11. Jaclyn

Chapter 11

Jaclyn

P ulling up to an unmarked office building, I do my best to keep my expression neutral. I was an idiot thinking Chris would be in a typical hospital or medical facility—both of our fathers have access to armies of medical staff. The building passes as corporate offices; the perfect cover. Having been in an accident, Chris could be requiring anything from stitches to needing a new heart. I selfishly hope whatever it is will keep him here long enough for Alex to join me in Hawaii. Unlike when I'm with Chris, I can be myself with Alex, and two weeks where I don't have to be picture-perfect sounds like a dream come true.

Alex opens my door and offers me his hand as I get out of the car. It's wrong to want to keep my hand in his, but I do it anyway for as long as he'll let me. I'm enjoying Alex's innocent touches more than I should. The tug to be near him is unbearable—even though it goes against my better judgment. Holding his hand feels natural and keeps me grounded.

As he closes the car door, he makes no move to walk toward the building. "Don't lie to him about me telling you everything."

"Why not?" My brows pinch.

Reaching up to tuck my hair behind my ear, he replies, "Ignorance is bliss, princess."

"What happened yesterday? Was Chris with another woman?" The words leave a sour taste in my mouth. I can turn a blind eye to his cheating—but on our wedding day? Surely, it's not that hard to keep it in your pants for one day.

"Did you wake up in another man's arms this morning?" Alex smirks, and my chest constricts, my pulse thumping in my ears. "Don't be a hypocrite. You're better than that."

He's right; I'm absolutely a hypocrite.

"Will you be there with me?" I ask softly.

"No." He shakes his head. "Chris won't want to see me. I'll wait outside the room for you."

"You're his brother. Of course he'll want to see you."

Alex places his hand on the car, pinning me in on one side. Leaning in, he whispers, "I slept with his wife. He won't want to see me. "

Our faces only inches apart, my breath hitches at the thought of him closing the distance and kissing me. He probably tastes like coffee and cinnamon from the French toast he had for breakfast. My eyes search his, begging him to do it.

What the hell am I doing?

"We only slept together, Alex. I know you're teasing, don't make it sound like you wanted more than a glorified nap."

"I thought I was clear what I would've done last night, if you were mine." A devilish smirk dances on his lips, an adorable dimple appearing. My eyes fall to his mouth briefly, but when his small smile fades, I glance back up. He's looking at the entrance of the building behind me. "Time to go find your Prince Charming and begin your happily ever after." His gaze returns to me. "Come on, princess."

Pushing off the car, he walks toward the building, and I follow two steps behind him. He stops abruptly, and I nearly run into him. "What's wrong?"

"Don't walk behind me," he grumbles with a frown. "We're equals. You walk beside me."

I'm taken aback by the comment but nod in understanding. When we reach the front door side by side, I grab for it before he can, opening it for him. "Since we're equals and all. "

He holds the door above my head. "Nice try. We may be equals, but I'm still a gentleman." I roll my eyes, laughing to myself, and walk in.

The entry appears to be like any other office building, with a directory posted next to the elevator. Alex presses the ‘up' button while I peruse the list.

Laura Crest, M.D. — Children's Psychiatry — 203

Timothy Meadows, C.P.A — 206

Joshua Hamilton — Target Investments — 208

Fredrick Milton, M.D, D.O. — Neurology — 210

Alice — Gallagher Whiskey — 211

Kristina Dawson, J.D. — Criminal Law — 215

Why are they only on the second floor?

I don't have a chance to continue reading the most obscure list of tenants I've ever seen when the elevator dings. Alex gestures for me to step inside first and follows behind me, pressing the button for the fifth floor.

The building and elevator are older than I am, and the light above us flickers a light gold. The silence is deafening. "Why are there medical offices on the same floor as a lawyer and an accountant? And why is there nothing listed for the rest of the building?"

"You've been in your ivory tower too long," he chuckles, continuing to face the elevator doors .

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He doesn't have a chance to answer when the elevator ascends with a jolt; I hold on to Alex to keep my balance. As we reach our floor, the doors open to a metal wall. "What's going on? Where are we?"

He opens the small call box and punches in a four-digit code, holding the receiver to his ear. A few seconds pass, and he replies to whoever is on the other line, "Alexander Blake. Code word ‘snapped.'"

Snapped?

The large metal door opens, and Alex steps out; I hesitate for a moment. "Don't you trust me?" He offers his hand, but I don't take it. It doesn't matter if I trust him, there are no prying eyes to put on a show for. If either of our fathers were to see us holding hands, there would be questions.

I take a deep breath and follow him down a dimly lit hall with light gray walls. There are no doors or office windows anywhere to be found as we continue turning left twice and then right. Eventually, we reach one that has the same metal as the elevator. Alex opens the call box to the side and types in a code. Like before, he states his name and a code word again.

The door opens, and the beeps of medical equipment fill the space. "Is this where Chris is?" I whisper, now wishing more than anything that I was holding Alex's hand. We approach one of four doors, and Alex opens a call box for a third time, going through the motions .

A man in a black suit and earpiece appears, likely part of one of our fathers' service details. "Mr. Blake. Mrs. Blake." I begin to correct him, but he cuts me off, commanding, "Right this way."

"You're no longer Jaclyn Taylor," Alex reminds me. The man enters a room on the right, and as I'm about to walk in, Alex stops me."Ignorance is bliss."

I chew on my lip, wringing my hands. "Come in with me?"

"No, princess. I promise I'll be here when you're done." He offers a small smile and takes a step back. I breathe deeply and walk in without the slightest idea of what I might find.