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“I’m prepared.” I breathe heavily, annoyed at having to deal with such arrogance. “I know his tactics, and frankly, if I don’t see improvements, I’m happy to show him the door. I don’t have time to waste nor fall behind on this project.”
“Agreed,” Lex says, then pauses. “And everything is okay with you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Listen, Charlotte is worried, and you know her heart is in the right place.”
“Is that her telling you to pass that on? Look…” I raise my tone only to realize who I’m talking to, “… I’m fine. If everyone will just let me be and stop worrying, I’ll move just like I always do.”
“Okay, I understand. It’s my job to check in on you as a boss and a friend.”
“I appreciate it,” I assure Lex. “But I’m an adult. I’ll sort out my personal life. So, don’t worry about it affecting my work.”
“I’m never worried, Kate. I’ve always trusted you to perform. But as the family member of a man who’s like a brother to me, I will tell you Noah is hurting just as much.”
Lex saying his name reminds me again of how intricate our ties are. It isn’t just Noah and me. Too many people are invested.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I counter, only for anger to swell inside of me. “Actually, no, I’m not. For once, I did nothing wrong. He should’ve trusted me and given me an opportunity to defend myself, but he chooses Morgan, repeatedly. And you know what, I may never be a mother, but that choice doesn’t make me less of a human being.”
And I’d said all the words to the wrong man. Lex is simply the messenger, the one I’ve chosen to unleash my anger on. I expect him to reprimand me for yelling at him, but he simply stays quiet.
“Shit, Lex,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Kate.”
I take a deep breath, willing to control my mood swings. I’ve always believed that self-control is a strength, and calmness is a mastery. It may have taken me years to have come to this revelation, yet truth be told, I wouldn’t have succeeded in the business world without it.
“I should go. I’d really appreciate it if you forget all about my outburst and things go back to normal.”
“Easier said than done.” He chuckles softly. “You’ve witnessed too many of my less-finer moments, so I guess it’s your turn.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever live up to your moments. I believe you punching Julian in the face comes a close first to waking up in a bed with Victoria Preston.”
“Please don’t remind me,” he drags over the phone. “Promise me something? You’ll call Charlotte later. She’s worried and stuck in the middle of you two because she loves you both. Just let her know you’ll be okay. I don’t like to see her upset.”
“I promise,” I say before ending the call.
And the truth is, I have no idea if I’ll be okay. It’s been four days since I left, and I’m not any closer to feeling better. All I’ve managed to do is ignore the stabbing pain inside and try to breathe with a punctured heart.
The walk home is uneventful, unlike the other Friday nights. People still go about their business, laughing and dancing in the streets ignoring me as I walk past with a judgmental expression because I’m heading to an empty apartment. I’ve barely eaten today, making my mood unpleasant and snippy, surviving on only coffee and mints. I drag my heels toward my apartment without the usual takeout in hand to lift my head and see Dominic at my door.
My limbs are frozen on the spot, restricting my breathing as it catches in my throat with every pound inside my chest. Surely, this is a figment of my imagination. I draw my eyes up from his shoes, scaling his charcoal pants, past his light blue business shirt until my gaze fixes on the deep brown eyes staring back at me. The hairs on my arms stand at attention as chills march down my spine. I can’t deny his sexy appearance, but with that comes memories I’d rather forget.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kate, we need to talk.”
“No, Dominic,” I contest, keeping my distance. “We did talk.”
“I know Allegra came to you. She told me, the question is, why didn’t you?”
My anger is trumped by exhaustion. How did my life take this sudden turn, caught in some vicious love triangle with no exit in sight? All I want is a Friday night alone to watch some violent movie and pretend I’m back to my old self again.
I clutch my purse tightly, trying to rein in my frustration. “Your wife ambushed me in my office. Then she gives me her blessing to fuck you but for the two of you to stay married. I don’t know what part of that I should answer?”
Dominic moves swiftly toward me, closing the gap between us. Letting out a breath, I’m trying to ignore everything about him I once craved, the power he holds around us because no matter how I spin the scenario in my head, he’ll never be what my heart so desperately craves.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he admits with a thirsty stare. “Every. Fucking. Day. Just think about what Allegra said. We can still have this great life together, you and me. The way you’ve always wanted.”
