Page 70 of Sugar Pie
As we made it closer to the street, I spotted a small crowd near the limo, surrounding a camera and bright lights.
I covered my eyes and assumed for a minute that there must have been some accident on the street. “I made a spreadsheet and timeline while the documents were being prepared about when we can have the spec house done.”
He focused on the group too. “Sounds good.”
Neither one of us said much else, and I noticed that he’d thinned his lips. He placed his hand on my back as if he would protect me as I asked, “Who is that?”
His grip tightened around my waist. “Run and get in the limo.”
My heart raced as I did, but I slowed a few feet later when faces became clear. I walked, and Warren slowed to stay with me. I pointed. “Wait. Romeo’s with the group.”
Warren gently nudged my arm. “It’s better if we go now.”
My heart pounded. My ex should not have been there, so I stopped. He was my problem, not Warren’s. I didn’t blink and met his gaze directly, which had been rare when we were married. Then I put my hand on my hip and asked, “Romeo, who are these people?”
He pointed to a woman in a business suit behind him. “I had you declared mentally unfit to make your own decisions, Kerry, and I brought your guardian ad litem to meet you.”
“You don’t have the power!” Warren shouted.
My stomach twisted as I imagined the two people with the van being there to take me to a mental ward. I hoped Warren was right. I hadn’t thought that Romeo would so easily agree, but I did think that the money and my lawyer might have been enough.
I should have known he would show up, but I refused to tremble as I said as plainly as I could, “We’re divorced. It’s been filed and finalized. Just because I don’t want anything from you doesn’t mean I’m unfit. I’m doing fine on my own.”
Two of the people in the group backed up.
Warren held my waist and said, “Call your lawyer, Kerry, and get in the limo, now.”
I walked with him to his limo. As he opened my door, I said to the woman in the suit, “Falling in love with someone other than my ex doesn’t make me crazy. If you’re from the court, you should know that.”
The woman with dark hair in front of the camera held her phone camera in my face. “Wait. Did you say you’re in love with Warren Norouzi?”
“Yes.” I didn’t blink. I’d read his name.
Warren pushed in beside me then closed the door. “Get the cameras out of her face.”
My gut twisted. There was more to the story. I took Warren’s hand and asked, “What’s going on?”
Outside, the dark-haired woman with the phone camera clearly said as we drove off, “We found Warren Norouzi, son of the first tech trillionaire.”
Trillion.My ears buzzed as we peeled out and sped away. My mind raced. “Warren?”
“I’ll explain later.” He texted on the phone.
Our relationship flashed before my eyes. My stomach tightened as I realized that I’d thought he was my equal or even lower than me because he worked with his hands. But his money meant he was even more well-off than my parents or Romeo.
I was a fool. He loved me? He was the guy my mother would have wanted for me, and I wanted to be free of her opinions. My entire body heated as we headed to a country road that eventually led to a highway.
I would not cry. I was frozen. I hadn’t broken free from anything. I’d jumped out of Romeo’s home and into Warren’s arms.
The truth was that I’d accomplished nothing. When we were absolutely alone, approaching the plane, I asked, “Was that true?”
Warren nodded. His face was red. I massaged the back of my head to remind myself I’d be okay. Money was money.
It felt like he had lied, though. And if he lied, then everything else could have been a lie. He stared at the road and said, “First, call Jeff. Your ex clearly wanted to have you committed, though that was never presented in court.”
The ice on my skin wormed its way toward my heart. “Okay, but the conversation isn’t over.”
“Fair enough.” He glanced at me.
