Page 26 of Kiss From A Rose

"There's a Leah Stahl here to see you."

My heart skipped a beat before it resumed pumping again. I had planned to reach out to Leah to find out where Malou's B&B was, but her being here on her own made me hope that,finally, the universe was sending me a positive sign.

"Send her in. Thanks."

She nodded and stepped out.

I was hoping Aimee would quit because if I fired her, I'd have an HR problem since half the world thought I was fucking her. I didn't have grounds to get rid of her 'cause she did her job well. But I would also be more careful about how I engaged with her.

Leah came in and saw my torn knuckles and the wall and grinned.

"You renovating?"

I came to her and gave her a quick hug. "I was going to call you."

She frowned. "Really?"

I led her to a client chair and took a seat behind my desk.

"Yeah. I…this is embarrassing, but do you know where Roses's friend Malou lives?" I asked her, feeling like a complete loser.

"You don't know where your wife's best friend lives?"

I sighed. "I know it's an island, and she has a B&B, but that's about it."

Leah nodded and set her bag on the table. She pulled out some documents. "Makes sense why your wife wants to divorce you."

I felt like someone slid a knife into my heart because I couldn't breathe. I realized why Leah was here. She was a divorce attorney. I should've known.

"No," I moaned. "No. No.Hell no." I couldn't help the tears that sprang into my eyes or the ones that rolled down my cheeks.

Saying Leah was shocked was an understatement. She'd be less shocked if I was dancing naked with a chimpanzee in my office.

"Gray?"

I wiped the tears and shook my head. "No.Please.No. She didn't."

Leah licked her lips and sighed. "What the fuck, Gray? If you didn't want her to divorce you, why the hell have you been havin'—"

"Please don't say sex with my assistant 'cause I haven't. I never would. I love my wife. I don't want any other woman. Why would I? Have you seen Rose? Why would any man want to have sex with another woman when he has her at home?" I was yelling now.

How the fuck was this my life? How had I gone from thinking all was well and I was happy to this shitshow?

Leah shook her head. "I don't know what y'all been doin' here, Gray, but swear to God, if you're fuckin' with me—"

"Leah, I love Rose. I fuckin' love her. I don't know what the hell happened to my life?" I dropped my head.

"Gray, I'm so pissed with you."

I raised my head and looked at Leah sullenly. "Imagine how I feel."

"You've had the wife all your friends want. Hell, your brother would take her off your hands if you let him, and if she gave a shit. Butyourstupidwife had eyes only for you. She worshipped you. And you ignored her unless you wanted something from her." Leah sat with her arms crossed, and she was spitting mad.

"I didn't know, Leah." I held a hand up when she was about to bite my head off. "I didn't know I was doingthat. Okay? I thought we were fine. I've been busy and, yeah, I missed things and…."

What the hell else was I supposed to say? I'd fucked up. No two ways about it.

"You forgot her birthday, Gray. Two years in a row. Who does that?"

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