Chapter 41

Poppy

" I feel like my bones are going to jump out of my skin," I blurt out as I slide my sweaty palms under my thighs, hoping the fabric of the seat will absorb it along with all my emotions. " Will you still love me when I ' m just a sack of wrinkled skin, Jules?" I glance at him as he steadily parks the car in the guest parking spot at CypherTech.

His hand leaves the wheel and cups my thigh. " I ' ll always love you, Pumpkin."

He parks the car and turns it off. " You ready?" His brow raises.

I nod. " Yeah, I am." Answers are way overdue.

Julian gets out of the car, comes around, and opens my door. I ' m still hesitating. He opens the palm of his hand, waiting for mine to find its proper place in it. I unbuckle, swing my legs out, and grasp his hand.

A relieved exhale flows from my lips, feeling like taking off jeans that were too tight. I can breathe now because I don ' t have to fight alone. I ' ve got sidekicks.

" What if Henry just ignores me?" I whisper, uncertainty weighing my words down as we start our walk up the neatly kept path to the corporate office. I ' ve walked this route for three years but never really saw it—the way the path curls, lined by the vibrant roses that were probably always there. Back then, all that mattered was spotting where Henry ' s car would be parked. I was so wrapped up in thoughts of my brother that life just...passed me by. I forgot what it was like just to stand still, take a deep breath of fresh air, look up at the clear blue sky, and feel the warmth of the sun on my face.

" I won ' t allow that to happen," Julian replies, his voice firm. He places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing before he leads the way. Together, we enter the office, greeted by the welcoming smile of a pleasant-looking receptionist.

That used to be me.

"Hi, welcome to CypherTech. Do you have an appointment?" she tosses the question our way, her eyes quickly flicking to her computer screen, likely trying to match us up with whoever's expected today. There's a warmth in her smile, and it's as if she's genuinely glad to see us. She's dressed sharp—her blouse and skirt combo screams 'I've got this,' but in a way that's more inviting than intimidating.

I don't think I ever looked as put together as she did when I worked here. I looked more like a child's drawing of a receptionist held together with tape. I never care deeply about my role here, just about getting Henry's attention.

" No, we don ' t," Julian answers. " We ' re here to see Henry."

She blinks, " Did you have an appointment?"

" This is his sister, Poppy. She needs to speak to him."

Julian's tone could silence a concert of Taylor Swift fans. It's cold, deadly.

She inches back her chair, " Let me call his secretary. One moment." She picks up the phone, and with each passing second, I feel like I might pass out.

I turn and look around the lobby. It ' s smaller than Sterling Defense but still elegantly designed. Sleek dark wood covers the floor, and light grey armchairs make a small yet cozy seating area. There are beverages and a coffee machine. To the left is a wall of frames.

I avoid that wall. My parents' picture is framed there.

" Hi Yolanda, I have a um…a gentleman here with Poppy Moore. They said they need to speak with Mr. Moore." Her voice lowers, " I don ' t have them on the calendar."

You wouldn't.

" Yes," she says, " Oh, oh, I didn ' t know. Ok, what should I tell them?" She taps her finger against the back of the phone.

" Ok. Bye." She hangs up but keeps her hand on the phone as if it could save her.

Julian shifts closer to the desk, intimidating as ever.

" Yolanda is on her way down to speak to you," The receptionist says. Her lips press in a worried grin.

" Thank you, but we need to speak to Henry," Julian insists.

The receptionist clears her throat, " Mr. Moore isn ' t here, but his receptionist is, and she will be down shortly."

I tug Julian's hand. There's no need to scare this poor girl into wetting herself, especially since she's rocking a silk skirt, and everyone knows you can't get piss stains out of silk. " Thank you," I reply, giving her a reassuring smile as I lead us a few feet away from the reception desk.

" Bullshit," Julian grunts as he pulls out his phone.

" What are you doing?"

" Texting Theo. He knows where Henry is," he types away.

The elevator dings, and Yolanda steps out. I always liked her. She ' s older and should have retired years ago, but I don ' t think this place could function without her. She worked for my parents, was here the first day the lights turned on, and has been loyally here since.

Not having seen her in the past few months makes her age more apparent. Her skin is smooth but filled with lines, and her brown hair is now a dark grey. When she smiles at me now, it feels more like a grandma grinning down at her grandchild.

" Poppy, dear!" She beams as she opens her arms. Her embrace makes my eyes water.

" Hi, Yolanda."

" I missed you, dear," she whispers in my ear. She pulls away, still grasping my shoulders, and looks me up and down. " You look…happy," she exhales with relief. " Texas has been treating you well. I ' m so very happy, dear." True relief covers her aged face. " I miss you greatly, but this place suffocated you," she whispers more to herself. " Your parents would be so proud of you, honey. You know that, right?"

Don ' t cry again.

Does crying so much induce more wrinkles? At this rate, I ' m going to need to bathe in the Crème de La Mer cream. I wonder if I can start taking testosterone if only to combat my overflow of emotions.

Yolanda ' s eyes shift to Julian. " And who ' s this handsome man?"

Julian ' s hard lips tug up. He extends his hand. " I ' m Julian Sterling, Poppy ' s boyfriend."

" Boyfriend?" Yolanda ' s brows inch up, making her forehead look like a roadmap of wrinkles.

" Yes, ma ' am."

" Oh, dear," she looks back at me, " I ' d love to hear everything."

Julian clears his throat, " Actually, we really need to speak to Henry. That ' s why we came."

Her glowing gleam drops. " He, um, he isn ' t here, dear. Called in for the day," she glances down, " He got a call early this morning that his house was burnt down." Her eyes flicker to me; they look like arms reaching out, waiting to catch me as I fall.

" Burnt down!" I choke. " Is he ok?"

Please tell me he's ok!

All the threats Andrew promised came rushing back to me.

I grasp Julian ' s arm and look at him. I know he can read my eyes.

" Oh yes, he ' s fine. It wasn ' t his house he lives in," Yolanda pauses. It was your parents' house, Poppy."

Julian braces me.

" What?" I try to speak, but it sounds like I ' m having a stroke.

Yolanda ' s lips thin, " He got a call early this morning. Last night, your parents' house burnt down. He ' s there now, meeting with the firefighters and police."