Maggie-

After I'm completely sure that the parking lot is clear of Julie, I make my way back into the house, running as quickly as possible in order to avoid the sting of cold.  The second I'm through the door I slam it and press my back against the oak door.  I close my eyes and allow the warm air to thaw my cheeks and nose. 

I was so close to leaving this city and heading straight to meet my father, but Jack's right.  I'm a mess right now, and this isn't how I want him to see me for the first time.  Also, I'd really love Jackson's support when I do meet him.  Three days until he's back and we'll leave together. I just feel like I've been waiting so long I can't stand waiting another minute.

Jack was right about one thing,  I'm an absolute mess today.  My hair sits in a rats nest on top of my head and my eyeliner from the night before is streaking across my cheeks.  I desperately need a shower, physically and mentally.

I force myself away from the only exit and head down the long hall towards the bathroom.  After turning the water on and I let both the room and my lungs fill with steam.  I let down my hair and try my best to run my fingers through it but it's much too tangled to tame without conditioner. 

Thousands of drops of hot liquid drench my hair and trail down my body.  I close my eyes and dip my head back further, soaking my hair.  My mind begins to calm and the tension in my shoulders relax. 

Three days.

Three days until Jack comes home.  Three days until I can see my father. It's only three days, I can wait. 

My eyes open and I concentrate on the water circling the drain.  Besides, I'm supposed to be working for the next few days and I've fallen pretty far behind since I missed the entire Christmas week. 

Christian has been so lenient with me and Jack considering how much time off I've taken.  It's time for me to get serious about Redwolf and stop slacking.  Jack being out of town and unable to distract me is the perfect opportunity for me to prove my worth.

I exit the shower determined with a new sense of eagerness coursing through me.  It's almost noon by the time I manage to get a comb through my hair, throw some clothes on and lock the door behind me. 

WHEN I ARRIVE, I head straight up to my office and try not to let the towering pile of manuscripts on my desk alarm me.  It's either romance or horror and since it's still daylight I decide to get as many of the horror manuscripts done as possible, afterward I'll switch to romance.

Right before I start I receive a text from Jack letting me know his flight arrived safely and he's on his way to his first meet and greet. I know his schedule is jam-packed but I didn't realize he would be heading straight from the plane to work.  I hope he packed more than a few black t-shirts and actually packed something professional.  I seriously doubt it though.

He asked me to come with, but I told him I shouldn't be missing work.  While that's definitely true, it's not the main reason I declined his offer.  I didn't want to distract him from his own work, I need to give him the chance to actually enjoy this experience and not be worrying over me.

I finished the first novel, forcing my way through the knock off version of It and I'm already halfway through the second.  My eyes are starting to strain and the words are blurring together until I realize I'm reading only by the dim light in my office.  I check the clock and realize it's nine in at night and my stomach is going crazy.  You know it's a good book when time starts flying by.

My stomach growls and I hear the snack machine in the break room beckon me. 

On my way down to the first floor, I realize the office is completely empty.  It's dark except for a few emergency lights and briefly, the thought crosses my mind I could be locked in until I see the light seeping through the break room door.  There must be someone here. Panicking, I pick up the pace and dart through the break room door, shoving it open with more force than I intended.

Nick jumps from his chair and the coffee that he was about to sip flies through the air staining the marble floor. 

"Jesus Maggie, don't barge in like that. You scared the shit out of me." He announces with a hand over his heart. 

I let out a half-laugh, half relieved sigh. "I got distracted while reading and looked up to find the entire building empty.  I thought I might be locked in."

Nick laughs a melodious laugh and runs his fingers through his blonde hair, completely relaxed now.

"Well, we might be locked in I haven't checked.  But at least we've got good company." He says with a wink and I roll my eyes in response.

"You're quite the comedian Nick." And I'm nothing if not the Queen of sarcasm.

"I'm serious Mags, they've locked me in here more times than I can count.  Luckily the maid comes in the early mornings so she'll let us out." He shrugs carelessly.

"What are you reading tonight?" He asks.

"A few horror manuscripts, I've got a lot of work to catch up on." I sigh.

"Need some help? That happens to be my favorite genre."

"But you're in accounting?" I don't know why I assume he's not the type to enjoy reading, but I do.

"So by your logic, the fact that I'm good with numbers means I can't possibly appreciate a good book?" He smirks.

I let out a laugh realizing how ridiculous that sounds. 

"Alright, you can help." I could really use the help and I don't have the time to be finicky if I want to impress Christian.

"Are we pulling an all-nighter?" He asks.

"Well, we're locked in until morning anyway, are you up for it?"  I hope he doesn't think I'm taking advantage.

"Yep, I got just the thing for it." Nick says as he whips out a bottle of bubbly from the office wine fridge.

"Drinking on the job?" I gasp, but I can't help smiling at my newest friend.

"That's the only way to pull an all-nighter.  Have you eaten?" Nick asks.

I glance at Nick's dinner and I can't hide the disgusted look that covers my face.  It's a frozen dinner that looks like Mashed potatoes with some kind of mystery meat.  It looks like a prison meal.

Gross.

Despite the revolting meal in front of me my stomach growls in response. 

"I'm starving, but I don't know if I'm that desperate." I cringe.

He ignores my subtle no and throws one in the microwave for me.

"Sit down, I'm cooking." He teases and popping sounds start coming from the microwave.

Nick tosses the plate in front of me and despite the mush before me, the smell isn't half bad, it's almost mouth-watering.  Maybe I am that hungry. I glance at Nick and notice he's already downing the rest of his meal so I decide to try mine, it's not like it's poison.

It's not as bad as it looks, the mystery meat is meatloaf and the gravy is actually delicious.

"I retract my original judgment, I'm sure prison food is actually much worse.  This is good." I mumble in between bites.

Nick laughs and continues laughing for a few minutes straight, mocking me for being afraid of microwavable meals.

After we finish our dinner, Nick grabs two wine glasses, the bottle of bubbly and we head up to my office to grab the manuscripts. Before I can sit down he grabs the entire stack and turns for the door.  

"Come on, we're going to the roof."

"What?  Are we allowed up there?  Do you think I need a sweater?" I blurt out at once, unable to hide my alarm.

"Yes you'll need a sweater and I go where I want.  Come on let's go." He says as he walks away.  I quickly grab my sweater off the back of my chair and rush to catch up.

Once we're on the roof I follow Nick to a spot next to what looks like an AC unit and a few camping fold-out chairs.

"You've been up here before?" I assess as I study his set up. 

"I do a lot of work here, but I hate being cooped up in the office.  So I've set up a little chill area here." He says with a smile and a sense of pride.

I look over the edge and briefly feel sick to my stomach as I picture myself jumping off.  I don't know why my mind always goes there.  It's a strange phobia I've always had, not necessarily of heights, but of myself jumping.  I can't say I've ever been a thrill-seeker but my mind keeps reminding me every time I'm looking over a cliff that there's a possibility I could jump.  I take a few steps back and lower myself into Nick's chair without clueing him in on my fear. 

Nick pours us both a glass of wine and we mull over which titles we'll be reading.  Nick picks 'Knock Knock' after making a quick joke of who's there and I chose to start a whole new book rather than finishing the book I was reading earlier.

We initially read quietly to ourselves but after the first few chapters, we start talking about what's happening in our books. Nick is four chapters in and they still haven't figured out who is pranking the characters in the book. 

It figures that I picked a horror story that is actually chilling.   'Silence' sent in from a Wattpad author @ur_favouritexx.  The main character is being stalked and I feel like hiding under my desk however that's currently impossible since I'm out in the open on a roof.

After a few glasses of wine Nick and I have somehow ended up out of our chairs and lying on the roof staring up at the stars giggling like schoolgirls.

"So Maggie, you know how we committed grand theft auto a couple weeks ago?" Nick slurs.

"Grand theft auto?  I think you mean breaking and entering." I slur back.

"That's what I said.  Why did we do that?" He asks through a laugh.

I debate on my answer but the alcohol gets the better of me and I end up slurring my words. "My mom killed my dad but now he's alive and my mom had proof."  Well, that came out differently than I had planned in my head.

Nick suddenly props himself up on his elbow and his face drops in all seriousness. "What?"

"I mean, I thought my father died." I try to think through my words but nothing is making sense in my head. Did this really happen? "But he didn't because my mom lied.  I found his letters and his address."

I would prop myself up as well but I'm too dizzy.

"Have you gone to see him?" Nick asks his words laced with shock and concern.

"Nope." I state simply.

"What the hell, why not?" Nick prods and my mind struggles to find a reason.

"Jackson." Is all I come up with.  I know there's more to it than that but I can't for the life of me come up with the right words.

"I see." He states simply and his disappointed eyes linger on my phone which begins to flash Jackson's name.