Page 89 of The Mastermind
“Okay. Let me pack up some soup for you to take home.”
“I’ll take the broom, Mrs. Wu.” I turned to Audri. “You sit. I’ll clean up.” I didn’t comment on the bogus conference call.
On our drive back to my suite, I held her hand as tears streamed down her cheeks. My body stiffened as I tried to soothe her. I wanted to destroy whatever made her cry.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I kept a calm voice, but my desperation rose.
“Not yet. I need to think first.”
I gave her the space she needed and offered the box of tissues from the glove compartment.
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
AUDRI
Inside Remi’s car,my panic surged in me, and my body trembled as though a motor was inside me. I couldn’t stop the chill and heat battling in my chest. The muscles tightened around my chest, shoulders, and arms. I fought for breath as my throat constricted. Emotions became like a tornado, wreaking havoc in my stomach, churning and churning.
I closed my eyes as nausea swirled. I tried to clamp everything down and grasped onto something stable, something calm. I squeezed Remi’s hand so tight, I was probably cutting his blood circulation.
Everything came flooding back to me all at once. I remembered the missing piece from the fire. The memory scorched all my restraints, a blaze that illuminated what I had shoved into the dark crevice of my mind all these years.
I had to stay calm. I had to think things through, but I couldn’t seem to reach that balance, no matter how much I tried.
“Breathe, Audri. I’m right here.” Remi’s trusting voice brought me the calm I needed.
Opening my eyes, I inhaled and exhaled, and my body tremors subsided. As soon as we entered the suite, the barriers that kept my heart, mind, and body intact broke apart.
I rushed into the bathroom and hurled the dinner into the toilet. With each release, everything came out, along with tears and fear. Remi crouched beside me, holding my hair. When I had expunged all the crap, he offered me a warm towel to wipe my mouth.
“Thank you. Sorry about the mess.” Embarrassed, I slouched against the wall, feeling as if life had drained out of me, and probably looking like a zombie with my smudged mascara.
“Don’t be.” He folded himself beside me, pulling me into him and warming me with his body heat. Concern sparked in his eyes. “You want to rest on the couch?”
“I need to wash this nasty taste out of my mouth first. It’s so gross.”
He assisted me up, prepping my toothbrush, and eagle-eyed me as though I might collapse onto the floor again. The watchful supervision was unexpected, but I needed it right now. His presence anchored me and allowed me to wash up without crying. The last time I cried this much was when my dad and cat died. It seemed symbolic that the second time was because I remembered what had happened that day, coming full circle.
Remi carried me to the living room and placed me on the couch. “Want anything to drink? Tea?”
“Tea would be great. Thanks.”
“Chamomile tea with oat milk?”
He knew me so well. “Yes, please.”
While Remi prepared the tea, I curled my legs up, wondering how to explain to him what had just occurred. Even I couldn’t believe the way my body had reacted. The shocking revelation had steamrolled through me, taking control of my body, and I couldn’t fight it. Was my memory accurate? It sure felt like it. Perhaps the hypnosis session had opened a window into my psyche, allowing the truth to come through.
All it took was one similar moment to trigger it.
Remi brought over two white mugs and offered one to me.
“Thank you.” Blowing the hot tea, I watched the steam slither up and around me. I sipped and felt the warmth travel down my throat, warming my belly.
Remi placed his mug on the coaster on the coffee table and settled down next to me. He looked at me with admirable control. Worry swam in his eyes, but I also saw the self-mastery of his emotions, which was probably how he ran his empire successfully. He didn’t allow a minor feat to disrupt him, and here I was, a big mess spread out before him.
“What happened at your mom’s?” A muscle ticked in his jaw.
I wrapped my fingers around the hot mug, inhaled, and sighed. “I remember, Remi . . . that silhouette . . . I know who was at the window.” My hands trembled again, so I placed the mug on the table before I spilled or dropped it.