Page 69 of Catalyst

I cringe.Ouch.That stung a little. I open my mouth to defend myself, but Adam speaks before I can get a word out.

“This is the problem with you, Ellie. You think escaping your problems is a solution. Running away solved nothing for you. It only gave you the opportunity to hide. I’ve learned my lesson from the last time you tried to distract me, and a good fuck isn’t going to do jack shit to help this situation. No matter who’s offering.”

I bite my lip as my eyes begin to fill with tears. After Junior did what he did, I swore I’d never let another man treat me like I was trash, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.

So I stand up, turn my back on Adam, and leave the office without a word. I’d love to spout some amazing comeback to defend myself, but if I open my mouth, all that’s going to come out is a sob.

He doesn’t deserve to see me break.

Fuck. Him.

CHAPTER32

Ellie

“Oh,Ell. I’m so fucking sorry.” Katie’s voice comes through the speaker of my phone. I just finished telling her everything that happened yesterday with Adam. She was angry, of course, and made me laugh with the threats she shouted. I particularly liked her suggestion to put a laxative in his morning coffee. I debate doing just that when we’re back in the office on Monday, but I know I wouldn’t have the guts to follow through.

“What are you going to do?” Katie asks.

“Spend the next two days wallowing and then pull on my big girl panties and go to work on Monday.”

“You’re still going to work for that asshole?”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” I shrug my shoulders, even though she can’t see it. “I’m locked into a contract. The only way out of it is if something major happened or if I was in an unsafe environment.”

“His attitude isn’t safe for your mental health,” Katie grumbles.

I huff out a laugh. “You’re not wrong, but unfortunately, the company I work for doesn’t consider that as just cause for prematurely ending a contract.”

Katie murmurs something about misogynistic men getting away with whatever they want, and I smile. Having the support of my best friend is something I will never take for granted, and I make sure to tell her how much I appreciate her letting me vent and knowing she’d have my back, no matter what.

The conversation turns to Cody and how the school year has been going for the two of them. Katie has a really tough class this year with several kiddos who have extra needs that aren’t being met. She told me it wouldn’t be so bad if both the parents and the school would provide her with the tools to help teach them. Apparently, they’re the sweetest kids in the world, and it’s been breaking Katie’s heart not being able to teach them as well as she could.

As our conversation tapers off, Katie grows quiet, and I can tell she wants to say something but isn’t sure how to start. “Can I ask you something that might not be quite so… ‘Solidarity, sister.’”

“Of course.”

“Do you think he truly meant what he said? What if… maybe it was just a heat-of-the-moment situation? And I’m not saying it excuses what he said—he’s still an asshole—but what if, come Monday, he feels bad about what he said?”

I sigh. This is a question I’ve been avoiding thinking about since I got home yesterday. “I don’t know, Katie. He probably will apologize. I just… I have no idea what I’ll say back. He truly hurt me. How can I just forget that?”

“I don’t think you can. What he said was awful, Ellie. You didn’t deserve to be spoken to that way, no matter how mad he was.”

“I can hear abutat the end of that sentence.”

“But… up until this point, he’s practically been the perfect guy. He was bound to do something stupid.”

I chuckle at Katie’s cheekiness. “You’re right about him being a little too perfect. I’m still not sure I want to forgive him, though.”

“Nor should you. He needs to be properly punished. And I don’t mean in a sexual way. At least not yet.” Katie laughs.

I roll my eyes, but the levity is appreciated. “I’ll keep you updated on how Monday goes. You might get a text with a string of curses in all caps.”

“I’ll make sure to put a shovel in the trunk of my car. Just in case.”

“Perfect. Love you, Katie.”

“Love ya back!”

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