Tobias focuses on the security guards. “If something like this happens again, you don’t call her, you call me. Got it?”
“It’s not their fault.” I hook my arms around his back, holding on tighter. “They didn’t know.”
I don’t want him to be mad at the security guards. They didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not like I’ve gone around announcing that I left my abusive, millionaire ex-fiancé at the altar and it probably really pissed him off.
Obviouslyreally pissed him off.
I knew he would do something. That there was no way Matt would just let me go. I didn’t know what it would be, but I definitely didn’t anticipate a lawsuit.
“Can he even do this?” Tobias is back to reading the papers, knuckles turning white from how hard he’s gripping them even though the hand running up and down my back is gentle. “Where’s Trevor? I need him to call our attorney.”
“I’m so sorry.” I try to step out of Tobias’s embrace. “I didn’t mean to make a scene like this.”
Tobias’s hand comes to cradle my face as he leans down, bringing us eye-to-eye. “Don’t apologize for this. There’s only one person who needs to apologize for this, and he better hope like hell we are never in the same room.”
“What the hell is going on?” Trevor cuts across the lobby, arms out as he takes in the scene. “Is she okay?”
I’m going to have to remember to tell Maren Trevor’s first concern was my well-being. Maybe it will soften her stance toward him a little.
Probably not, but it’s worth a try.
Tobias thrusts the papers at his brother. “Look at this shit.”
Trevor takes the now wrinkled documents, brows pinchingtighter and tighter together as he reads. “Who the fuck is this Matt guy?” He lifts his eyes to Tobias. “Is that the same guy Mom had a wine thing with?”
I knew eventually everyone would find out what happened, I just hoped it would be information passed quietly from one person to the next. Instead, thanks to court documents, it’s being announced in the middle of my workplace.
Tobias’s hold on me tightens as he begins to move. “Let’s talk about this somewhere else.”
I try to move with him, but my heel catches on the base of one of the guard’s chairs and I stumble, yelping, as this day goes from bad to worse.
But, like he always does, Tobias catches me before I hit rock bottom, easily scooping me up and tucking me to his chest before striding in the direction of my office.
“Goddammit, Toby.” Trevor doesn’t immediately follow us. Instead he stretches both arms wide, the papers he’s holding flapping around at the movement. “I just got them to forget when Titus did this shit.”
I drop my head to Tobias’s shoulder, closing my eyes as he carries me through the building. It’s funny how I was once worried what everyone would think if they found out there was something going on between us. Right now, I don’t give a single solitary shit.
They can think what they want. I’m too tired to care.
I didn’t even know the exhaustion was there, waiting in the wings to claim me. It lurked, nearly unseen, until the circumstances were just right to take me out again.
The reminder of just how strong of a hold Matt still has on me is crushing. Seeing the way he can still flip my whole life upside down makes me wonder if it will ever stop.
If I will ever be the owner of myself again.
Tobias goes straight into my office, but instead of setting me in my chair, he drops into it himself, keeping me tucked against him.
Trevor stomps in after us. “I’m gonna kick your ass for that.” He shuts the door a little harder than necessary. “How in the hell am I supposed to have any sort of authority here when everyone looks at me like I’m one wrong decision away from sweeping a woman off her feet?”
“You’ll have to excuse me for not giving a flying fuck about you right now.” Tobias’s eyes come to my face, looking me over. His voice is soft when he asks me, “You okay?”
“I hate him.” It’s the same words Maren used earlier, but the meaning behind them is entirely different. I don’t just dislike Matt. He doesn’t simply annoy me.
Ihatehim.
I hate him for what he did to me. I hate him for what he’s trying to continue doing to me. I hate him for the way he’s ruined any chance I might have had of forming some semblance of a relationship with my parents. I hate him for the way he made me use Deidre.
And I hate him for tainting my future with Tobias.
