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How stupid of him that before now he’d never stepped foot in his wife’s office building. He was so wrapped up in his own world that he hadn’t given a crap about what was going on in hers. Patrick knew he’d made mistakes, but he didn’t see how things could have gotten this out of hand. After sitting in the waiting room for what seemed like forever, a receptionist ushered him back to his wife’s office.
He entered the spacious office to find Addison on the phone. He sat watching her as she wrapped up the call. The woman in front of him seemed nothing at all like the Addie he knew. She looked all grown-up here in this fancy office, using fancy words, in her fancy dress. Patrick wondered how he’d missed this much.
Addie placed the phone in the cradle and eyed Patrick suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”
Patrick looked around the office anxiously. “This is impressive, almost as big as mine.”
“I assume you didn’t come to check out my office, Patrick.”
Patrick cleared his throat. “How did we let it get this far, Addie? I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Trust me. I know that. But we don’t even talk anymore. And then you up and move out, just like that? Perhaps I deserve this. I don’t know. I just don’t want everything that we’ve worked for to end this way.”
Addie leaned back in her chair and brushed the tears from her eyes. This was just too much: his showing up here, now, like this. She’d already had a shitty morning, and this just sent her over the edge. “I don’t need this right now, Patrick.”
Patrick stood and walked over to her, perching himself on the edge of her desk. “Come away with me this weekend, Addie, the way we talked about. We can stay in separate rooms, whatever you want. Please? We’ll talk everything over. It’s pretty obvious you want a divorce. Okay, but let’s not end on this note.”
Addie traced her eyelids, clearing the tears. “I can’t. We’ll discuss everything tomorrow night, okay? But now, please, I need to get back to work.” The door burst open, cutting her off. “Addison,” William’s deep voice called.
Patrick stood. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see him showing up now, should I? Is that what this is all about, Addison? Is this asshole in the picture again? Because hopefully, I’m not mistaken, but I thought you were through with this piece of shit.”
William lunged towards Patrick as Addie swiftly stepped between the two of them, placing her hand on their chests. She looked back and forth between the two of them and then stopped at William’s gaze. “I am.” Addie sighed. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I really do have work to do.”
“All right, I’ll leave you to it.” Patrick frowned, walked towards the door, and stopped. “But, please, give my request some thought.”
“I have and I’ll come. Addie replied, so softly Patrick wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
William sat down in Addie’s chair and propped his feet on her desk. “So you wanna explain what that was all about?”
Addie walked over to William and shoved his feet off her desk. She crossed her arms and hovered over him. “Get out, William.”
William chuckled and put his feet back in place on the desk. “Last time I checked, my name is on the title of this building, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Addie squeezed her temples and walked to the window.
“I said I needed to talk to you.”
“And I said to go fuck yourself.”
William lowered his voice as he made his way over to the window. “Why are so you angry, Mrs. Greyer? Your letter didn’t seem so angry, so tell me what changed?”
“Fuck you, William,” Addie spat as she tried to back away. Her attempts proved futile as William pinned her in position against the glass effortlessly. Addie pushed back against him again, harder this time, but it was of no use. His hard body easily held hers in place. She winced as she felt all of him press into her.
“I asked you a question, Addison. Why are you so angry?”
“I’m not angry. I’m done. There’s a difference.” Addie groaned.
William pushed her further into the glass. “Is there? Because your body says otherwise.”
Addie rammed her elbow into his ribs, gut-checking him the way that she’d been taught. Addie knocked the wind out of him but didn’t knock him to the ground as she’d hoped. “Hmmm. I beg to differ.” She called over her shoulder as she took a seat at her desk and looked through her email.
“God damn it, Addison.” William choked out as he attempted to catch his breath. “I think we both know what this little episode of yours is about.”
Addie snorted. “Oh, please. So . . . I assume you’re here to enlighten me.”
William walked to the desk and placed both palms on it, towering over her, and looked her straight in the eye. “You saw that BS from the gala and you’re jealous.”
“Is that all you’ve got, Mr. Hartman? Because if so, I’d appreciate it if you’d get out and let me get back to work.”
William reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Addie’s ear, causing her to flinch. “Nope, you have no idea how much more I’ve got, baby.”
