Page 111 of Company Ink

"Hello?" I say, answering the call. "Adrian Cavallero's phone, how may I help you?"

"Adrian?" A soft, feminine voice with an Italian accent asks. "Adrian?"

I sigh. "No, Adrian's not here right now, this is uh—his assistant."Meh, kinda true.

"Oh—"

"Can I take a message for you?" I ask, utterly annoyed by everything right now.Where is he?!

"No, just tell him to call me back. It's an emergency."

"Sure," I say, checking the caller ID again. There's no name saved. "May I please ask who's calling?"

"It's Mariela," she says hesitantly. "His uh—his wife."

thirty-four

off limits

My ears are ringing, my heart thumping out of my chest as I scramble around looking for my other shoe. He's married? Fucking married? No. This isn't happening. This must be a joke. I'm blinded by rage and soul-crushing disbelief. I need to leave. I can't be here. The walls are closing in on me, every breath getting harder to catch, my throat dry, my eyes welling up with livid tears. Married.

I dash to the elevator, repeatedly pressing the down button. God, I'm so stupid. It all makes so much sense now. How did I not see it? Why didn't I listen to him when he told me he doesn't do relationships? Why did I believe that flakey-ass excuse? Why did I push him into this? Why did helisten? Why?

The elevator chimes and the doors open, Adrian standing in front of me, holding a paper bag in his hand, his eyes wide, confused.

"Going somewhere?" he asks with a smirk. His face falls when he scans my face.

I clench my jaw, my vision blurry, my hands vibrating. "I don't know!" I seethe. "Why don't you go ask your fuckingwife!"

All the color washes away from Adrian's face as he takes a step towards me, I move backward, shaking my head, disgusted at the thought of him touching me. Oh my God, I almost slept with a married man!

"Cassie, what're you talking about?" His tone is strained, uneven.

Really? He's going to play dumb?

"I'm talking about Mariela or whatever the fuck her name is!" I shout. "You're married, Adrian! Married! What the actual fuck? You're horrible! A cheater! I can't believe this. I can't believe you!" I shake my head. "You know what? Actually, I can. How veryon-brandfor you!"

Adrian's jaw tightens as he tries to grab my hand. "I can explain," he says, ignoring my slight, his eyes frantic. "It's not what you think."

"Really? It's not? Don't fucking lie to me! Shecalledyou! I talked to her!" I let out a psychotic laugh. "Apparently, there's an emergency back home, you should probably call her back! Maybe one of your kids are sick or something! Do you have kids too, Adrian?Huh?"

Adrian, swallows. "I don't have children," he whispers, shame plastered all over his cheating face.

"But you do have a wife?" I ask, my tone throaty, harsh, shaky. "Right?"

Adrian doesn't say anything, he just stands there, staring at me like some stupid fucking statue. Motionless. Dumbfounded.Caught.

"Well?" I probe, my voice rising. "Are you married, Adrian? Yes, or no? It's an easy fucking question!"

Adrian closes his eyes. "I am but it’s—"

And there it is. Confirmation. I was hoping he'd say he's divorced. Separated. Anything. Anything but this. I feel dirty, criminal, an accomplice to infidelity.

"No!" I exclaim, pressing the elevator button again, my nail nearly being ripped off, my heart clenching. "There are no buts! There are no excuses. God, you're fucked!" The elevator doors open, and I step inside.

Adrian extends his arm, preventing the doors from closing. "Let me explain, Cassie. I can explain!" Desperate. Pleading. "Please don't go, please hear me out! Mariela and I... We're not—"

"Move yourfuckingarm!" I command through my teeth, her name slipping off his tongue causes my guts to ache. "Now!"

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