Page 122 of Savage Bosses

“I think it’s appropriate.”

“I don’t understand your attitude. Explain to me what I did wrong.”

“Explain?” I snapped. “You lied and snuck around behind my back?”

Maddie flinched. “It wasn’t like that. If you’d just listen—”

“I don’t care anymore.” I took my eyes off the TV screen to glare at her.

“Kyle, I never cheated on you. I know that’s what you think, but I swear it isn’t true.”

I searched her face, looking for any hint of deception. But all I saw was a good actress. There would be no way I would know if she were telling me the truth.

“Then what happened? What were you doing?” I asked hoarsely. “Why all the secrecy?”

She took a shaky breath. “I was trying to plan a surprise for you. I didn’t want you to find out, so I had to keep it quiet. But I guess I went about it the wrong way.”

I looked up at her. Anger welled up in me. “A surprise. I don’t believe you.”

“Kyle, don’t say that. I have never lied to you. I care about you. I miss you.”

“Why do you care? You didn’t seem to care much when you were sneaking around behind my back.”

I stared at her, stunned. I remembered when it all started to click into place, the disappearing acts, the hushed phone calls, and the evasive answers. She was cheating on me. There was no other explanation.

“I didn’t cheat. Where’s your proof? How can you just dump me without any evidence?”

She was right. I didn’t have any proof. What I had was a hunch, my intuition, and a feeling that she was being deceptive. “I don’t need proof.”

“Now that’s just childish and insulting. We were fine until you started getting paranoid.”

I blew air from my mouth. “Right.”

“I deserve another chance.” She pleaded. But I didn’t think so.

“Really?”

Maddie leaned in closer, her eyes flickering down to my lips. “I’ve missed you, Kyle,” she murmured. “Let me make it up to you.” She took my hand in hers.

My pulse quickened at her proximity. I couldn’t deny she was an Armenian beauty. I got another whiff of her scent. Once, it would have driven me wild with desire. Now it only unsettled me. The memories were still too raw.

I pulled my hand away. “I can’t do this, Maddie.”

She drew back, with her arched brows furrowing. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything! This is over.”

Maddie tightened her lips. “Don’t say that. We were so good together.” She reached out to caress my arm. “I know you’ve been hurting, but we can start over. I’ll do better this time.”

I stood abruptly, putting distance between us. “No. I can’t trust you anymore.” I thought of those endless nights wondering where she was and whom she was with. The constant doubts and insecurities plaguing my mind.

She rose slowly. “Kyle, please—”

“I think you should go.” My voice was cold and final.

Maddie’s eyes widened. “I think you were cheating on me. Who’s your new girl? That’s the only way you would turn me down. There has to be someone else.”

I wished I had a new girl. That would make this so much easier. “Maddie, stop deflecting and leave. Begging is beneath you.”

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