"Don't play dumb with me, Waters. You know exactly what I'm talking about!" She took a step closer. His secretary hovered in the doorway, uncertain.
"Adriel," the woman said. "My best friend. How could you hurt him like that?"
Landen's heart stopped.
"He is the kindest, most beautiful, most loving person. Why would you do this? Why would you hurt him? He trusted you!"
The words hit him like blows. He couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Could only stand there, frozen, while this stranger accused himof things he didn't understand. His secretary was still there. Watching, her mouth hanging open.
"Leave us," Landen managed. His voice came out rough, barely there.
She nodded, eyes wide, and pulled the door closed behind her.
The silence that followed was thick. The woman stood in front of his desk, chest heaving, still glaring at him. Landen stepped around the desk, moving toward her, the questions finally finding their way to his mouth.
"Where is he?" he asked. "Have you seen him? He's not answering his phone. Is he okay?"
The woman frowned. Confusion flickered across her face, cutting through the anger.
"Why?" she asked. "Why do you care? Need to report to your buddy Zach that your little plan is going swimmingly? Huh? Want to laugh some more?"
Landen stopped in his tracks.
Zach?
He frowned, staring at her, trying to understand.
What the fuck was she talking about?
"Zach?" he repeated. "What? Who the fuck is Zach?" He stared at her like she'd lost her mind. Maybe she had. Maybe they both had. Nothing was making sense.
The woman frowned harder. For the first time, she seemed to really look at him; not the enemy she'd built up in her head, but the actual man standing in front of her.
Landen knew what she must be seeing. His clothes were rumpled. His hair was in disarray instead of its usual neat style. His eyes were bloodshot, the purple bruising beneath them dark and stark against his skin. He'd barely slept two hours the entire weekend, and he was sure that he looked exactly as he felt.
Like shit.
"Stop playing games," she said, but the fire in her voice had dimmed. She sounded doubtful now. Uncertain. "You know who Zach is. He's your buddy, the one you conspired with to make fun of Adriel. Because the first time wasn't enough for you two, was it?"
Landen shook his head slowly. His mind was working now, scrambling to piece together what she was saying.
The man.
The one he'd been speaking with at the launch. The partner of the author, the one who'd been promoting the book all night. They'd talked for maybe ten minutes, fifteen at most. Just polite conversation, the kind you made at these events. The author had introduced them, had said…
This is Zach, my boyfriend. He's been dying to meet you.
Zach. His name wasZach.
"Zach Martin," Landen said. "Right? That's who you're talking about?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. Your buddy, Zach. Adriel's piece of shit ex."
Adriel's piece of shit ex.
Fuck.
Landen lowered himself into a chair. His legs wouldn't hold him anymore. He sat there, staring at nothing, while the pieces rearranged themselves into a picture he couldn't bear to look at.
