Chapter 148 Bad dreams
Mia’s POV
“Ms. Williams? Are you alright?”
I turned to find our building’s doorman, Eduardo, watching me with concern.
“Yes,” I managed, forcing a smile. “Just a little tired.”
“Let me help you with the door,” he said, moving to hold it open.
“Thank you,” I said, stepping into the building’s lobby. “Eduardo, did you notice a blonde woman watching the building just now? Across the street?”
He frowned, peering outside. “No, ma’am, I didn’t see anyone suspicious. Would you like me to check?”
“No, that’s alright.” I didn’t want to alarm him unnecessarily. “Probably just my imagination.”
But it wasn’t my imagination, and we both knew it. Eduardo had been briefed on the security concerns regarding Taylor. His careful neutrality told me he was taking my question seriously.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” he promised, escorting me to the elevator. “And I’ll alert the security team about possible suspicious activity.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for his discretion.
The elevator ride to my floor was mercifully uneventful after the day’s earlier adventure. When I reached my apartment door, I could hear Gas’s excited whining from inside, his nails clicking against the hardwood as he paced in anticipation of my return.
“I’m home,” I called as I entered, bracing myself for his enthusiastic greeting.
Gas bounded toward me, whole body wiggling with joy, but he stopped short of jumping up, having learned that my pregnancy required more gentle greetings. He circled me instead, sniffing my legs and shoes as if reading the story of where I’d been.
“Mia?” My mother appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Thank goodness. I was about to call the hospital when you texted.” She paused, taking in my appearance. “Whose jacket is that?”
I glanced down, suddenly remembering I was still wearing Kyle’s suit jacket. “It’s Kyle’s,” I admitted, slipping it off. “He was at the hospital for a board meeting. We got stuck in the elevator together.”
Mom’s eyebrows rose. “Both of you? What are the chances?”
“Less coincidental than it sounds,” I sighed, sinking onto the sofa Gas immediately hopped up beside me, resting his head protectively on my thigh. “He admitted he’d scheduled his meeting to coincide with my appointment. He was… keeping tabs on me, I guess.”
Mom’s expression darkened. “That’s crossing a line.”
“That’s what I told him,” I agreed, running my fingers through Gas’s soft fur. “But then we spent over an hour trapped in a basement level with no way out and no phone signal, so we had plenty of time to discuss boundaries.”
“A whole hour?” Mom looked concerned, moving to sit beside me ‘Are you alright? What about the twins?”
“We’re all fine,” I assured her. “Just tired and sore from sitting on bags of concrete mix.”
“Concrete mix?” Mom repeated incredulously.
I laughed despite myself. “It’s a long story.”
“I have time,” she said.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I yelled at him, many times.”
Chapter 148 Bad dreams
Mom’s expression softened slightly. “Well, that’s something, at least.”
Thesitated. “I think I saw Taylor outside the building just now.”
Mom went completely still. “Taylor Matthews? Here?”
+25 BONUS
I nodded. “A blonde woman in sunglasses, watching from across the street. When she saw me notice her, she smiled and walked away.”
“Did you tell Eduardo?”
“Yes, he said he’ll alert security.”
Mom’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll call Robert immediately, she’s violating her bail conditions, we need to document it.” “I’m not completely sure it was her,” I admitted. “It could have been someone who looks similar…”
“Better safe than sorry,” Mom said firmly, already reaching for her phone. “And I’ll inform the security team as well.”
As she made her calls, I sat back against the cushions, suddenly overwhelmed by the day’s events. Gas nudged my hand gently, his brown eyes fixed on my face with canine concern. I scratched behind his ears, grateful for his steady, uncomplicated presence.
“Robert’s going to notify the DA’s office,” Mom reported, returning to the sofa. “And he’s sending someone to review the street camera footage. If it was Taylor, we’ll have proof.”
I nodded, too tired to feel much beyond a dull anxiety. The twins, sensing my distress perhaps, had gone unusually quiet.
“You should rest,” Mom said, noticing my exhaustion. “I’ll handle everything else.”
“I will,” I promised. “I just need to sit for a minute first.”
Mom studied my face, then nodded. “I’ll make you some tea. And maybe a sandwich? You must be hungry after being trapped for so long.”
The mention of food reminded me that I’d eaten nothing but Kyle’s protein bar and chocolate since breakfast. “A sandwich would be wonderful,” I admitted. “Thank you.”
As Mom busied herself in the kitchen, I pulled out my phone, hesitating before opening my messages. At the same time, my phone buzzed with an incoming message. Kyle:
Just checking that you got home safely.
I typed back:
Yes, thank you for asking.
I hesitated, then added:
I think I saw Taylor outside my building just now. Security is handling it.
His response was immediate:
She’s supposed to be under house arrest with an ankle monitor.
I replied:
Not 100% certain, but it looked like her. She smiled at me before walking away.
Three dots appeared as he typed his response:
I’m having my security team investigate immediately. I’ll also contact the DA’s office about possible bail violations. Stay inside and keep your door locked.
Chapter 148 Bad dreams
I should have found his commands irritating, but in this case, his overprotectiveness seemed warranted.
Thank you. Mom’s already called Robert as well.
His final message was simple:
Good. I’ll update you when I have information. Stay safe, Mia.
I set my phone aside as Mom returned with a tray bearing a sandwich, tea, and a small bowl of fruit.
+25 BONUS
“Eat,” she instructed, setting it on the coffee table before me. “Then straight to bed. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.
I didn’t argue, suddenly ravenous as the aroma of the sandwich–turkey and avocado on whole grain, exactly what I’d been craving–reached me.
As I ate, Mom filled me in on her day: progress on the case against my father, updates on the children’s center construction, and a call from Scarlett who was, unsurprisingly, planning an extravagant baby shower despite my repeated insistence that I didn’t
want one.
“She’s unstoppable,” Mom said with fond exasperation. “I think she’s already ordered custom decorations from France.”
After finishing my meal, I allowed Mom to usher me toward my bedroom, too tired to resist the allure of a nap. Gas followed dutifully, his protective instincts even more pronounced since my return from Paris.
“I’ll wake you for dinner,” Mom promised as I settled onto my bed. “Unless you want to sleep through? You need the rest.”
“Wake me,” I said, already feeling sleep tugging at the edges of my consciousness. “I need to maintain some semblance of a normal schedule.”
Mom nodded, drawing the curtains to dim the afternoon light before quietly leaving the room. Gas hopped onto the bed beside me, curling into his customary spot against my side.
The bed is very comfortable. But gradually, it becomes less comfortable. I dream of Taylor, her smile. I’m like in a whirlpool, sinking deeper and deeper.
Until I suddenly opened my eyes.
The twins stirred, as if sensing my unease. I placed my hand over the spot where they moved, whispering reassurances that were as much for me as for them.
“It’s alright,” I murmured. “We’re safe here.”
Gas sighed heavily, pressing closer as if to emphasize my words. Safe. We were safe.
