Page 111 of Burning for You
Caro
“Sam,” I call to my bodyguard, who has been driving me around today as my official driver, Oleg, is sick.
“Is something wrong, Caro?” asks Sam, seeing me pacing in front of my home. “Aren’t you supposed to rest?”
“I’ve lost my phone.”
“I can trace back our travels today and search around. I’m sure I’ll find it.”
“I can’t even remember the last time I had it with me.” My mind really blanks.
I can’t wait to see Levi again. The paparazzi have been relentless with their pursuits of matchmaking me with Anton and making him the father of my supposed child. Sometimes it was just my belly protruding because I’d just eaten, but other photos were clearly altered to create a baby bump.
“I’ll find it. You just take it easy, okay? Remember, you have a flight to catch tomorrow.”
I ponder. “Hey! I was walking along Fifth and someone bumped into me. I mean, shoulder-charged me.” I remember it distinctly now. The man looked to be a homeless person, coming out of nowhere. “Maybe it slipped out of my pocket then.”
“I’ll go there now.”
“I’m coming with you,” I say.
I was planning to go back to the clinic, but I have to find my phone first.
Last night I had the shock of my life when I saw a positive result on my pregnancy test. The doctor at St Anne’s confirmed the other day that I wasn’t pregnant, but I’ve felt pregnant, even though technically I don’t know what it feels like, having never experienced it before.
“Let me know when you want me to pull over,” Sam says as we trawl along Fifth Avenue.
“Here,” I say.
I search around, and with Sam’s help, we recover my phone from under a bin. There are scratches and dents at the back. How sloppy was I!
“Where to now? Home?” asks Sam.
“Can you drive me to the clinic, please?”
I turn on my phone, surprised to see the battery is still almost fully charged. But what pops on my screen shocks me.
Levi has forwarded an image of me and Anton in front of the clinic, which I’m sure was taken from one of those gossip articles about me. He captioned it: Congratulations to the lucky couple. I promise I won’t be a third wheel. I love you, but I’ll go. I’ll go, Caro.
He believes the rumors?
He even calls me ‘Caro?’
I immediately call Levi, but it goes to his voicemail.
“Levi, it’s me. I’m seeing you tomorrow. Whatever it is that you’ve seen, it’s not true! I love you. You’re still my Love Bug.”
I lean forward, sucking in air that my lungs can’t seem to handle.
“You okay, Caro?”
“Take me home, please, Sam.”
* * *
The dayI’m supposed to be with Levi, being kidnapped again and fucked like hell, has come and gone.
I’m as sick as a dog, and there’s still no news from the man himself, despite the countless voicemails and text messages I’ve left. I even tried to reach the landline at the ranch, but the call couldn’t be connected.