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Her voice is unlike any I’ve heard before. “You were going to fuck me over, so why not beat you to the punch?”

My entire being deflates. I’m surprised I’m still upright. I need to get away from her. She didn’t trust me when I trusted her. Fuck, this is painful. Someday, I’ll probably rage and attempt to ruin her life like a cartoon villain, but for now, I need to nurse my own gaping wounds.

I push past her and she tugs at my elbow. I look down at her. “It was strange to watch you become someone else. I didn’t like it and I’m glad I don’t have to see it again. I don’t know you at all. Good luck with your job, Bette.”

“You have to resign, you know.”

Maybe I can hurt her a little bit. Dripping with all the sarcasm I can muster, I say, “Oh, I’m resigned. I’m resigned to the fact that I wasted a decade pining for a woman who never existed. And the fucked-up part is, I’m going to miss missing her. I’m going to mourn Lizzie because she was only ever a fantasy. Because Bette never deserved fucking anything.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Her back is up.

I take another look at her as I fracture inside. I wish she weren’t so damn beautiful. Her soft light skin playing off her hair. Those stunning delicate bright-green eyes, capable of a cruelty I didn’t think possible.

“Bye.”

“That’s it?” she says.

“Yup. That’s it. I’m sure you want another fight, but you won’t get one from me. You won. Not fair and square, but you won. I have to go.”

She moves behind her desk and sits down. “I’ll see you later. We have dinner, don’t we? I need to figure out all the shit that just happened, aside from me winning. But we can talk. I need to talk.” She’s wringing her hands and I know she’s trying to stop herself from having some kind of emotion but I don’t fucking care.

Rage surfaces to salvage the last shreds of my dignity. “Talk? You think I’m ever fucking speaking to you again? Your delusion knows no bounds and neither does your fucking ambition. Which one of you was the act? Lizzie or Bette? My money’s on the witch in front of me, being the real you.”

“Come on. I only did what you were about to.” She thought I was going to betray her. Why the hell would she think that? “I just got to it first.”

Oh God. I have to get away, but not without sending her running to her therapist.

“You’ve lost touch with not only reality, but humanity. Why don’t you fuck off and take some time to examine who you want to be?”

“Why don’t you?”

“Oh, I’m fine. I know who I am and I’m completely at peace. In fact, by leaving here I will have no problems sleeping tonight. You, on the other hand—enjoy your hollow victory.”

I walk away as she yells after me. She’s still yammering on when I get to the stairwell and don’t look back. There’s nothing left here for me. She ruined all the things. Us. My work. And my dumbass faith in fate.

BETTE

I’m in our hotel suite and there’s a bottle of champagne from work and some flowers from my mom. I pop the cork and drink from the bottle. I scream, “Woo!” And there’s no answer.

“Hayden, I’m home!”

I need to know why he’s so angry when I was only trying to take care of myself. I hope he’s cooled off. He said some nasty things to me but I was making sure I didn’t get screwed over. He doesn’t get to be angry. He’s the reason all of this went down like this. My heart is hurting as well as my pride for trusting him in business, but I need to figure this out. We can’t end like this. We have to get through this, when he admits he was wrong.

SOPHIE: Congratulations! I’m glad it worked out.

BETTE: Thank you. I’m so excited. We’re on our way, baby!

SOPHIE: Are you sure you’re happy?

BETTE: This is why I’ve worked my ass off for the last five years.

SOPHIE: Ok. Dax wouldn’t take no for an answer so he’s flying here. And when I told him you got the job, he said Hayden was really confused.

BETTE: We put them in their places. We rule. Boys drool.

SOPHIE: I’m going to listen to Dax.

BETTE: Is that what you want?