“Thank you,” I whisper, though I know he won’t hear.

Because the fear that just washed over me and the memory of my dream left me without a voice, and I need those five minutes of him being away from me to talk myself out of the panic attack that is about to overtake me.

I know the tools, and it sucks that I need to use them again, but I’m just so grateful for the hard work I have done years prior to now, because it will get me through this.

By the time Forrest is walking back toward me, I wouldn’t say I’m my usual self, but at least he isn’t seeing me at my worst.

I’ll never let that happen.

Nobody gets to see me weak.

FORREST

“I don’t give a shit what Sandon says, you get me in that meeting with this Ashton guy.” I’m leaning with my clenched fists on Remington’s desk, waiting for him to acknowledge my concerns.

“Calm the fuck down and take a seat.” He is looking at me like he wants to kick me out of his office, but he knows there’s no point because I’m not letting this go. “I don’t know much yet, and I doubt Sandon does either. Ashton will be in touch once he arrives in the country and then a meeting will be set.” He points his finger at me to sit down like he told me to.

“Why didn’t Sandon sort that out when he spoke to him? Why are we wasting time? Some lunatic is out there stalking Harper, and we are here sitting on our freaking hands doing nothing while we wait. Are we forgetting how useless the Kentwall team was when we had the sex tape problem with Flynn and Felisha? They are incompetent.”

“Wow, you really are worked up, aren’t you. I think you need to cut Sandon some slack here. His hands were tied, and he was being deliberately contained, not able to do his job properly. Ewan made sure that no one was really looking after Felisha, and it was just lucky that she had Flynn, which meant she also had us and we were watching her back.” He sighs and takes a breath, and this time, he just rolls his eyes at me, as I’m still standing in front of his desk and couldn’t sit still in a chair even if I tried.