Page 10 of Until You're Breathless

He draws in a deep breath and releases it. “Fine. I fucked up.” He says it like this is less offensive than him hoarding money dishonestly. “What do you want to do about it?”

Stunned. I’m utterly stunned. I blink twice slowly, trying to comprehend what he just said and how he said it. Like he didn’t just throw away a fifteen-year relationship and make irreparable damage to the business that we’ve built together in said fifteen years. “We’ve already got a contingency plan for this, Boston. And you just bought it.”

Chapter 4

Bowie

Mybackisupwhen I see his BMW pull into the driveway. Boston agreed not to be here until three o’clock, at which time I would be gone. It’s the arrangement that we have until I can find a place of my own. We’ve shared this mansion for several years, and it’s taken some time to find somewhere to live, and even now, it’s just with Jinny temporarily. The look on his face says that he’s got business to discuss. I know the difference.

“What are you doing here.” It’s not a question, it’s an accusation.

“Look, Bowie. This is crazy. We can work this out.”

I look at him like he just told me it’s my fault that he fucked the used car saleswoman. “Is it now?”

He hesitates, like he’s rehearsed this whole speech on the ride over. “I know I fucked up. I know I fucked up bad. But half of what we have isn’t about us, Bowie, it’s about the business. And we are on the cusp of something great here. Do you really want to miss out because of this?”

“Boston, this isn’t a fucking science fair project. This is a fifteen-year relationship, both personal and business. And you completely obliterated my trust on both fronts. We had a contingency plan in place. You’re not happy, you tell me, and vice versa. You totally went against all that and betrayed me. How can I ever trust you again.” I tell him, I don’t ask.

“So, what do we do about Kruger, hm? Are you just walking out?”

“I’m not walking, Boston. Sure, I’m walking away from this house and from this relationship, but I’m not walking away from the business that I worked hard to build. I’ll continue with my role, and you’ll continue with yours, and we make agreements just the way we always have. And this time, you’re going to tell me everything. No secrets. No lies. No more.”

“Good. So, you’re not going to go knocking on fucking Lawson Enterprises' door.”

My head whips to his. “Why the hell would you even mention that?”

“Because I know you always had a thing for him.”

I lift a hand. “Oh, don’t even go there. You are walking on thin ice.”

He stupidly gets brave. “Tell me I’m wrong, Bowie.”

My chuckle is mirthless. “You aresowrong. Likeworldswrong.”

“Bullshit.”

I round on him. “Boston, I haven’t spoken to the guy since high school, and you know it. But it looks like the cheating bug caught you, too, so I don’t know why you’re even bringing him up. All you men are so fucking alike.”

“Yeah, and he’ll get wind of us parting ways, and be right up your alley in a heartbeat. You know that son of a bitch never fucking married, right.”

“Neither did you, asshole.” I point out.

“I was too busy building the company.”

“And chasing tail, too, evidently.”

“Look, are you ever going to be able to get past this? Because if you can’t, then we’re going to have a real problem.”

I think about it for a moment.

“If you can’t separate our personal troubles from the business, then we’re both going to suffer.” He adds. “And I think that we should keep this shit out of the media, too. The last thing we need is to show that we’re weakened in any way. Not while we’re right in the middle of trying to get this deal. Lawson will be all over that like fucking white on rice, and we both know it.”

“Oh, and I’m supposed to just forget about the fact that you’ve been fucking multiple women for years? It’s easy for you to say, Boston.”

“That’s exactly what I’m getting at, Bowie. If you can’t separate it, then maybe we need to rethink our strategy here.”

“Was that your plan all along, Boston?” I level with him. “Because if it is, I could go after you for fucking everything. I’ve got proof. You need to decide what you want to do. Do you want to be fair about this or are you out for blood.”

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