Borden (Borden #1) by R. J. Lewis Page B

worried. I couldn’t think of one person, though. I knew nobody in the building and they certainly made no effort in knowing me either in the last two years I lived here.
    This doesn’t make sense.
    Aside from that mystery, the rest of the day was uneventful. Out of my barren fridge, I forced three stuffed olives down my throat and made a nasty cheese sandwich that I could only finish half of. I had the shakes several times and I spent a lot of time glancing out my bedroom window, half-expecting one of Borden’s men to be standing there watching me. There never was, and I convinced myself I was getting overly paranoid.
    But when it came to Marcus fucking Borden, was there such a thing as paranoid?
    *
    In the evening, I received a worried call from Granny who I was meant to visit earlier that day. “So everything is alright then?” she asked. Her voice sounded nasally and she was sniffing repeatedly.
    “Yep, everything’s great,” I lied. “You sound awful though.”
    “Just a flu. I must have caught it at the doctor’s on Friday – how about that, huh? Haven’t been anywhere else. Next time please call me and let me know if you’re not on your way. I made a lot of food for you to take, you know. I thought you were going to be here.”
    “I’m sorry, Granny. I can come by tomorrow if you’d like. I finish work at six.”
    “Yes, anytime tomorrow is fine, Emma. I don’t want to waste the food. I made you sausage rolls and a chicken casserole you can divide and freeze up.”
    “I can’t wait to have it.”
    “Why do you sound so down? You’re usually upbeat, darling.”
    “I’ve just… had a rough day, you know.”
    “Well, you look after yourself. Don’t let anybody walk all over you. Especially a man. You’re your own person.”
    I blinked in surprise. Did she just assume I had an issue with a man? I guess she didn’t believe I’d been seriously single all these months, and it was pretty sad when your granny thinks you’re getting some and you’re really not.
    “I won’t,” I promised her. “Don’t worry about me. Tell me what else I’ll be eating.”
    She continued letting me know of all the foods she had made or was going to make me. She couldn’t stand the thought of me going hungry. She knew very well that my job wasn’t paying well enough to provide me with an entirely full stomach every day. Despite her having little money herself, she poured whatever she could into me. It was always appreciated, and I didn’t know what I would do without her. I knew tomorrow it was going to be an even longer day swinging by. It took over an hour catching two buses from work, but I missed her and felt guilty for having stood her up.
    After the phone call I had a long bath, trying to again suppress the memories of the previous day. I was also highly upset that Lara – the bitch – hadn’t bothered to phone me to see how I’d gotten home.
    “Last time I talk to you,” I mumbled under my breath, shaking my head angrily at the image of her smiling face.
    I received a few eager texts from my best friend, Blythe, while I got ready for bed.
    Blythe: Sorry I haven’t got back 2 u. I got laaaaaaaaid last night. The man was an Adonis. Had a six pack. Was pretty creepy, like mafia-type creepy, but OMG drought is over and it was worth it. How was ur night out?! Give me the gossip and pleeeeease tell me u got lucky 2 xx
    Me: Congrats on getting laid. =D At least fortune smiled on one of us last night!!!
    Blythe: You don’t sound like ur normal self. Are you alright?
    Me: Splendid.
    Blythe: ??
    Me: Lara flaked out on me. Used me as a way to get out of the house.
    Blythe: Bitch.
    Me: Definitely.
    Blythe: We should egg her fancy Ferrari.
    Me: It’s a Lamborghini actually.
    Blythe: Super bitch.
    Me: Tell me about it.
    Blythe: Well I would never use you, babe. If I see her face, I’ll stick a fork in her eye for you okay?
    Me: Sweet. Make sure it’s both eyes tho just in case she’s a resilient little