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I’m a married woman. And I care about my husband. I’m Perry’s wife, and he’s the only one who matters in my life.
I’m certainly not going to cheat on him with Seamus.
I look at that relationship now for what it was. A crush that turned into something real, only for it to be built on nothing but lies. I was devastated, I was hurt, but I got over it.
Yes. I am completely over it.
“I’ll go down and meet with him,” I announce.
Jasper frowns. Doja meows in seeming protest—her timing is always impeccable. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“There will be all sorts of people down there, right? Doormen and security and that one woman who sits at the front counter sometimes,” I tell Jasper.
He tilts his head to the side, imagining the scene, I assume. “Well, I suppose.”
“And it’ll only be a few minutes. What I have to say to him won’t take long. You’ll know where I’m at.”
“Should I go down with you?”
I shake my head. I won’t be able to act like a badass bitch in front of Jasper. He’ll make me feel self-conscious. “It’s not necessary.”
The look of doubt on the man’s face is obvious. “I don’t like the idea of you being down there by yourself with this man.”
“I’ll be all right. It’s just—an old flame who’s back in town,” I admit.
Jasper’s graying eyebrows shoot so high I swear they hit his hairline—and it’s receding. “Miss—”
“It’s okay,” I say, interrupting him. I’m sure he knows who I’m referring to. He’s known me forever. What other old flame could I possibly have? The man who ruined me supposedly forever in Paris.
Well, I’m not ruined anymore. I can stand on my own two feet and I’ve found a man who’s much more caring and thoughtful thanhecould ever be.
“I’ll be fine,” I continue, even as he stares at me, his gaze full of doubt. I lift my chin, going for an abundance of confidence. Most likely failing miserably. “Truly it will take only a couple minutes of my time. Call security downstairs. Have them keep an eye on me while I’m there.”
“I will,” Jasper says firmly, sounding bossy as hell. “I’d prefer to accompany you downstairs. I’m sure Mr. Constantine would prefer it too.”
Oh shit. Is he going to rat me out to Perry?
No. I can’t have that. But this conversation needs to happen. I need to tell Seamus to back off once and for all. And though I might regret going down there and talking to him—God knows what he might say—I know this is the right thing for me to do. For myself.
And my marriage.
“Please don’t mention this meeting to Perry, Jasper. I’ll tell him everything tonight when he comes home.” After we’ve had plenty of sex and he’s relaxed and more open minded. “He’ll just worry if you tell him about it now.”
Jasper makes a harumphing noise. He is not pleased. “I don’t like this idea.”
“I’ll be gone for ten minutes. Tops.” I start to head for the door. “Call the security desk. Let him know I’m coming down. Then he can tell Seamus.”
I glance down at myself, wondering if I should change. I’m in one of my favorite matching sweatsuits—all black, like my soul—that’s what I used to tell Jasper, and he would always chuckle. I was fully planning on hopping in the shower before Seamus showed up and getting glammed up for my man for his dinner, which will be me. And some sort of takeout. That is still on the agenda.
And I definitely don’t need to get glammed up for this man. God, I wish he would just leave me—us—alone.
“I’ll be back in a few!” I call as I undo the locks and open the door. I head for the elevator, hitting the down button and waiting for only a minute tops before the doors slide open. I walk inside, turning to face them when I hear the apartment door swing open and the sound of Jasper’s voice.
“Charlotte! You forgot your phone!”
The doors shut before I can stop them and I’m immediately filled with regret. The elevator is hurtling me down to the bottom floor and I contemplate hitting our floor’s button again the moment it stops and coming right back up here. Seamus can wait a few extra minutes.
It would be safer if I had my phone on me.
