Page 120 of Perfect Assumption
“Do nothing. I’m leaving.”
And the sick feeling churns more. “No. Angel, we have to…”
“We? Do ‘we’ get eviscerated in the media each and every time XMedia’s golden boy is mentioned in the news? No.Ido, Ward. Me.” She slaps her hand against her chest.
“But…”
“But what?”
I step closer until I see each and every track from her tears on her face. Since she hasn’t shed a single one since I’ve been in the room, I can only believe she was crying while I was trying to eject Mike out of my condo. Another thing to send him to hell for, I think furiously. “You’re not alone anymore. You have an army at your back.” Me. I’m there.
Angie closes her eyes. Her body sways, and it leans toward mine instinctively. Just as I’m about to pull her into my arms, her eyes fly open. “I thought I had an army of people at my back the first time too. Then their faith in me broke one by one. You think Sula and I didn’t figure out he bought the outcome?” With that, she hauls her bag off the bed.
My anger takes over. I yell, “So, that’s it? You’re just leaving without giving any of us a chance?”
Angie pauses in the entrance of the doorway. “No, that’s not it.”
My heart sighs in relief. Too soon, it turns out when she speaks her next words. “Nothing in my life has been perfect—nothing but your love. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t meant to last.”
I’m not certain how she walks down the hall carrying the weight of my heart along with her bag.
I don’t move until I hear the condo door close for a second time. Then, I sink into a chair in my room and let the tears come.
After all, Angie taught me it’s okay to cry when the pain is overwhelming.
* * *
I spentthe weekend working frantically to block every move Mike might make. I contact Jared Dalton—my former boss at Watson, Rubenstein, and Dalton—who recommends using his brother-in-law’s security and investigation firm to get the information I need.
Sunday night, I receive a file that made me ill after reading it. Literally. I thought I might find some financial data I could use over Mike to prevent him from hurting Angie. Some shady XMedia dealings. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the investigators at Hudson would provide me with the data to screw him in the court of public opinion even if “None of the women in this file are willing to press charges, let alone go to the media. Tragically, for most, their state has a statute of limitations for pressing charges. However, they may still have a civil case should they choose to pursue it. I’d recommend an excellent lawyer,” Colby Hunt’s email read.
The file showed a direct link between women who had either received hush money after sexual altercations with Michael Clarke or—if they were like Angie and brave enough to press charges—hush money payouts to witnesses. It dated back ten years beginning with the buyout of student and faculty members of Angie’s college and members on the Student Conduct Board.
By Monday, I’ve prepared myself to use everything I printed out in my safe at home to protect the woman I love. But when I walk into the office at 8:00 a.m., she’s not there. My heart racing, I walk straight back without our normal morning banter.
Instead of finding her talking with Carys— or God help us, Becks —I find my sister and David poring over a document, frowns on both of their faces. The looks don’t change when they spot me. If anything, they intensify. “I take it saying ‘good morning’ would be an inappropriate greeting?”
Neither says a word as I cross to my office, drop my briefcase, and shrug off my overcoat. Just as I pick up the phone to call Angie, I spot an envelope on my desk.
I drop the handset back into the cradle. My hands begin to shake as I reach for it.
I immediately slit open the back of the envelope.
Her words are brief, but then again, the death of one’s soul doesn’t have to be drawn out for the effect to be the same.
I know you think I’m strong enough because I pieced together my life. But really, that just makes me weaker, more vulnerable to…everything. I wish I had the strength to fight because the only thing worth fighting for is you.
I told the truth then, and I told you the truth when I said, ‘I love you.’ Even if no one else believes it, I hope you do.
I do love you, Ward. Despite what you might hear, that part was true. I just need some time to wrap my head around it all happening again.
I’ll be back.
~A~
I’m standing there in shock when a knock on my doorframe pulls me from my stupor. “I take it you know what this is about?” Carys waves her own paper in the air.
“I knoweverything.” I emphasize the word. Quickly, I give my sister a rundown of what happened Saturday morning and what I’ve been doing since.
