Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Luna just confirmed Claire’s assumption that we couldn’t possibly be together for real and more importantly, torpedoing any shot I had at the Cartwright portfolio.
Dad’s already furious at me, and when he finds out how much worse I let this get, he’s never going to trust me again. At this rate, I’ll be lucky to play second fiddle to Cameron. Maybe they’ll let me set the tables at his fancy chef’s new restaurant?
I can see my entire career bursting into flames before my very eyes. Every hour of overtime I’ve worked, every sacrifice I’ve made, even everything Luna and I have done . . . it’s all been for nothing. She just annihilated it all.
“Luna! How could you?” I demand angrily, pushing away from her on the couch. I can’t believe she’s destroying everything like this. We had a deal, a plan, and she’s betraying me worse than I would’ve ever thought possible.
“I hate lying. Especially when Elena is . . .” She looks to Elena, who seems confused as hell. “So sweet. I’m so sorry. Truly, I am. It got so out of control, so fast.”
Luna runs from the room, slamming a door shut somewhere in the front hallway.
I’m fuming, a dark and angry pit in my stomach rising quickly to consume me.
“I’m sorry . . .” I start, but Claire is ready to pounce and interrupts.
“Is that true?” she asks.
True? I don’t know what’s true anymore, but I don’t want to answer Claire’s question. Anything I say can and will be used against me. Not in a court of law, but in the practice of business.
I stand, straightening my tie until it’s damn near choking me. Or maybe it’s the words that are stuck in my throat? “We might not be the usual couple or have gotten together in a typical way, but Luna and I are married. None of this means I can’t do the job, and I would love to serve as the financial manager for the Cartwright portfolio. I think we could do really good work together, despite any mistakes that I’ve made.”
I’m trying to save face, putting on a stoic mask even though I know it’s all over. Even as I turn to go, I can feel my plans turning to rubble and my heart turning to stone.
I follow the sound of Luna’s sobs and in the hall, knock on the bathroom door. “Luna? I think we should go.”
She sniffles and with a rough voice says, “I called Zack to come get me. He’s on his way to take me home.”
Home? I’m already going there. Why does she need Zack to give her a ride? And then I realize . . . she means her home . . . her apartment. Not mine.
I grit my teeth at the fresh gut punch. “Fine.”
Elena, Claire, and Mads have followed me into the hallway and are listening to our exchange, but I needlessly repeat, “Her brother’s coming to get her. Is that okay?”
Elena dips her chin, her eyes seeming extra shrewd as she stares back at me. I can’t take any more and stride toward the door.
“Carter?” Elena says, and I stop, looking over my shoulder. “Sometimes, we end up someplace we never intended and it’s up to us to decide whether we like where we’re at.” She nods as though that’s something deep and meaningful and not a barely coherent fortune cookie saying.
I definitely didn’t start out planning to deceive Elena like this. It all got so carried away, and I kept thinking I could fix it. I would’ve fixed it . . . eventually. When I was ready, when the deal was done, when it was planned out and made sense. Not like this.
“Thank you. And again, I’m sorry.”
Outside, Bernard tries to talk to me about Nutbuster, but I throw up a hand to stop him and climb into my car.
Peeling out down the road, I can’t help but feel like I’m leaving behind something important.
Luna.
I tell my brain, or heart, or dick—whatever’s speaking right now—to shut up. I didn’t leave her. She left me when she told Elena the truth.
Damn the consequences.
In some ways . . . it’s admirable. I wish I’d had the guts to do it, but then I wouldn’t have had Luna . . . even for this short period of time.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
LUNA
I hear the front door slam and jump even though I knew it was coming. Carter left me. I knew he would eventually. I just couldn’t take it anymore—all the lying, being called an ugly cheater, defending myself while Carter sat there silently watching me go ballistic on Claire.
So many lies. To Elena, to Carter, to myself.
I thought there was something good happening between us. Maybe a weird start, but something real. I felt it over the last few weeks, especially since the wedding, but it’s all still just a ploy for him. Nothing more than a charade to close a deal.