Jessica’s shoulders rise up to her diamond drop earrings but she doesn’t say anything. Instead she just turns around and leaves her office, closing the door quietly behind her.

“She’s very . . . tolerant,” I venture, because at this point not saying something feels conspicuous.

“I usually don’t talk to her like that in front of company. I only make an exception to that rule when we’re in the presence of people I trust or people who don’t have the credibility or influence to sway the opinion of anyone who matters. You fit into both categories,” he says irritably. “Go after him.”

“Excuse me?”

“Go after Lander now and find out what the hell he’s up to.”

“But he said he has a dentist appointment.”

“Are you stupid?”

I look at him blankly, pretending not to understand.

“He doesn’t have a goddamned dentist appointment! What he has is an agenda. Go find out what it is. Now, Bell, or that sex tape will be the least of your concerns.”

I really wish he’d stop bringing up that tape. If he does end up posting it on the internet it won’t be the worst thing in the world, but oddly enough, knowing that millions of strangers could see it is less disquieting than knowing that Travis already has.

I also think that confronting Lander can wait. I want to find a way to get Travis to talk about Javier and maybe even about Micah. But if Travis doesn’t think I’m completely under his thumb he won’t share anything with me. So reluctantly I grab my purse and nod my consent. “I’ll let you know what I’m able to get out of him,” I say.

As I pass a sulking Jessica in the hall, I realize that I can at least be grateful that my private exchange with Travis was far too brief for Jessica to assume that we did anything other than talk . . . unless of course Travis has issues that I don’t know about.

chapter thirty

When I get to the street I’m not exactly sure where to turn. This latest series of events has me rattled and dazed. Lander has sort of kept and broken his promise to me at the same time. And Travis has apparently fed his inner asshole Miracle-Gro to the point that his dickishness can barely be contained. While Jessica . . . Well, Jessica’s the same pathetic mess she always is, so at least there’s that.

I wander down the sidewalk, halfheartedly fishing for my phone inside my purse so I can call Lander and find out where he really is.

But when I turn the corner he’s there, waiting for me with a smirk.

“What was that about?” I ask as I approach, more curious than cross.

“It’s simpler this way,” he says.

“Simpler for who?”