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“I…I started talking back and not taking his shit or manipulation, and he lost it the second time.” She holds me tight. “I haven’t been avoiding you. I turned my phone off the morning it happened after I canceled on Kat, and I haven’t beenable to find it. I would have asked Kat to get a hold of you, but she and Ryan aren’t speaking to me right now. I’m so sorry.” The words stream out in a shaky ramble.
“My love, you have nothing to fucking apologize for.” My Irish brogue is coming out stronger than usual. “I will end the bodach.” My words erupt in a snarl.
Hadley is still staring at me, taking me in like she did the first night we met. I realize something she said makes no sense.
“What do you mean, Kat and Ryan aren’t speaking to you?”
“Because I made an agreement with Andy,” she wheezes through new sobs.
My heart aches before she says the words, knowing what’s coming next.
“I told him that if he went to therapy and ended things with Naomi, I’d try to work things out.”
My heart shatters into pieces the moment she says the words.
“So, you’re ending us?” My question is barely a whisper.
I haven’t given my heart to anyone like this since I was in college. I vowed to never feel this pain again until Hadley.
“Baby, I’m so sorry. I don’t want to lose you. I know I have no right to ask, but if there is any way we can maintain a friendship...” The words are rushed together and she can’t even finish the thought.
She feels the same pain I do. Why is she doing this?
“Please don’t call me that if you can’t be with me,” I say flatly. “I will be here. If you need anything, I’ll be here. I will try a friendship, but my feelings for you go so much deeper than friendship. You know that.” I peer into her eyes, knowing the mask holding in my emotions is faltering. “If you don’t find your phone by tomorrow night, I’ll have one delivered. If he touches you again, I don’t care what time of day it is, you fucking call me. Don’t you dare allow this to continue, Hadley. I will never fucking forgive myself for walking out this door if somethinghappens to you. Do you understand me? If anything happens to you...” I swallow the sob trying to claw its way out of my chest. “I will never forgive myself, mo ghrá.”
I know I shouldn’t continue calling her that, but the term is as natural as breathing at this point. I press a kiss to her hair before I separate from her and walk out the door, leaving my heart broken at her feet.
I don’t remember walking to my car or driving back to the office. I only come to when I get to Andy fucking James’s floor. I see him hovering over Naomi’s desk, whispering, and nearly lose my mind. I don’t bother clearing the distance. I growl loudly across the open floor plan.
“Mr. James, my office, now!” My baritone cuts the chatter in the space to silence instantly.
I turn on my heels and stomp back to my office. I take the stairs, knowing that if I get stuck with him in the elevator, my fist will be through his face. When I get to my office, I see Jordan. The look on my face must say it all, because he turns a ghostly shade of white in an instant.
“Hold my calls. Do not interrupt this meeting for anything. Do you understand me?”
I don’t bother waiting for him to respond. I walk past his desk and into my office. I barely have a moment to try to calm myself before Andy walks in.
“Close the fucking door,” I snarl.
He does as I command without a word, and when he turns to face me, I see the tough exterior he’s trying to display. It does nothing but piss me off even more. I close the distance between us, pushing him against the wall. My hand grips his throat hard.
His eyes go wide. That’s good. At least I know he has the sense to be scared.
“I’ll give you one guess as to who I just had the pleasure of seeing.” I don’t give him any chance to respond, not that he could since he’s starting to turn red with the lack of oxygen. “I am telling you like I told her. If you ever fucking touch her again, you will not fucking walk this earth. Howdareyou beat your wife? She is perfect, and you had the balls to raise your hand to her not once, but twice. Hell, who knows if there’s been more since before you insisted on opening your marriage so you could fuck your employee?”
I release him and walk away. He’s gasping for breath.
“I never expected her to find someone else, let alone my boss. You fucking dick.” His voice is hoarse.
“You’re telling me because you felt the need to step outside of your marriage and forced her into saying yes to whatyouwanted, you still had the nerve to expect her to stay home and pine over you until you decided you were done with your extracurricular activities?” I spit the words, rage coursing through my body.
How can she choose this? Him? This can’t be right.
“She’s my wife, Connor.Mine.Not yours. She will never be yours.” A wide grin spreads across his face. “Never. Again.”
“I know all about your agreement. Don’t think I won’t tell her if I suspect you and Naomi are still fooling around. If you want to claim her, treat her like the fucking queen she is.” I glare at him. “Get the fuck out of my office, and don’t make me break her heart by not keeping your dick in your pants.”
Nothing else needs to be said. Andy opens my door and walks out, leaving me alone. Jordan walks in several moments later.
