Page 22 of Collecting Her Debt

I know I'm falling in love with Colton, it's clear as the sky is blue, but right now as I kneel in front of his very expensive-looking toilet, I wonder if our relationship is causing more harm than good. Before I think better of it, I pick up my phone and pull up Zack's number. I have no idea if it's even the right one, but I’m hoping it is because I have some shit to say.

Me: You fucking bastard. How dare you. How dare you fuck with my life like this. Because of you, my entire professional career is up in the air. Due to what? Your feelings got hurt that I was fucking your dad instead of you? Or maybe you realized that he could do better than you? Is that it? Whatever the reason, I hope you're fucking happy. You wanted me to break it off with him. You just got your fucking wish.

I hit send, the tears falling slowly as the last few sentences sink in. I do have to break it off. I know I do. Because I know if I don't, he will be relentless and keep going, and I can't do that…to either of us.

Me: I hate you.

I send that last text as a farewell before I block and delete his number, wanting nothing to do with him ever again. After I throw my phone onto the bed, I set out packing my shit, taking a few of the clothes Colton bought me to tide me over until I can find some of my own.

As I head toward the front door, the weight of what I'm doing almost crushes me, and I stop, turning to face the hallway that leads to his office. The second I step foot into that room, memories of what happened here bombard me, causing my chest to get heavy and my breathing to tighten. I take out my phone, hook it up to the printer beside his desk, and print off the email from the school. I open his drawer, take out a pen, and write,I’m sorry. I can't do this anymore, at the top of the printout, then set it carefully down on the desk.

I know this is the right thing to do for both of us. Yet my heart disagrees as it breaks with every step I take, knowing that my life will never be the same.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

COLTON

Something’s wrong.

I peer down at my phone for the millionth time today, waiting for Sutton to text me back, but nothing comes. I start to panic as the seconds, minutes, then hours pass without a word from my girl. That pit in my stomach grows as I watch the clock.

“Colton, you okay?” Melody asks, her eyes wide as they peer over my desk, waiting for me to continue the meeting. Today has been a mess, from the board wanting to discuss my relationship with Sutton to PR needing to go over strategies to combat how this will look when it gets out. Honestly, I'm at my wit's end. I told Sutton that nothing came of Zack's emails to the board, knowing it would only stress her out, and to be honest, the guilt has been eating me alive. I want to share this burden with her, but I also know she has enough to deal with, and putting this on her isn't something I want to do, so I lied. I told her everything was fine and that nothing would come of it when, in fact, it's the exact opposite. Zack not only told all of my board members that I'm dating a younger woman, something they didn't bat an eye at initially, but when he framed it in a way that made it seem like we cheated on him, that was when they had the issue. The fact that I stole my son’s girlfriend wasn't something PR wanted to deal with when we’re launching a new product, even if it was the furthest thing from the truth.

The board is talking about me taking a more silent role in the company until they can figure out how to handle it if it does leak to the press, and I don't blame them. If I was in their position, I would do the same thing. But right now, I’m trying to reconcile the fact that my own son did this. My own flesh and blood was so angry and so enraged that he actively tried to ruin my career, and that’s something I don’t know if I will ever get over.

“Mr. Bishop?” Melody asks again, my eyes snapping to her as I play off my haze with a forced smile. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry, Melody. It's been a long day so my mind is…” I wave my hand, her sad smile telling me the gossip has gone around the office a time or two already. “Do you mind if we continue this tomorrow? I really would like to get out of here.” Melody stands, picking up her notebook and folders and hugging them to her chest.

“Of course, sir. Would you like me to continue setting up the Rose Bud account?” I mutter a curse under my breath, knowing this needs to be done and fast.

“If you don't mind, I would really appreciate it,” I say, the relief washing over me as my assistant nods before leaving my office. I pick up my phone and notice there is still nothing from Sutton before putting in a reminder to get Melody something nice as a bonus.

It doesn't take me long to pull into my gravel driveway, the house looming large in front of me as a stark reminder of what I've accomplished in this life. Before Sutton, this house used to remind me of my ex, something that cut deep every time I pulled up to the front gates, but now I just see my baby girl. I see her smiles, I hear her endless laughter, and most of all, I just feelher. Over the past few days, she's made this place feel like more of a home than I think it's ever been. I felt glimpses of it when she and Zack were together, but I never entertained anything at the time, knowing it was a horrible idea and also knowing how gossip would stir up if anything should happen.

Do I regret what’s developed between Sutton and me during these past few days?Hell fucking no. She's quickly turned into an addiction I can't seem to shake and one I refuse to allow out of my sight.

The second I walk into the house, I know she's gone. Her presence no longer lingers on every surface as I make my way into the kitchen, hoping by some miracle she's waiting for me. But when it comes up empty, I make my way into my office, and the second I open the door and see that piece of paper lying on my desk, my heart shatters.

My feet propel me forward, each step like quicksand as I make my way across the room, dreading reading what's on that piece of paper. I expected a note. I expected Sutton to tell me how much she hates to walk away from us, but what I get instead is a simple “I can't do this anymore” above an email. At first, the anger sets in, wondering if the connection I felt between us was fabricated by my heart and my heart alone. But then my eyes drift down, and I read the email below, and the anger for my son intensifies.

He got her kicked out of school.

The bastard fucked with her dream, and now she's walking away to protect herself. I crumple up the piece of paper, throwing it across the room as the anger sizzles beneath my skin. Before long, everything on top of my desk is now on the floor, glass jars shattering against the hardwood as my breaths come in heaving gulps of air.

Just as I'm about to throw my chair through the back window, I hear the front door open. I freeze in place, my heart stuttering at the thought of Sutton walking through that door, but as more time passes and I hear the heavy footfalls echoing down the hall, I know who it is. And the second his head pokes into my office, my hands fist at my sides, stopping me from lunging at him with all the anger seething inside me.

“What are you doing here, Zack?” I mutter through clenched teeth, wondering why he would even come here when it's obvious he hates me for what I did with Sutton.

“I wanted to talk,” he states matter-of-factly as if he didn't spend the past few weeks de-railing my entire life.

“You want to talk…?” Zack nods, his eyes wide as I pace the room, counting backward from ten over and over again to stop the anger from seeping through every word. “Okay, let's talk,” I say before leaning back against my desk and crossing my arms over my chest. “Let's talk about the fact that you went through my personal private folders, stole them, and used them against me. How about we talk about the fact that you tried to ruin my career by going behind my back to the board of directors and lying about my relationship with Sutton.”

“You were fucking my girlfriend, Dad!” he whines as if it would make a lick of difference to me.

“I wasn’t fucking done!” I scream, my fist hitting the wood beneath me, causing Zack to flinch. “Let me get one thing straight, okay? What happened between Sutton and I has nothing to do with you.” Zack opens his mouth to say something, but I shake my head, continuing. “Even further to that point, what will continue to happen between Sutton and me from this day forward will have no bearing on you because you will never see her again. Understood?” Zack stands there shell-shocked, wide-eyed, and stunned.

“She was my girlfriend…” he whispers as if that makes up for all the vitriol he's been spewing these last few weeks.

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