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Electric currents of tension radiate from her body, and I swallow razors in my throat. My heart shrinks in my chest, and it’s like some of my height decreased too, I’ve never felt so small.
I hurt her. I knew about it already, but now, I feel it. I look at it. And the regret in her eyes makes me want to time travel and erase everything. How far would I erase, though? The last time we met?
The day we had sex?
Or the very day she stormed into my life?
19
Maddox
I’m goingthrough the latest reports when Charles walks into my office. Ever since the day we talked in the conference room, a week ago, things have been crazy.
The post went up and it had enough engagement for a few different local gossip sites to contact me about it, but I followed Whitney’s recommendation and ignored them. Today my restaurant is full, and the manager on duty told me last night the club had to hire last minute extra security to handle the high traffic.
Whitney was right.
Dan Walters hasn’t released any statement, because the bastard knows if he says something to try to sound like the wronged party, I can tell the media the truth. A scumbag like him has more skeletons in his closet than he cares to admit, I bet.
So everyone wins.
Well, not everyone.
I haven’t seen Whitney. I’ve communicated via Astrid, but every day that goes by makes me more aware of the big mistake I’ve made.
I got divorced once, and even though it was the right decision, it still broke me. Because of a stupid sense of duty. Now, this much shorter relationship broke me much harder, because I made the wrong decision—again, because of a sense of duty.
“Hey. Projections look good, don’t they?” Charles asks.
I set my mouse track aside. “Yes.”
Charles sits in front of me, then fumbles with his suit a bit, his fingers opening and closing the top button. “I need to talk.”
I rock back on my chair. “Sure. Shoot.”
“It’s about Whitney.”
I straighten my shoulders, clearing my throat. “Is everything okay?” is my first question.
A flush spreads through his cheeks, and he looks down. “No. I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened. You know, finding out about you two.”
My gut clenches. He hasn’t made any comments anymore, so I assumed the subject was dead and buried for him. On the surface, anyway. I’m sure he’s not my biggest fan, and that he’d send me on a one-way trip to Mars if he could.
“She handled this scandal with the right strategy. That’s one of the things she’s always done so well,” he says.
“She’s bright.”
“Yes. Ever since she’s gone viral and turned into such a big name overnight, if I’m honest with you—I’ve always been proud of her as a father. But a part of me also knew she needed me less. She was too independent, a natural problem solver.”
“That’s what people would expect from their kids. If they’re lucky.”
“Yes. And I bottled that resentment for a longtime. But now I see it,” he says, and emotion laces his voice. Is it regret? He takes a deep breath, and looks at me square in the eye. “Which is why… if you two want to get together, or whatnot, I won’t stand in your way. She’s old enough to make her own choices, and I shouldn’t use my insecurities to change her mind.”
My heart skips a beat or two, then resumes its work at a much faster pace. I grasp on the armchair for support, even though I’m sitting. Did I hear him correctly? Of course I did. Shit. He’s giving us a… blessing of some kind. “That’s big of you, Charles. Have you told her?”
“Yes. I told her this morning.”
“I’m sure she appreciates your candor,” I say. She knows, and she hasn’t contacted me—makes sense. I was an ass to her, and haven’ really done anything to get her back ever since. Hell, she may not even want anything to do with me anymore. I run my fingers through my hair, thinking about the possibilities.
