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“We had a great weekend together. Talk about whiplash.” Now his arms crossed over his chest.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
The anger left his eyes, and now he just looked confused. “I’m listening.”
“When I was at the opera with my father, he mentioned something about you.”
It only took a second or two for the confusion to pass. He looked angry again, and he gave a slow nod. “Of course he did.” He seemed to know exactly what I spoke of. “And how did this come up?”
“Said something about work being bad…and he didn’t like you.”
He rubbed his fingers across his jawline as his eyes dropped to the table. Then he smirked, like he knew something.
“Then he told me that you went to prison…for rape and assault.” My voice cracked slightly as I said it out loud because it hurt me to say those words.
His eyes lifted to mine. “Yep. That’s true.”
“You—you don’t deny it?”
“I can’t deny facts,” he said simply. “I was found guilty of those charges and went to prison for it.”
“But—but did you do it?”
His eyes narrowed once again, and now he looked baffled by that question. “What did you just say?” His voice had deepened in anger. It looked like he might stand up and start yelling.
I swallowed, nervous around him for the first time.
“I’m sure you already looked it all up. Why are you asking me that?”
“I didn’t look it up,” I said quietly. “I almost did, but…I wanted to hear it from you.”
He sank back in his chair, and he just stared at me. Stared at me like he didn’t know if he should speak…or walk out…or throw the chair. “What did you just say?”
“I know we don’t know each other very well, but it just doesn’t seem like something you would do.” I was probably the dumbest girl alive, wanting to believe a fantasy rather than the truth, but something didn’t feel right to me. This man had the biggest smile, had the gentlest touch, made me feel only good…never bad.
His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, and his face hardened, his cheeks tinting red as if his blood surged with anger. He inhaled a slow breath and then released it, the cords in his arms popping even more now. “Are you serious right now?”
“I—I think so.”
The silence was shattered by a laugh, a laugh that was big and unexpected. “I can’t believe this shit.”
Maybe he was crazy. Maybe he had multiple personalities. Maybe the man I knew had never been real. “What?”
He suddenly went quiet, his eyes on another part of the room. Then he gave a shake of his head. “You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me.” His eyes found mine again, dim and defeated. “I can’t believe it.” Now he looked emotional, like my words really meant something to him. “I’m honestly in shock right now. We’ve been sleeping together for what? A month? And you see me better than my own parents?”
“Could you tell me what happened?”
He was quiet for a long time, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to share this story. “I told you I was in a relationship a few years ago. It was more than a relationship. I was married.”
Unfounded jealousy shot through me.
“Before we got married, I had her sign an ironclad prenup, not just to protect my assets, but the assets my family and I share through our inheritance. She was a bartender when I met her, which was fine, but when I decided to leave her, she couldn’t handle returning to that kind of lifestyle. She knew our relationship was going to shit before I asked for the divorce, so she started planting things ahead of time, audio recordings of us fighting, doctor’s visits for nonexistent issues, all kinds of stuff. So when I told her I was leaving her, she threatened to make my life a living hell…and she made good on that threat.”
“I—I don’t understand how you even got into this situation.”
“It’s…complicated.” He said it with a sigh. “But I think she wanted my money more than she wanted me.”
“How can that be possible? Look at you.”
