Look, Eric, I don’t want to get into the semantics. How is she?”

“A total mess when I found her.”

“When you found her?”

“Yeah, on the floor of the parking lot. She was crying. She texted me to meet her.”

“And now?”

“She’s in her office. She asked that no calls be transferred to her because she is working on the Mackenzie case. She seems to be okay now. I can’t believe Lex screwed her over again. I mean, those photos. WOW! Can’t the guy keep his beautiful dick in his pants?”

“Are you fucking kidding me, Eric?”