One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 57

My phone rings, and it’s Stringer, letting me know that he hears a commotion from the apartment next door. He asks if he should go knock on the door, and of course I tell him he should do so. He hangs up while he goes to see what is going on. It’s the longest ten minutes of my life as I pace around my study, waiting to hear what’s going on.

I decided not to go all the way back home. It’s too far from Julia. Instead, I’m staying in my apartment near work. I’ll stay here for as long as I need to until I’m sure that she’s safe. If she’s determined to stay with Jeff, I might just stay here indefinitely. I can’t stand the thought of being an hour away from her. I need to be nearby in case something happens. Now, it seems like something has happened, and Julia might be in trouble.

My pacing stops and I stare out the window, waiting for Stringer to call. I know he’ll call me as soon as he can. I pray that Julia is all right. If that bastard Thompson hit her, I swear to God I’ll break his face. I’ll snap his tiny body in half!

My phone rings and I fumble with it, almost dropping it in my haste to answer. It’s Stringer. "Yes?" I say, praying that Julia is safe and that she’s decided to leave Thompson for good.

"Ms. Thompson is with me," Stringer says, his voice calm. I take a deep breath, relieved to hear that. "We are headed toward your apartment, sir."

"Thank you," I say, wanting to talk to Julia but not on the phone. I need her in my arms. I need to see that she’s safe and that he hasn’t harmed her. I hang up and begin pacing again, walking back and forth from one side of the room to the other. I calculate how long it might take for Springer to get here from the Thompsons’ apartment. I glance out the window and see there’s quite a bit of traffic, at least in this part of town. I’m guessing at least a half an hour, maybe a bit longer. I check the time on the clock, not sure I can wait that long to see her, but I have no choice, do I?

I consider calling Thompson myself and threatening to smash his face in, to fire him on the spot. But then… I have no idea what has happened. All I know is that there was some sort of an argument. For all I know, Julia began the fight because she wanted to leave. Maybe she finally told him off, once and for all. All I know is that if he did anything at all to harm her, I will end him.

When I finally hear a knock on the door, I fly to open it, my heart pounding out of my chest. Julia and Stringer are standing there, and her face is pale, as if she has been through a traumatic event. I pull her close to me, practically smothering her against my chest as Stringer comes into the apartment and closes the door. I notice he does not have her belongings with him, but we’ll get to that in due time.

"Julia, darling? How are you?" I ask, pushing her back so that I can see her face. "Are you okay?"