Chapter 3 Escape

Blair waved down a taxi. She shoved open the taxi door and climbed into the backseat as quickly as she could, intent on getting out of here as fast as possible. She felt like getting drunk. But if she went to a bar alone during the day, that would be inviting trouble. She could feel the tears as they slid unchecked down her face. She had held herself together while she had confronted Dan and Laura.

"Where to?" the driver asked, his voice cutting through the fog in her brain.

Where to? Good question.

Home wasn't an option. Sutton and Keira were at work, and she didn't want to sit in their empty apartment, replaying the image of Dan with her cousin. She needed a drink. But sitting alone in a bar in the middle of the afternoon? That felt like waving a white flag.

She hesitated, then rattled off the address of her office. At least there, she could pretend to be productive. Maybe even figure out what the hell to do next.

The taxi pulled away from the curb and she exhaled, trying to steady herself.

The driver looked at her in the rearview mirror. "There are tissues in the center compartment if you need them, hon."

The driver's voice was gentle, like he'd seen enough women cry in his backseat to know when to speak and when to keep quiet.

Blair grabbed a handful. "Thanks." She said before cleaning her face as best she could. It wasn't like she wore a lot of makeup. So, she might as well clean her face.

Her phone began to ring. Dan?

She still pulled it out of her bag to check. Her stomach clenched as she stared at the screen, his name glowing in bright white letters.

She could just imagine the first words he would say.

"It's not what it looks like, Blair."

"I can explain."

"Please, just let me talk to you."

Lies. Excuses. The same bullshit men always spewed when they got caught.

She set the phone to silent and shoved it back into her bag.

By the time the taxi pulled up in front of Kingston Industries, her makeup was beyond saving. She reached into her purse, dug out a crumpled twenty, and handed it to the driver.

"Be honest," she said, forcing a smile. "Do I look like a woman who just found out her fiancé is screwing her cousin?"

The driver hesitated, giving her a careful once-over. "Your eyes are a little red, honey, but it's hardly noticeable." He paused. "Are you going to be okay?"

The unexpected kindness nearly undid her.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. "Yeah. Better to find out now, right? Just a little bump on the road of life." She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince... the taxi driver or herself.

She climbed out of the taxi, hoisted her suitcase onto the curb and took a deep breath. Blair pulled out her phone only to see Dan had called her six times and left six messages on her voicemail. Uninterested in what he had to say for himself, she slid the phone away in her handbag again.

Blair turned toward the towering glass and steel structure of Kingston Industries. Roman had bought the building five years ago. The top eight floors belonged to Kingston, the lower three rented out to smaller businesses. With the way the company was expanding, she wouldn't be surprised if they took over the whole thing eventually.

She walked inside, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

"Miss Warner, can I help you?" Blair blinked. Maggie, one of the receptionists, had stepped out from behind the lobby front desk, her gaze flicking over Blair.

Maggie moved even closer, taking the suitcase from her. In Blair's same hand, she was still holding the bat. Blair had completely forgotten she was even holding it.

She had walked into the office looking like she was about to commit a felony. She was glad she still had it, though. It was something she wouldn't need to retrieve later.

Blair exhaled, relieved. "Thanks, Maggie. Can I leave everything here while I freshen up?" She was surprised her voice sounded so... normal.

"Of course, Miss Warner." Maggie's eyes darted to the bat again.

"Blair, please. How many times do I have to tell you?" Roman preferred first names, but some staff, especially the newer ones, seemed to struggle with that.

More with Roman than with her.

Maggie smiled, taking the suitcase, briefcase, and bat.

Blair headed across the foyer to the restroom.

Inside, she went straight to the mirrors. The cab driver hadn't just been kind. She really didn't look that bad. She pulled a makeup wipe from her bag and cleaned off the last remnants of mascara. A quick dusting of powder, some lip gloss, a little eyeliner.

She pinched her cheeks. People always said that added color, but she didn't see a difference.

Her blue eyes were still a little red, but there wasn't much she could do about that. She pulled out a brush, freed her long, wavy blonde hair from its bun, and redid it neatly. Good enough.

She left the restroom, retrieved her belongings from Maggie, and headed to the elevators. As she waited, she tried to recall Roman's schedule. Did he have any meetings this afternoon?

Then it hit her. He shouldn't have been home today. So no meetings were scheduled in his calendar.

She sighed. Her brain was fried. But walking in on your fiancé with your cousin would do that to anyone.

The thought made her frown.

How often had they been doing this? Dan had been at home during a workday. She traveled occasionally for work, but not that often. If things had been going on for months, they had to have been meeting up on company time.

The elevator arrived. A woman she didn't recognize stepped in with her.

Blair offered a polite, strained smile. When the woman got off at the second floor, Blair leaned back against the wall, staring at nothing.

Should she tell Roman about Dan? It would feel like sour grapes... tattling just because he cheated. But he was also ripping off the company. No way could he get home, have sex, and get back to the office during a lunch break.

The elevator dinged open. Blair inhaled deeply before stepping onto the executive floor.

Kara, the receptionist on the executive floor, looked up. "Hey, Blair. I didn't think you'd be in today."

Blair smiled. "Wasn't planning to be, but I figured I'd get a jump on the meeting notes for Roman. Is he in?"

Kara shook her head. "No, he left a little while ago, told me to take messages and everything can wait until tomorrow."

Blair almost sagged in relief. She wouldn't have to face him just yet.

"Thanks, Kara."

She went to her office, shut the door, and sank into her chair.

Blair rested her head on the desk. Shit. She felt like a wrecking ball had just split her world in two.

How could he? But even worse than that, how could Laura?

The childish problems they had all had as kids, Blair had thought they'd grown out of. Laura had always been a spoiled brat. Taking what wasn't hers.

The problem was her parents, Blair's aunt and uncle, doted on her and gave her everything she wanted. But when they had moved to the city two years ago, Laura hadn't been that bad or by now Blair would have moved in with her sisters. She hadn't when Sutton had come back from Europe because her sister Keira had just finished university and started a new job. Sutton had moved in with Keira. Blair would have felt guilty leaving Laura on her own. And what was the point? She and Dan had planned on getting a place of their own once they were married.

Lifting her head, Blair looked down at the ring on her finger.

It wasn't big. She hadn't wanted big. She'd make sure he got it back. He could sell it. Laura would want something flashy anyway. She'd always made fun of Blair's ring.

Taking it off, Blair was about to throw it across the room. No - just in case it went missing. Opening the top drawer of her desk, she dropped it in and slammed it shut.

She needed a drink.

Standing, Blair went into Roman's office, where she knew he kept a bottle of scotch. She wasn't much of a spirit drinker, but anything would do.

Roman's office was a statement of the man himself. Everything was big, strong, and masculine. "Don't forget intimidating," Blair said to the empty room.

Going to his desk, she opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the bottle of scotch he kept there. Taking it, she sat down on his Chesterfield lounge near the window. She opened the bottle and took a drink. Almost coughed it back up. "Holy shit, this burns." She knew it was expensive. Roman only liked the best.

The problem was, it was straight. Why did he like this straight? She tried a smaller sip. Still awful. But less awful than the first. So she had another. Laying her head back against the lounge, she tried to think. What was her next move?

It was 3:15 pm. She couldn't call Sutton or Keira. Not yet. Let them get home from work. Blair planned to ask them to help her get her stuff from the apartment. Although she didn't want to put too much pressure on Sutton - six months with a baby and already struggling.

Men. Why were they assholes? First, her boss for being arrogant and intimidating. Then Dan, who had been cheating with her cousin. Then Luca, the father of Sutton's baby, who had left her, too.

She'd call her sisters later. Not now.

Then she'd see about crashing at their place until she found somewhere new. It wasn't big enough for three adults and a baby, but it would be nice to spend time with them. Eat ice cream and talk shit about men.

Although Sutton didn't even talk about the man who made her have a baby. She refused. Even when Aunt Viv and Uncle Peter demanded answers. Only she and Keira knew his first name.

The phone started ringing on Roman's desk. Blair tried to ignore it, but as soon as it stopped, it started again. Blair dragged herself upright. The room tilted. "Oops."

After steadying herself, she lifted the receiver.

"Hello?" Not very professional.

"Roman, please." Blair knew the voice. Claire Robertson. Roman's little piece of fluff. The best way to describe her. That girly voice set Blair's teeth on edge.

"Roman isn't here." Blair put a hand on the desk to stop the room swaying.

"Where is he?" Claire asked.

"How the hell should I know?" The words just fell out. "You are his secretary."

"Yes, but I'm not his keeper," Blair said. "And I don't own a crystal ball. Call or message his mobile."

"He isn't answering his mobile, hasn't for days," Claire whined.

Oh.

That was Roman's move. No arguments. No drama. He just started avoiding someone before ending it. If Claire hadn't heard from him in days, it was over. She just didn't know it yet.

The little devil on Blair's shoulder leaned in. "Well, one of two things has happened. Either you're about to get dumped, or he's dead. Either way, flowers will be involved."

Claire gasped. Blair sighed, the scotch warming her blood. "Look, Claire, let's be honest. He's not marriage material. Find someone new." She hung up before she could respond.

She collapsed back onto the Chesterfield, lifting the bottle again.

Her own problems resurfaced. How was she so blind? How did she not pick up on the signs? She wasn't an idiot. But Dan was a salesman. He had sold her the dream of happily-ever-after. She had just been blind to the cracks.

And God... what she'd seen earlier - was that what it was supposed to be like? She enjoyed sex well enough, but never like that. Was she supposed to be louder? More dramatic? Dan had been her only partner. Teaching her should have been his responsibility. She had no idea anymore.

She lost track of how long she stayed there, drinking and damning the entire male gender. She honestly couldn't give a damn.

After a while, Blair sighed, lifting the bottle again... only to pause when she noticed two tall, blurry figures standing in front of her.

Wait. No. Not two. One.

"Hi," she slurred.

She tried to sit up, raising the bottle, but before she could take a sip, it was plucked from her hand.

"Hey," she protested. "That's mine. If you want one, go find your own."

She blinked hard.

The man holding the bottle finally came into focus.

"Roman?"

"Blair," he said, voice unreadable. "What have you done to yourself?"

"Well," she said, slurring slightly, "I think that's... pretty obvious. As you can see, I'm getting shit-faced." She reached for the bottle. "Now give it back so I can finish the job."

Roman stepped away, placing the bottle on his desk. "I think you've had enough."

Blair frowned. "You know... sometimes you can be an arrogant man. No - most of the time."

"I do believe you're going to regret this tomorrow."

Then, instead of yelling, instead of lecturing, he sat down beside her.