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Gareth has feelings for me? How laughable. I itch to tell him it’s just sex, and it’s over between us, but I stay my tongue. Even though Brad is a nice guy, I don’t know him that well. Heck, I haven’t even told my family, let alone someone who is just a little above a stranger to me.
“Please, stop, Brad. I find this conversation awkward and disturbing.”
“I apologize. I feel that you should prepare yourself in case he tries to make a move. And him being older and your boss doesn’t mean a damn thing. So fucking what? We find love in the strangest of places.”
“And be tagged as a gold digger?”
He sighs. “People will always talk. Surely you know that.” He frowns. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me you’re also interested in him? Aside from that first day in the office, you haven’t given any indication that you have the hots for him, too.”
I fight it, but a thick blush covers my face. “I’m not interested in him, Brad. He’s a handsome man, and I’m not blind. But it’s strictly work for me. I have a lot to lose messing around with my boss.”
He shrugs again. “If you say so.”
“Let me check on your clothes,” I swiftly say as a means to run away from the conversation.
I stay near the washing machine until his clothes are washed and passably dry before returning to the living room.
“I’m sorry the evening didn’t turn out as planned. Maybe our next date will be better,” he remarks as he puts on his clothes.
“Maybe,” I reply noncommittally.
“What about Saturday? I hear Gotham restaurant has a good jazz band on Saturdays.”
I sigh. “Brad, you’re a great guy, but I’m focused on my job right now. I gave in to you asking me out today because I was exhausted from all the work and needed a break. I’m sorry if it seems as if I led you on but—”
“It’s okay. I understand. Maybe when the election is over, we’ll see how it goes.”
“Maybe.”
I shut the door behind him with pent-up relief before going to my room to lie on my bed and cry. Even if I want to change my mind about breaking up with Gareth, I can’t do that anymore, especially now that he thinks Brad has taken his place.
I’ve made a mess of things. I should have just told him why we couldn’t carry on with our affair.
I didn’t want him to talk me out of it, but now I wish I had been brave enough to tell him the truth. Now, he sees me as an easy lay.
Sobs of despair wrack my body.
CHAPTER18
GARETH
“Damn it!” I curse as another unwanted image flashes through my mind.
I can’t get the thought of Brad having his way with Hailey from my mind. I turn away from my reflection in the mirror and continue knotting my tie.
How could I have been this wrong about Hailey? I thought she was a sweet, naïve girl. Instead, she has turned out to be yet another manipulative bitch.
After calming down from my rage yesterday, I realized she must have invited Brad to her place knowing I would show up there. What had she expected? That I would declare my love to her and ask her to marry me?
“She’s trying to force my hand,” I mutter as I slip on my suit jacket.
Most likely as I didn’t give in, she allowed Brad to fuck her silly, just to get back at me.
I should never have gone there. I don’t know what I was thinking, going there with the intention of apologizing and trying to convince her to give our relationship a chance. I can’t believe I wanted to talk her into giving me more time, possibly until after the elections.
“Stupid!” I curse as I pull back my chair and sit. The sight of Union Square behind me will do nothing for my sour mood, so I don’t bother wasting my time staring at it.
I don’t want to think too deeply about why I’m so affected by her betrayal. Ending my marriage with Linda didn’t have the same effect on me. I pick up my phone to call Amber to help brighten my day, but then I remember she will be in school by now and her phone will be off. Last night, I wanted to call her, but I realized she would be already in bed. Thanks to Hailey, our relationship is way better. But now, I see everything she had done from a manipulative point of view. She probably agreed to help Amber so I could see she could be an excellent mother: Linda’s replacement.
