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Pain is a dull knife behind my ribs as I turn to him. “I don’t know. But I deserve more than someone who doesn’t love me enough to trust me. Goodbye, Jonah.”
I turn on my heel and walk out. When I get into the elevator, I finally let the tears come.
55
Jonah
“Is there any chance this wasn’t her?” I round on Sean, my head of security. “Any at all?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “There’s no other—”
“Check your email,” Miles interjects. “Here.” He passes me his phone.
My stomach plummets.
There, in black and white is an email from Dylan. I see only the first few words, indicating the leaked photos were just a taste of what he’ll do to me and Callie.
I drop the phone and run for the door, pushing it open so hard it slams against the wall. I have to talk to her. “Callie,” I yell. I reach the elevators. She’s gone. I mash the button and pace nervously for the whole awful ride to the bottom. Then I’m sprinting through the lobby, scanning for her, my heart pounding. I see a flash of dark hair, but it’s someone else. Fuck. People are staring, but I don’t care. I need to explain. I need to explain. I love her. I ruined her. Oh fuck. I slam through the double doors onto 57th Street. Where is she? I don’t see her. Fuck. My shoulders slump. I try calling her, but it goes straight to voicemail. She probably has me blocked. I text her anyway.
Jonah
Come back
Please
I can explain
Please, Callie
Nothing. Fuck.
I ride up to my office, ill and shaky, like I just boxed ten rounds with a stronger opponent. She thinks I hate her. She thinks I don’t trust her. I took away everything she loves, and she did nothing to hurt me.
You asshole.
Shame makes my stomach turn.
Miles comes storming into my office.
“What the hell happened in there? Fraternization? Really?” He’s angry and I have to agree with him. “What the fuck? This was Dylan? You told her about Annalise?”
“I fucked up.” I slump onto the couch and then stand so I can pace. Adrenaline is still coursing through me from my desperate bid to find Callie.
“I ruined her, Miles. I destroyed her paper. She loved it. After I called you Saturday, I took it all away. The printing contract, the website, her LLC, the press pass. Everything.” My shoulders slump. “When she came here today, she thought this was about the fight we had.” My stomach roils. “Friday night. She asked me if I could live with her working as a reporter, and I said no. I told her about Annalise and I implied—fuck. I implied they were the same.” I basically flat out said it. “And then the photos. I was wrong.”
Miles’s face is hard. “You fucked up,” he says flatly.
“I know.” I shut my eyes and let the guilt wash over me. “I love her.”
“Well, she certainly hates you. That’s a guarantee. You just publicly fired her and accused her of sleeping with someone. Wait, you didn’t mean you, did you?”
I nod and open my eyes to see my best friend staring at me in shock, and no small amount of disappointment. “That’s fucked, Jonah.” He shakes his head. “You loved her and you destroyed her.”
“I know, okay? I know. I can worry about that later. I just have to get her back.”
“Oh no,” Miles says. “There’s no getting her back after this.”
My heart clenches. “I have to. I need her.”
