Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Something I will regret for the rest of my life if that’s the case.
“Your bags are packed, and a car is waiting for you out front.”
My mouth falls open. He’s kicking me out?
“You are not just sending me packing. We are going to talk through this. Charles, I—”
“I don’t want to hear anything more you have to say, Raven. Please leave.”
“No. You said if something happened between us, we would handle this as adults. This is as immature as it comes. You will not do this to me.”
"I won’t do this to you? Isn’t that just rich? I won’t kick out the woman who lied to my face repeatedly?”
My hands rest on my hips. “When did I ever lie to you, Charles?” I challenge.
“When haven’t you? From the first moment at Silver, you were next to Asher. But somehow the man working for Bauer didn’t recognize me?”
“No, I told you I didn’t know.”
“Bullshit Raven. Everything has been a lie. And I fucking fell for it.”
“Italy was not a lie.”
He inclines his head. “Oh, and Holly just magically got poorly before we were supposed to go for her shoot. Did you and Asher work that up? Get her to play that card?”
“I didn’t even know I was going to go. You called me, remember? I didn’t have clothes. My God, why won’t you listen to reason? You said you wouldn’t do this. You are the liar. A liar and a goddamn coward.”
“I’m not the one who said thank you to the man you just fucked but called your boyfriend and said I love you!”
“That’s not what . . .”
His jaw is locked. “I said no more,” he grits out.
“I’m not going until you say this isn’t going to affect work. You promised.”
“I promised you nothing. Now get out.”
“Charl—”
“Leave!” he bellows, and I swear the house shakes on its foundation from the force of his rage.
Rage he’s directed at me.
Tears spill down my cheeks, and I choke back a sob.
Charles’s shoulders rise and fall, showcasing the strength of his anger. It’s not abating.
I’ve hurt him. He might mask it under a layer of rage, but that’s pure pain radiating from him. And I caused it.
I have so much to say, but it won’t do any good tonight.
I won’t provoke more betrayal from him. He doesn’t deserve it.
Without a word, I move toward the front door and find my bag sitting there. My heart is in my throat, and my knees wobble. I’m two seconds away from breaking, but I don’t want it to be here.
I rush from the house, the tears turning into a river of grief as I throw myself into the car and watch the house and Charles slip out of view.
My heart is left in Charles’s hands.
42
Raven
It’s been a week since I left Charles in the Hamptons. Luckily, the meeting was pushed back because I don’t know if I would’ve been up for seeing him so shortly after what happened.
I’ve not seen nor heard from him. Shelby told me he’s been working remotely, and I wonder if he stayed in the Hamptons.
I’ve worked tirelessly to keep my mind preoccupied, but it’s no use. I can’t stop thinking about the look on his face. The one I caused.
A part of me had believed that if I just gave him some time, he’d come around. But an entire week has gone by, and my heart still hurts, knowing that things are well and truly done.
There’s a knock on my office door, and I call out for whomever it is to enter.
My heart jolts when Charles walks in.
He’s still wearing that hard expression. His eyes are cold and emotionless. I gulp, not sure what to say or do.
He shuts the door behind him, not making any move toward my desk.
“You’re back.” My voice is small and unsure, but he doesn’t react.
“I got back today,” he explains. “I came to work out the details of this situation.”
My eyes narrow as I try to work out what he means.
“I promised that when things ended, we’d be professional and find a way to move past it.” He puts his hands in his pockets. “I intend to keep that promise.”
“You do?”
He nods. “You’re important to the Diosa account, and Cavendish isn’t prepared to let you go on account of my momentary lapse of judgment.”
My head jerks back with the force of a slap to the face.
“You’re an asshole,” I choke out.
His eyes narrow. “What exactly did I do, Miss Bennett?” His voice is low and threatening.
“This isn’t the place to discuss this,” I snap. “People will hear us.”
“This is the only place we’ll be discussing this. I’ll say whatever I wish whenever I wish. Hell, I’m allowed to scream at you if I so please. They won’t have any idea what’s actually being said behind that door.”