Heart pounding, she rounded the desk, intent on leaving. He stepped in front of her, blocking the path between the desk and the door.

“We’ll be finished when I say we are,” he said.

He moved closer, trapping her against the desk. His face was so close that she could see the pores in his skin and smell the liquor on his breath.

“I’ve been wondering whose side you’re really on, mine or his,” he said. “Maybe it’s time you showed me.”

Resisting would give her away, Allison knew. She had to keep up this masquerade until she got safely out of the room. “This isn’t a good time, Garrett,” she said. “Not with your girlfriend out there at the front desk.”

“Monica?” He laughed, but he didn’t let her go. “She’s a lot of fun, but we’re not exclusive. Believe me, she won’t mind.”

His arms went around her, hands sliding under her blazer. When he kissed her, thrusting with his tongue, his mouth tasted of onions and whiskey. Allison remembered the phone, tucked into her inside pocket. What if his groping hands were to find it? She had to keep it safe until she could get free of him and get out of here.

From down the hall came the sound of approaching footsteps—a woman’s footsteps, probably Monica’s. She might get a shock if she opened the door, but right now that was just what Allison wanted—anything that would let her escape. Please, Monica. Please open that door . . .

The door opened. Allison heard a gasp as Garrett’s arms released her. She stumbled to one side, wiping her mouth. When she looked past Garrett, her heart dropped.

It wasn’t Monica who stood in the open doorway.

It was Brianna.

* * *

Stifling a cry, Brianna wheeled and bolted back down the hall, toward the front desk. From somewhere behind her, she could hear Allison’s voice. “Wait, Brianna! Let me explain!”

But Brianna didn’t want to hear her stepmother’s explanation. She didn’t want to look at Allison or hear her voice. All she wanted was to be somewhere else.

One hand fumbled for her car keys as she raced out the front of the building. As she unlocked her car and flung herself into the driver’s seat, she could see Allison coming outside, waving and shouting something. Ignoring her, Brianna gunned the engine and roared out of the parking lot.

Half blinded by tears, she drove randomly, scarcely aware of stop signs and traffic lights. Her cell phone had begun ringing and ringing. After glancing at the caller ID and seeing that it was Allison, she turned the phone off and kept driving.

Finally, reminding herself that another traffic violation could land her in jail or cause her to lose her license, she pulled onto a quiet side street and stopped at the curb.