Page 112 of Company Ink

"No," he says quietly, his face contorting with guilt. "Please, Cassie...let's just talk. Don't go... This is all a misunderstanding. Just listen to me,please."

Misunderstanding?

I start laughing. Like really laughing. Because this is hilarious. Comical. Out of this world fucking funny. I stand there, my abs contracting, and slowly, so slowly, the laughs turn into tears, frantic, messy sobs until I can't stand being around him any longer.

"Move your arm," I beg, trying to catch my breath."I can't look at you right now." Pain. My heart. It hurts. Collapsing. Crumbling. I look up at Adrian through my wet and dripping eyelashes. "Please... Justmove."

Adrian slowly lowers his hand, his eyes glossy, dim,hurt. "Cassie, please..." he breathes as the doors begin to close. "Don't go—" And the doors shut.

I slide down the wall of the elevator, gripping my knees, weeping violently, my stomach churning. Why is this happening? Why did he lie to me? Why did I fall for him? Why am I so fucking stupid?

I try to compose myself as I near the lobby, my knees wobbling, mascara dripping down my face, my dress in complete disarray.

Once I'm outside, I hail the first cab I see and give the driver an address. The cab driver looks at me, concern written all over his face. "Are you alright, Miss?" he asks, pulling out into the street.

"I'm fine," I whisper, trying to smile. But I can't. Impossible. "Can you turn up the radio?" The driver's eyebrows knit together but he complies with my request. "Louder. Please."

When the music is loud enough, I break down in tears, hoping that the blaring sounds of top 40s drown out my sobs.

Her voice echoes in my mind.His wife. Oh, God. Should I have known? Was it obvious, right in front of me? He doesn't wear a ring; he doesn't even have a tan line where a ring should be. But he is. He said it. How could I have known? No one said anything. Kitty didn't say anything. Blake didn't—

Oh, God.

Blake.

I fucked up. Oh my God, I fucked up.

What is wrong with me? What is wrong with Adrian? How could he say all these things to me, convince me that he cared, that he was all in?

I cry the entire cab ride, replaying every single moment with Adrian in my head. So many red flags. So many times, I should've backed down, listened to him, heeded his warning. But I was relentless. I didn't care. And then I cared too much. And I believed him. I fucking believed him.

I hand the driver a twenty-dollar bill and slide out of the cab, jogging up to the house. It's late. I should've called. Damn it.

I knock lightly on the door and wipe the smudged make up from under my eyes. Please be awake.Please.

The door opens slowly. "Cassie?" Lucy yawns, adjusting her robe. "What're you—" She pauses, frowning as her eyes flicker across my face. "Oh God, Cassie what's wrong?"

"Everything," I whimper, flying into my auntie's arms. "Lucy..."

My aunt closes the door and leads me to the living room, turning on a lamp. "Cassie, baby, what's wrong? What happened? Are you hurt?"

I lay down on the couch, curling my knees up to my chest. I coil my fingers around a pillow, hoping to transfer some of this rage, this anguish.

"Adrian's married," I mumble between sobs. "He has a wife... and I believed him, Lucy, I thought he cared about me. I didn't know... I swear I didn't—"

Lucy sits beside me and strokes my hair gently like she did when I was a kid, whenever I got my heart broken, whenever Mom yelled at me, whenever Dad didn't come home.

"Oh, Cassie, I'm so sorry," Lucy hums. "I'm so sorry."

She sits with me for what feels like hours, rubbing my back as I soak her pillows with my tears. "I shouldn't have texted him," I mumble, my voice hoarse. "I shouldn't have saidyes."

"What are you talking about, Cassie?" Lucy asks softly. "You texted him today?"

"No, it's—" I sniffle, sitting up. "Never mind. Doesn't matter. It's over. It's all over."

Lucy pulls me into her arms. "How did you find out?" she asks quietly.

"I answered his phone," I mumble.

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