Page 94 of Stuck On Them

They said nothing though. What must have been going through their minds to hear all of this?

“What kind of men are we?” Ryker stepped away from me and rounded the table, facing Daniel with a calm rage burning in his eyes. “We’re men who love her. Now get the fuck out of our office.”

The air around us vibrated as Ryker grabbed him by the arm and pushed him firmly toward the door. Luca and Garrett took up positions behind him, ready to join in if push came to shove.

I could do nothing but stare at Ryker. They loved me?

Daniel wrenched his arm away, going to the door that Ethan was holding open. “This is completely out of line. You can’t kick me out because I called you out on sexually harassing your employee!”

Gabriel stood, buttoning his suit jacket and picking up Daniel’s bag. He was kind of scary in the way his face was blank as he went to the door and shoved Daniel’s bag into his chest. “You’re fired. Now leave before security is called and you embarrass yourself further.”

Daniel’s face crumpled as he clutched onto his bag to keep it from falling. “What? But-”

“It was inevitable, Turner. I can’t have someone working for me that corners their ex in a women’s restroom and then acts like this.” Gabriel returned to his seat, not an ounce of emotion showing.

Daniel stood there for a moment, mouth open in shock, before he finally turned and walked out.

I started to go after him, but Garrett grabbed my hand. “He doesn’t deserve your sympathy, Paige.”

“You’re right, he doesn’t, but I need to say one last thing… without an audience.” I pulled my hand away and rushed to catch up with Daniel. “Daniel?”

He stopped at the elevators, stabbing the down button, but didn’t turn around. “What?”

As much as he deserved everything he’d brought upon himself, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry and sad for him. “I know somewhere in your heart you know what you did was wrong.”

He shook his head but didn’t look back at me or speak.

“When you love someone, you cherish them. You don’t toss them aside like a piece of trash for a rat to eat. I just hope that one day you find someone who you want to cherish.”

The elevator doors opened, and he stepped on, finally facing me with regret and defeat in his eyes. “Goodbye, Paige.”

“Goodbye, Daniel.”

The doors slid shut and for the first time in months, I felt like the past was finally behind me.

Chapter29

All Ours

Luca

The very last thing I wanted to do was attend a gala where my mother was going to try to convince me that an arranged marriage was in everyone’s best interests. Sure, it would mean more money for our family, but when was it going to be enough for her?

Before I met Paige, I would have seriously considered marrying for business if it was the right woman. Clara was not the right woman since she didn’t even like men. Things would have been easier if I could have just told my mother that, but it wasn’t my place.

And how would Paige feel? Going to the gala on what would have been her wedding night was one thing, but having to hear my mother go on and on about marrying me off? It made me a little sick to think about.

She’d been through so much in the past few months with it all coming to a head at the business meeting the day before. We’d had no clue she was sitting right next to her ex for half the day. An ex that showed his true colors in front of us all.

Had we been a little upset she didn’t say something about him being there or about working with him and his father? Maybe a little, but it was mostly because we didn’t want to see her in pain.

“I’m surprised you’re the first one ready.” Garrett walked down the hall, his shiny black shoes clicking on the stone floor. “Usually, we have to wait on you.”

I turned from where I’d been staring out at Central Park, nursing a glass of scotch. “The sooner we go, the sooner we can come home.”

Garrett grabbed one of the three glasses I’d poured and came to join me at the window. “Paige still wants to go, otherwise I’d say let’s just skip it.”

“My mother would never make me cannoli again if I missed this. Not just because she wants to try to marry me off but because it’s in our hotel.” I sighed and took a sip of my drink. “There are just some things in life I’m not willing to go without, and cannoli are one of those things.”

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