Page 16 of Behind the Scenes
“I went through all this trouble. I got the ring. I even called ahead for venues. Your parents will come into to?—”
“You talked to my parents?” I asked, my voice turning deadly.
Who the fuck does he think he is?
I stood, the metal of my chair screeching against the floor.
“Well, yes, since you haven’t talked to them in a long time, I thought it would be nice t?—”
“Get the fuck out of my house. Right now,” I hissed. “You know exactly why I don’t want to talk to them. Thanks to you, not only do they knowyounow, but I have to assume they know where I live as well. So no, I won’t even entertain this bullshit proposal. Get. The fuck. Out.”
His mouth flapped open, but after a few moments of silence, it would seem he finally got the hint. He stood with a huff and hesitated only a second before knocking the rest of the red wine glass onto the table, splattering it everywhere. Luckily, it missed the carpet.
Turns out Mr. Big-Time Prosecutor was a child.
“And Lenard? Don’t come back.”
I watched him leave, unable to stop my body from shaking with anger.
My parents?Out of everything, he had to go and dothat?
I had so much damage control to do, but I didn’t know where to start. I was too blinded by the rage and shock of it all.
Fucking asshole.
harley
. . .
My hand was gripping the cool glass so hard my knuckles began to hurt. The room was dark around me and so quiet I could hear the sound of condensation falling from the glass to the floor.
What I thought would be a nice, relaxing night listening to the person I loved turned into something uglier.
I sat down with a drink, ready to share a meal with her. Well, with her in my ears and in my mind.
And thenheshowed up.
His presence wasn’t surprising. I had known about their little get-togethers for some time, but it was the first time I had set up bugs in time to catch their conversation.
That guy’s an asshole.
I frowned and took my headset off, unable to listen to another word. I wished I had cameras to see Laura’s face when he slammed the box down on the table, but audio was all I had. I barely managed to get someone there to install the bugs inconspicuously while she flew back to New York.
And while I wanted to see her face, I also didn’t. Because she deserved so much more than that asshole. And while I knew she didn’t give a fuck about him or his offer, I wasbotheredfor her.
She deserved more than thatsorry-ass excuse of a proposal. She deserved to be spoiled. To be swept off her feet. To be showered in everything she ever wanted and everything she would ever need. Laura would work and make money because I knew it was her passion, but I would never let that woman want for anything in her life, whatever happened.
I would do what I needed to make sure that I had a safe cover for the both of us, but everything that was mine would be hers. My money. My heart. My life.
As soon as I saw her, my whole career path had changed. What had once just been money slowly building in my bank accounts was hers. Every single dime I had been stowing away had her name on it.
How could he not feel the same?
How could anyone on this earth see Laura and not want to lie themselves down at her feet and pledge their body and soul to her?
He was entitled. Egotistical, like most powerful men. But he’d just thrown the ring at her like it was hisrightto marry her.
The audacity.
