Page 105 of Love Marks

“No better gift than ruining the life of some scum who deserves it, right?” He grins.

I don’t breathe. I don’t blink. I hardly register my own movements as I haul George by the collar, throwing him against the wall of the elevator and crushing him in an iron grip.

“Don’t ever fucking talk about her like that again. Whatever this shit is, reverse it, get rid of it. I don’t care what you have to do, just do it.” I inhale, trying to force myself to calm down. “If you have any fucking sense, George, avoid me for a while.”

His eyes are wide as I release him and stumble out of the elevator. Pete’s waiting and I’m still holding this fucking folder in my hands. I can’t bring myself to look at it.

I settle into the back of the car, my heart still racing. I’m pumped up on adrenaline, I think, because my hands are still shaking. Maybe it’s just rage.

“You good back there, boss?” Pete asks, eyeing me in the mirror.

“Yeah. Fine.” I grip the folder tighter. I should just throw it away, but I can’t. Not yet. Not until I can figure out exactly what the fuck George has done and how far it’s gone and fix it.

I clench my fist, rage bubbling within me. I need to get back in control of the situation. I can feel it slipping away from me, and my chest clenches uncomfortably at the thought. I have to fix this. I have to take care of her.

My jaw hardens and I grind my teeth, anxiety rising in me. “Just drive.”

***

“Surprise!”

I should have known. I sensed something was off with Quinn all week, but I had no idea it was this. Why would she do this? Why would she invite them all here?

Ben is talking, but I barely hear him. I’m stuck looking past him, towards the hallway that Quinn disappeared down to my office. I’m sweating. What’s taking her so long? She didn’t open the folder, did she?

A pang of guilt hits me.

Trust. I’m supposed to trust her. She wouldn’t look through my personal files. She wouldn’t do that.

“Are you even listening to me?” Ben waves his beer in front of my face.

“Not really.” I take a sip of my beer. “Why are we doing this? A party? Really?”

He sighs. “There’s not one part of you that likes this? Seeing me? Mom? Your friends? Quinn? All together in one place, celebrating you.”

“Well. I don’t like you, and I don’t have friends.” I glance over to where my mother is currently chatting with two older men. “Who even are those guys?”

“I think mom’s boyfriends.” Ben finishes his beer and gestures to my half-full bottle. “Want another one?”

I shake my head. He goes into the kitchen, and I yell after him. “Boyfriends? Plural?”

I take another pull from my beer and glance back towards the hallway. What is taking so long? I look around and everyone has broken off into conversations. The song changes to something upbeat and luckily nobody is pulling me aside for birthday wishes, so I slip out of the room and down the hall.

I press open the door to my office, but it’s empty. “Quinn?” I call out, checking my bedroom, but she’s not there either.

That’s when I see the bathroom light is on. I approach the closed door and knock twice. “Quinn? Baby?”

She finally answers a few moments later. “Yeah?”

“You okay? You’ve been gone for a while.”

“I’m—” She breaks off and I wait. “I’m not feeling very well. I think it must have been the takeout I got for lunch.”

My heart drops. She’s sick? I jiggle the door handle. “What’s wrong? I’ll get you some water and take care of you.”

“No! No. Pete is waiting for me downstairs. I’ll just head home. Go enjoy your party.”

I growl against the door. “No. I don’t even want—”

---