Page 7 of Parker
“Please, what, Nicky? You know I can’t give you the designs, even if I wanted to. You haven’t even thanked me for bailing you out of the police station.” His emerald-green eyes bore into mine. He looks hurt rather than angry. Broken, almost.
“Thank you,” I mumble.
“Very sincere. Go away, Nicky. Please. Haven’t you ruined my life enough already? Or are you determined to torture me some more?”
“I’ve ruined your life?” My voice is high, borderline manic. “What about you sticking your cock in your PR staff? Or does that not count? Never mind the fact that you treated me like a criminal. You’re one to talk.”
He throws me a dark look, furious at my accusation. Not the one about him being a criminal. We both know he is, even if he doesn’t want to be.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Nothing is going on with Ebony. You created this whole drama in your twisted little mind and have wrecked our marriage. The other stuff we could have worked out.” He keeps his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear us.
I don’t care who hears. Shooting to my feet and picking up a glass sitting on his desk, I hurl it at him across the room. It smashes against the wall, and shards scatter across the floor.
“You bastard,” I hiss. “I have nothing.”
“And whose fault is that?” His words are blunt, detached. “Now leave. You’re not welcome here. Put any further communication through my lawyer.”
As I turn away, I let go not only of my designs and me with them, but my last fragile hope that something could be salvaged from our past. He doesn’t spare me another look, as if I’ve already vanished.
I slam the door on my way out, striding from his office, attempting to hold back the sobs.
And just like that, the desolation swallowed everything we could’ve been.
Chapter three
Parker Fashion House, Glasgow
Joel
The door to my office slams closed as the only woman I’ve ever loved storms out. She hurled crystal at me moments ago, and all I want to do is go after her, make sure she’s alright.
But there are too many eyes between these walls. Too many mouths ready to report back. I must stick to the plan.
Nicky and I are over.
All I can do is ensure she is safe from afar, even if she hates me and refuses to ever speak to me again.
My mother would sacrifice her without blinking.
I’d burn this place to the ground before I let that happen.
This past year, everything spiraled out of control too fucking fast. I went from being happy with my soul mate, who looked at me with nothing but admiration… to being alone. The only comfort left now is my own company. And it burns.
I want nothing more than to hand her those damn designs and be done with it. But doing so would leave my life notworth living. My role in the system I live in is becoming more complicated each day as increased responsibility lands on my shoulders. When you lead others, lead by example, even if it is the last thing you want.
Nicky reverted to her old ways, and I don’t know why. We were happy, and she stole from us when there was no reason to. She had nothing to prove. There was nothing to be gained from lying, other than self-gratification. I never saw that trait in her before her betrayal.
The downfall began when Ebony discovered Nicky had copied a previous designer’s work. All the patterns were logged in our computer archives years before she ever stepped foot in Parker Fashion. Ebony presented the undeniable evidence. My wife was a thief.
It broke my heart, wondering where I’d gone so wrong. Why did she feel the need to steal? Was it to live up to my family name? It’s the only reason I can half-believe. I trusted our relationship was stronger than that.
Her belief in herself was always fragile. Twisted by a past that told her she wasn’t good enough to move in my family’s circles.
She was wrong.
The only person who failed was me. Failed to make her feel secure. Failed to show her she had nothing to prove. That she was enough, flawed but perfect.
Nicky’s success wasn’t why I loved her. Sure, the way she stepped up within the business made me proud, but that was because I understood what she’d overcome. But her refusal to admit her error had compounded the problem. It led to her dismissal. The board fired my wife from our family business. There was no other option.
