Chapter 28
Maya's POV:
My phone buzzed in my purse.
I was standing in the corner of some upscale restaurant in New Orleans, watching Julian schmooze a group of potential clients.
I pulled out my phone.
Adam Sterling flashed across the screen.
Video call.
My body jerked like I'd been shocked.
I glanced at Julian. He was mid-sentence, gesturing with his wine glass, completely absorbed in his pitch.
I held up one finger to catch his eye. "I need to take this."
He nodded without breaking stride.
I slipped out into the hallway, past the heavy velvet curtains and ornate mirrors. Found a quiet corner near the restrooms.
I answered.
Adam's face filled the screen. He was in his living room, I think.
"Mr. Sterling," I said, keeping my voice flat. "What is it?"
"Amy had a great time today." His tone was casual, like we were old friends catching up. "She's in the bath now. Just wanted to let you know."
"Got it. Thanks."
I moved to hang up.
"Maya."
I paused.
"You're still at dinner?"
"Yes."
"With Julian?"
My jaw tightened. "Yes."
"Is he drinking?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Is Julian drinking? Alcohol?"
"Why does that matter?"
"Because I'm asking." His face was perfectly composed, but there was something sharp in his eyes. Something possessive.
"Yes," I said slowly. "He's drinking. It's a business dinner. That's what people do."
"Stay away from him."
I almost laughed. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Keep your distance."
Are you fucking serious right now?
"Mr. Sterling," I said, my voice dropping. "You're overstepping. And alcohol isn't an excuse. Decent men stay decent, drunk or not."
"Maya—"
"No. You told me you weren't interested. You told me to stop bothering you. Remember that?"
Silence.
I kept going. "I'm doing what you asked. I'm keeping my distance. So what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm looking out for you."
I exhaled sharply. "Look, I'm busy. If this is about Amy, she's fine. If it's about anything else, I don't want to hear it."
"You're unbelievable," he muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"You think I'm the problem here? You think I'm the one crossing lines?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I think!"
His eyes narrowed. "You kissed me back, Maya."
My face went hot.
"That—" I swallowed hard. "That was a mistake."
"Was it?"
"Yes."
"You didn't seem to think so at the time."
I wanted to throw my phone across the hallway.
Adam leaned forward slightly, his face filling more of the screen. "Maya, I'm trying to warn you. Julian Garrison isn't—"
"I don't care what you think about Julian."
"He has feelings for you."
"So?"
"So you're playing with fire..."
I hung up before he could continue.
---
Adam's POV:
I stared at the blank screen.
She hung up on me.
I set my phone down on the coffee table and leaned back against the couch, dragging my hands through my hair.
What the fuck am I doing?
I had no right to call her. No right to question her. No right to tell her what to do.
But the thought of her alone with Julian Garrison—drunk Julian Garrison—made my blood boil.
I stood up and paced across the living room.
Julian wasn't a bad guy. I knew that. But he had feelings for Maya. It was obvious. And Maya... Maya was vulnerable.
If Julian made a move—
Stop.
I forced myself to sit back down.
This wasn't about Julian.
This was about me.
I was jealous. Plain and simple.
I hated that she was spending time with him. I hated that he got to see her every day, talk to her, make her laugh.
I hated that I'd thrown it all away five years ago.
---
I glanced at the clock. 9:47 PM.
I picked my phone up.
Opened my contacts.
Scrolled to Maya's name.
Don't.
But my thumb was already moving.
I opened the video call screen.
Stared at it.
Don't be a psycho. Let it go.
I tossed the phone onto the couch and walked to the kitchen.
Grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
Drank half of it in one go.
Went back to the living room.
Picked up my phone again.
Fuck it.
I hit the call button.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
I hung up and called again.
Still no answer.
My jaw tightened.
I opened my messages and typed: Pick up your phone. Now.
Sent.
Waited.
Nothing.
I typed again: Don't pretend you don't see this. Answer the call or I'm kicking your niece out for the night.
I hit send before I could second-guess it.
That's low, Sterling.
I didn't care.
I called again.
This time, she answered on the last ring.
Her face appeared on the screen, flushed and annoyed.
"What do you want, Adam?" she snapped.
I smiled. "Just checking in."
"Bullshit."
"You're at the hotel?"
"Yes."
"Your own room?"
"Yes."
"Just you?"
"Yes!"
"Show me."
She let out a sharp breath, then turned the camera around.
I watched as she panned across the room. Standard hotel setup. Queen bed. Desk. Bathroom door ajar, steam still lingering in the air.
No sign of anyone else.
"Satisfied?" she asked, turning the camera back to her face.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Good. Now leave me alone."
"Maya—"
"No." Her voice rose. "Do you understand how insane this is? Do you understand how inappropriate you're being right now?"
"I'm trying to protect you."
"From what? From who?"
"From Julian."
"Julian is my boss!"
"He wants to be more than that."
"Even if that's true—and I'm not saying it is—it's none of your business!"
"You're right," I said quietly. "It's not."
She blinked, clearly surprised I'd agreed.
"But I don't care," I continued. "I don't care if it's inappropriate. I don't care if you think I'm crossing a line. The idea of you alone in a hotel room with him makes me want to put my fist through a wall."
"Then that's your problem, Adam. Not mine. I'm hanging up now."
"Maya—"
The line died.
---
I sat there for a long moment, staring at nothing.
Then I let out a slow breath and set the phone down.
Idiot.
I stood up and walked to the window, pressing my palms against the cold glass.
The city stretched out below me, lights twinkling like stars.
Somewhere out there, Maya was in a hotel room.
Alone.
Safe.
For now.
I pulled my phone out again and opened Instagram.
Her account was still blocked.
But I knew she was online. I could see the little green dot next to her name on my work phone.
I watched it for a while.
At 11:32 PM, the dot disappeared.
I kept watching.
It came back at 11:58 PM.
Disappeared again at 1:14 AM.
At 3:00 AM, it was still off.
I finally put the phone down and went to bed.
But I didn't sleep.