Page 142 of Temporary Vows

“I told you I’d be back next Saturday.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ll seemenow does it. I’m sure something will come up, like it always does. Then you’ll find some excuse to blow me off. You also don’t seem to know what a phone is. So no, it couldn’t wait.”

I half expect smoke to come out of her ears.

Since I can’t exactly argue, I don’t try. That whole scenario is what I’ve shown her so far.

I sigh. Now that we’ve covered what she wanted, I hope she’ll tell me what’s really going on. “Did something happen while I was away?”

She stiffens. “Something like what?”

“You seem extra tense today.”

“Like I said the other day, you don’t know me. So if I seem extra tense to you that’s not your fault. You just don’t know me.”

She’s wrong. I do know her. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t know she’s upset.

“Elodie—”

“We’re done here,” she cuts me off, already moving toward the door.

I’m about to say something more, but the door opens before she reaches. It’s Elena again.

“Sorry to be pain. Miss Susan is on the line. She just wants to know if she’ll be seeing you at the restaurant or the suite next week.”

Fuck. Her timing couldn’t have been worse.

Two pairs of eyes stare back at me. My very eager secretary, and my wife. Both of them waiting for my answer.

Elena just wants to schedule the damn appointment, and Elodie wants to know is Susan is some woman I have on the side.

I should just clear this up. It would be so fucking easy.

I just signed off a deal that’s likely to bring in billions within the next year, but I can’t do this.

“The suite,” I hear myself say. Never in my life have I felt more like a fucking coward.

“Thanks,” Elena chirps and she’s gone again.

I meet the stony eyes of my wife. The emptiness is still there but… there’s a trace of something in the corners of her eyes that tells me she’s still hanging on, and begging me to say something. Something that tells her she means something to me.

And that’s just the thing. She does, but the moment I tell her that, this stops being a business arrangement.

Elodie blinks and the spark goes out, as if it was never there.

Silently she lifts her head and walks out.

Leaving me.

I don’t stop her.

And I know I’ve taken this too far.

* * *

Locke won't shut up about some girl in Chicago.

He's been going on about her since we boarded the jet. That’s a good half an hour. All I’ve heard is how smooth her legs are, how soft her laughter is, and how much she likes seafood.