by Megan Jacobs
I thought back to before this entire nightmare, to before that infernal envelope crossed my desk. I told myself that I was perfectly happy as an orphan, unaware of the family I had lost. My grandmother was more than enough for me.
I gently pulled myself out of my thoughts and looked around the room that had been my home for the past week and a half. My gaze landed on the desk next to the bathroom door, still covered with the books I had borrowed, and the evidence against De La Croix. I’d messed up spectacularly in court, two days in a row. I couldn’t help but feel that I was doing more harm than good to this case.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, swiped the screen, and scrolled through the contacts until I found the number I was looking for. I wiped my nose and cleared my throat, before dialing.
“You’ve reached Liam Carter.” The familiar timbre of his voice calmed me down before I could even think about it, and my shoulders relaxed. “Please leave a message after the beep.”
Beep.
“Hi, Liam, Alyssa here,” I said, as if I hadn’t been crying on and off for the hour since we’d parted ways. “I think it would probably be best if I excused myself from this case. As such, I highly recommend you find a new lawyer, may I suggest Mr Peabody? I will leave all my notes and evidence against De La Croix at the front desk of the hotel.”
I hung up and tapped the screen of my phone a few times. My finger hovered over the delete button beside his number for a few seconds before I took a deep breath, and my resolve hardened. Within milliseconds, his number was erased from my phone, and all evidence that Liam Carter had ever been in my life was gone.
My heart ached painfully, and the strength of it made me gasp, almost doubling me over for the second time that day. I slowly straightened up, and the pain disappeared as I erected metaphorical walls of steel topped with razor wire around my heart. I was never, ever letting anyone get closer than arm’s length to me, ever again.
I got to my feet, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror. Long gone was the woman of this morning, red eyed and miserable. Who I saw now was the same person I saw in New York. Proud, cutthroat and untouchable.
I walked over to the drawers next to the desk, and pulled out a few more items of clothing, packing them mechanically into my suitcase. Then I flipped the lid down and zipped it up. I’d overstayed my welcome at Clearwater Bay, it was time to go.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and unlocked my phone again.
“Afternoon Lyss!” Lizzie’s peppy voice blared tinnily over the phone’s speakers.
“What have I told you about calling me that?” I demanded, my voice near barking .
“Not to.” Her voice was sheepish, but I couldn’t find it in me to care that I’d potentially hurt her feelings.
“I’m getting in my car right now, and I’ll be back in New York before five.”
“But...” Lizzie sounded confused. I sighed. I really didn’t have the patience to deal with her indecision.
“I’m coming back, Elizabeth, and I expect my office to look even better than it did before I left.”
“Yes Miss Waterstone,” Lizzie’s voice was a submissive whisper.
It was no more Miss-Nice-Lawyer and it seemed the first one to find that out was Lizzie.
“Good. See you in two hours.” I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket, before taking my bag off the bed and popping the handle out of the back.
I clattered down the stairs, arrived at the concierge’s desk and handed over my room key. The man behind the counter shot me a confused look, as I’d paid for the entire week.
“Come... again soon?”
I just shot him a fake smile and walked away.
As I stalked towards the front door, a small sliver of guilt fought its way through. I’d walked past Mary’s room, and done nothing. I dithered for a few seconds, deciding whether to tell her I was leaving or not, before I settled on the former and walked out of the hotel. A clean break would probably be best, right?
I put on my sunglasses and turned on my car. Within a few minutes, Clearwater Bay was behind me.
Where it was going to stay.
Do you want to know what happens in the final instalment of “The Beach House?”
Click here for the conclusion in Book 5!
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About the Author
Megan Jacobs loves beachy romance reads and has now found time to write her own!
Her female lead characters are strong and independent. They’re not necessarily looking for love, but it seems to find them where they least expect.
When Megan isn’t writing, she enjoys walking on New Zealand’s beautiful beaches with her beloved schnauzer/poodle/bichon, Lachy, playing tennis, doing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
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