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Chapter Twenty-Eight
KNOW THE TRUTH
Bentley
It’s beentwo days since the night at the carnival, and I still can’t calm my racing heart. Not even spending the last thirty-six hours in the office has helped distract me. I’d only gone home long enough to grab some clothes, because I knew at least Celia would come looking for me. Then, I decided to spend the last two nights at work. Dramatic? Possibly, but it was the only safe place I knew I could be while I attempted to sort my thoughts.
I thought Kenzie was different, but hearing her say that I meant nothing to her and I was nothing more than a suit with a big bank account… That cut deep. More than I would have expected.
Of course, admitting to Owen that I loved her the night before the fundraiser didn’t help matters.
I never should have let her in. Never should have fallen victim to her loud mouth and—no. I can’t think about why I fell for her. I just need to move the fuck on.
When I get back to my office after using the gym and shower at work, I spot Owen sitting in front of my desk.
He’s among the few people I don’t want to see right now. That’s maybe not fair to him since I felt like we’d become friends, but I just can’t handle him defendingher. Not right now.
“Owen, I’m not doing this here,” I say with conviction.
He turns around in his seat, his eyes following my movements. “Is that so? Well, from the looks of it in here and the many emails I saw sent out yesterday, you’ve been in the office working since you left the carnival. I would take that to mean that you actually have some free time on your hands, and I’m not going anywhere until you listen to me.”
I cross my arms and lift a brow. “Is that so?”
“Hear me out, Bentley. Not too long ago, Kenzie did that for me and the choice she made is possibly the only reason I’m planning a wedding to the woman of my dreams. If you care about her as much as I think you do, then you need to know what I do. If that still doesn’t change anything for you, at least nobody will be left with what ifs.”
Owen’s words are resolute, but I don’t want to hear about Kenzie from someone else. Especially not when she hasn’t even left me a voicemail or sent a text. Sure, she called a few times that first night, but her silence speaks volumes about what I heard.
“Kenzie doesn’t give a shit about me. I don’t know why you’re defending her when she hasn’t even done so herself,” I say and lean back in my chair with a huff.
Owen chuckles softly. “God, the two of you are so stubborn. Kenzie refuses to give you the truth if you refuse to speak to her. So, if you won’t do that, then I’ll tell you what happened. And if you don’t want to listen to me, your sister will be here after she’s done baking this morning, but I figured you’d rather hear from me.”
My fingers drum over my forearms. I don’t want to hear from either of them, but if Owen is putting his ass on the line like this, maybe he can tell me something that will help lessen the amount of rage I still have pumping through my veins.
“What do you want to tell me?” I ask with a clipped tone.
He leans forward. “Did you see the woman Kenzie was talking to?”
I shake my head. “I was too pissed off to take in much else around me.”
“That’s what I figured.” Owen sighs. “She was talking to a woman who said she was a reporter. Had a voice recorder and seemed legit. When she started asking direct questions about you, Kenzie freaked out, thanks to the recent stuff with the paparazzi, and overcompensated. She thought she was protecting you by not divulging your relationship with her.”
While I can see the truth in what Owen is saying, it doesn’t change anything for me.
“Kenzie should have walked away. Instead, she insulted me. That’s not what I call protective,” I say.
Owen nods. “You’re right, but Kenzie was set up to fail the moment she answered that woman’s first question. Do you want to know who the reporter was? Don’t bother guessing. It was your ex Selene. She was setting Kenzie up. At least that’s what Celia told Ella. Selene wanted Kenzie to slip up so that she could share the recording with you, but she lucked out. You showed up to hear the words for yourself.”
Pain pierces my chest. “No.”
“Actually, yes. Celia showed Kenzie a picture of Selene and confirmed what they already believed to be true. Selene set out to ruin your new relationship, and she succeeded. Are you going to let that last?” Owen asks with a challenge in his voice.
Fuck. Am I? I don’t know. I want to say his words change things, but Kenzie still said what she said instead of just walking away. How am I supposed to trust her if she does shit like that?
Owen stands. “I won’t bring this up again. You’re still my boss, and I respect you no matter how the rest of this plays out, but I also care about Kenzie, and you need to know the truth.”
I offer him a stiff nod. “Thanks.”
Owen sees himself out, and I’m left sitting in my desk chair, more confused than I’ve ever been in my entire life.
What the fuck am I going to do now?
