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We’re five days into our split, and I’m ready to lose my mind. My bed feels cold and empty without her by my side, and as the days pass, I find it even harder to concentrate. She said she wanted space, never said I couldn’t contact her. A phone call might go unanswered, considering how we left things, and Harley doesn’t care much for text messages. She usually reads them and responds whenever she feels like it.
Opening the QTK Messenger app, I hover my mouse over her name. Hmmm… maybe I should write her an email instead. Even when she hated me, she always responded to my emails with a snarky comment or two.
Dear Wife,
I’m sorry. I miss you.
Love,
Nate
Satisfied with the short and sweet message, I hit send. She doesn’t have to reply, but I want her to know that I’m thinking about her. That I spend every waking moment dreaming of her. Every line of code I’ve written this week has been for her. For us. For our future.
Two days later…
Dear Wife,
I know I screwed up.
But I need you, Harley.
I need my Queen.
Love always,
Nate
Over the next week, I count the seconds, minutes, and hours as they pass. Harley still hasn’t answered my emails. So, I have no choice but to resort to stalking her on our servers. Twice an hour, I check to see if she’s online and what she’s working on, desperate to feel close to her again. What else can I do?
Two nights ago, I got drunker than usual and broke down and dialed her number. Of course, I was greeted with miserable silence. Not even a text message to tell me to fuck off.
Nothing.
But.
Silence.
In my defense, I have cut down on the drinking. Harley made it perfectly clear while we were living together that I consume too much alcohol during and after working hours. I had planned to stay sober because I need a clear head to write code. It was one weak moment of stupidity. I was stuck on an action sequence, frustrated and tired after coding for seventeen hours straight, and needed to let off some steam.
One week later…
Dear Wife,
Can I still call you that? I’m dying over here without you, Harley. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I need you. I will do anything to get you back. Please, don’t shut me out. Don’t give up on us. I love you more than anything, and I will do anything to make this up to you.
Love,
Nate
Days pass without a single word from Harley, and I’m growing more restless. When a new email dings on my computer, I minimize Python, sick of working on my game, and open the new message. It’s from Danika Kane.
Hey Little King,
I have some news about AD.
Call me. Now.
-DK
It takes me a second to decipher the meaning of AD, and then it hits me—Alexa Daniels. Without a second thought, I remove my cell phone from my pocket and call Danika.
“That was fast,” she says after the second ring.
“What did you find out about Alexa?”
“She was working with Carl Voss,” she says, and my eyes widen in shock. “Apparently, Mr. Family Values isn’t as wholesome as he made us believe. Alexa is Carl’s mistress. Can you believe that shit? He wanted to devalue the Queen Takes King stock so he could buy a larger number of shares than what your dad was willing to sell to him.”
“That bastard,” I spit back, disgusted that Alexa and Carl used me to destroy my family’s legacy. “So, why did Alexa wait so long to tell the truth? Carl had the stock regardless. We needed his money to launch Ashborn and Master of Shadows.”
“He wanted a seat on the Queen Takes King board so he could influence the rest of the members and eventually have your father removed as CEO.”
“What the fuck?” I shake my head, disgusted by the news. “That asshole set me up to destroy my dad. I can’t—”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Little King. Your dad is still CEO. Whatever Carl was planning has now been exposed. Your father is calling an emergency board meeting to have Carl removed for his behavior.”
“I lost Harley over this shit,” I shout, not meaning to take out my anger on Danika.
“You got her back because of it,” she reminds me. “Without the scandal, Harley wouldn’t have stepped foot in HQ, and you know it. Not unless her dad had a damn good reason to summon her to Philly.”
“What’s our next move?”
“You should receive an email soon with the time for the emergency board meeting. Alexa’s relationship was just exposed to every news outlet, thanks to your friend Callie Bloom. I like that girl. She has fire in her veins and ice in her heart. Check The Gossip Queen website and see for yourself. You and Harley are lucky to have Callie on your side.”
