Page 50 of Rekindling Desire

My attention went to my left hand. With tears in my eyes, I removed the two rings. “Take these and go. I’ll tell Millie tomorrow that everything was a mistake. If the coalition still wants a campaign, you’ll need someone else.” I crossed my arms over my breasts. “Go.”

“Fuck no.” His volume rose. “I’m not going until I explain what happened.”

Sniffing, I reached for my glass of wine and sat on the sofa. “Fine. Explain, then leave.”

His head wobbled on his neck. “Fuck,” he roared. “I didn’t marry her.”

“Yet you are married.”

“Legally, it seems so.”

A sob bubbled from my chest.

I’d trusted him. I wanted to help him.

Looking at Damien, a rush of memories returned, ones I’d concentrated on when I left. The negative ones. “You are the devil.”

“Fuck, Ella, listen. Over a year ago, Amber and I went to the county clerk’s office for a marriage license. Yes, we both went willingly. We didn’t marry. We got the license. In Indiana, that license is good for sixty days. I knew it was a mistake. I also knew it would save my place as CEO, but my fucking parents...”

I narrowed my eyes. “What about your parents?”

“They have a good marriage. I’ve witnessed it all my life. The night Amber and I got the license, I knew I’d never have that kind of marriage with her. That night, I left her. I left her in her condo with a note. I know that was a shitty way to break up, but I couldn’t continue. Leaving that night, I balled up the license and left it with the note and my key to her place. I fucking drove to Dani’s place in the middle of the night and told her what I’d done.”

“Did you sign the license?” I asked.

“I did, at the clerk’s office. There wasn’t a ceremony. No official. I should have ripped the damn license to shreds, but I never dreamt that she’d find a way to file it.” He lifted his hands to the top of his head and flexed his arms. The seams of his shirt pulled tight over the strain. “She never told me until today.”

I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of what made no sense.

“Our marriage isn’t legal?”

Damien shook his head. “Amber showed me the email she received from the Florida courthouse where she and Darius said their vows. Their license wasn’t approved because—”

“She’s already married.”

He nodded. “We’ll get the same response.” His eyes pleaded for me to listen. “Believe me. I didn’t know I was married. I don’t think it’s even legal. Fuck, it can’t be. That’s what Timothy said. We’ll get it annulled.”

Married.

He was married.

I slept with a married man.

“Oh my God, I’m the other woman.”

Damien crouched down near my knees and looked up at me. “No, Ella. You are the only woman. This is a mistake. That conniving bitch had the license filed under false pretenses.”

“She never told you?” I asked.

“She tried to call me a few times, and I blew her off. One of the first times I saw her, after the night I left, was in Florida after Dad’s first heart attack.”

“How long have you been married?”

“I’m not sure when she filed the license, but I left her about fifteen months ago.” He stood. “My taxes—”

“Stop about your taxes.” I stood too. “You should not be on probation. You’ve been married for over a year. She could have gotten you off probation.”

“She didn’t want to help me. I wouldn’t speak to her.”

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