Page 53 of For Wrath and Redemption
“Women do these things when they’ve been scorned.”
I laugh. It’s strangled, sorrow wrapped in fury, and it’s honestly sad how not surprised I am. For as angry as I am at him, though, I’m more angry at myself.
I let this happen.
I let it get this far.
I should have ended it the day I saw him in that boardroom. I should have been more vigilant about learning who he was before I fell for him.
I should have been fucking smarter. I sneer even though he can’t see me.
“Fine. I’ll finish up this job, and then I’m done. I expect a glowing letter of recommendation, and then I don’t want to hear from you again. If you attempt to blackball me, I’m taking this scandal to the tabloids.”
He laughs.
He actually fucking laughs at me.
“It’s your word against mine. No one will believe you.”
It’s a slap to the face. My cheek almost stings at the thought. And then I actually growl.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see, then. Fuck you.”
I hang up before he can respond. I’m panting and sweating, adrenaline pumping through my body so rapidly that I feel dizzy.
I lied to him. It was a bluff. But I’ll drag this out as long as I can. As long as I need to. He attempts to call me again, and I push ignore. I rush to my laptop and open the file for the MixMosaic campaign. He calls again, and I hit ignore again.
Then I delete every contribution I made for this campaign from the drive. Every design. Every idea. I remove it from the drive, then frommy computer and cloud. It’s done. The tech department may be able to retrieve it, but I won’t worry about that now.
Just as I delete my company account, Conrad tries to ring through once more.
I answer it and say one sentence.
“Call me again and I’ll get a restraining order.”
I hang up and block his number. I wipe at the tears on my cheeks. I take deep breaths. I step off the balcony and make my way to the bathroom, but then the door to the suite opens. I check the time on my phone. Hammond said the band meeting would last an hour, and it’s been exactly that.
I glance up at Jonah and force a smile, flattening my palm over my roiling stomach.
“How’d it go?”
He narrows his eyes. “Why have you been crying?”
I could say anything. Make any excuse. I’d watched a sad video. I’d read something upsetting. For some reason, though, I give him a sliver of the truth.
“They’re angry tears.”
His eyes slowly scan my face. His jaw pops. Then he takes two steps toward me.
“No one should have the power to make you feel like this. Especially not him.”
My eyebrows slant. I flinch. Then I laugh awkwardly. I wave him off and turn away.
“Trust me. I know.”
I turn my back to him and make my way to the bathroom. I can feel him staring at me. I’m steps from the door when his voice stops me again.
“We’ve got a change of plans today. Don’t straighten your hair. Don’t put on makeup. Wear tennis shoes. The car leaves in twenty minutes.”
