Chapter 266
SIERRA.
I stare at my screen, the numbers blurring together no matter how many times I blink.
I went back to work because, as much as I loved being home, I quickly grew restless. After spending weeks at Noah’s with nothing to do, I couldn’t take staying idle anymore.
So far, work has kept me as busy as I hoped it would, but today feels different.
“Focus, Sierra,” I tell myself.
I inhale slowly, then exhale, forcing my shoulders to relax.
Work is usually one of my sanctuaries, but today it offers none of its usual comfort because all I can think about is Noah’s call from two days ago.
The audacity he had to ask if I had a boyfriend still pisses me off. Who the hell does he think he is?
I don’t know what possessed him to call me, to demand answers like I owe him an explanation for my life. As if he has any right to question who I spend my time with, who I let close, or who I might be trying to build something with.
He lost that privilege a long time ago.
I push the thought away and type out another line of my findings, my fingers moving on muscle memory alone.
Since I left his house months ago, since I decided to finally give Adrian a real chance, I’ve kept Noah exactly where he belongs… on the opposite end of my world. I made sure we existed on separate orbits… well, that was until he decided to meddle.
Something else is bothering me. He said the twins told him but how did they even know I was dating anyone? Not that Adrian is my boyfriend. I wish he were. But still… how did they come to that conclusion?
Before I can think too deeply about it, my phone buzzes beside my laptop.
The sound is loud in the quiet of my workspace, and I jump before I can stop myself. My heart leaps stupidly as I reach for it, hope flaring before logic can catch up.
It’s Adrian.
A smile curves on my lips before I even open the message… Then I read it.
[Hey beautiful. I hate to do this, but I need to cancel tonight. Something urgent came up. I’m really sorry p>
The smile slips. My chest tightens, disappointment settling in like a heavy weight. I know things come up but that doesn’t stop the sting. Doesn’t stop the way it feels like something is slipping away.
Seeing the message hurts. I’ve been looking forward to seeing him, especially after not being able to meet for the past two weeks
I lock my phone and place it face down, my fingers lingering on the edge of it.
Great. Just what I needed. Between Noah’s call and Adrian canceling, my mood is officially in the gutter.
A shadow falls over my desk. I don’t look up immediately. I already know who it is. I can feel her presence the way you’d feel bad energy rolling in.
“Sierra,” Jocelyn says too sweetly.
I close my eyes for half a second, then lift my gaze.
“What do you want?” I ask flatly.
She smiles, red lips curving as she leans one manicured hand on my desk like she owns the place.
“Wow. Not even a greeting? No how are you doing, Jocelyn? You really have changed p>
“I’m busy,” I say. “Leave p>
She doesn’t. Instead, she tilts her head, eyes flicking briefly to my stomach before returning to my face.
“Busy?” she chuckles. “Busy sleeping with your dead friend’s husband p>
I clench my fists and scoff. “Is there a point to your stupid question p>
“Yes, actually.” Her smile tightens. “To remind you of the kind of woman you are. I always knew you were a whore; I just never could prove it… Now, thanks to Brook, I can p>
I laugh coldly. “If I’m a whore, what does that make you, Jocelyn p>
Her eyes narrow.
“Have you forgotten sleeping with professors just to get into special research programs?” I continue calmly. “Or should I remind you how close you came to being fired when a director’s wife found out you were trying to seduce her husband for favors p>
That does it. Her composure cracks, just enough for the anger beneath to bleed through.
No one on our team knows this but me. As team lead, I was informed about her disgusting and unethical behavior… The board protected her because of her work so I couldn’t get her removed. Hell, I couldn’t even get her kicked out of my team.
“That was different,” she snaps.
I chuckle. “How p>
“At least I didn’t get pregnant by a man who hates my fucking guts p>
Once, that would’ve hurt but now it does nothing.
“And knowing you and Brook and how greedy you both are,” I say coolly, “I bet you both wish you were the ones carrying Noah’s baby p>
Jocelyn has been a pain in my ass ever since she struck up that new friendship with Brook. She’s found endless ways to antagonize me, poke at me, and provoke me.