Page 27 of Between Now & Heartbreak

My head spins at her words. “What did you do?” I glance at him and he’s staring straight ahead like he’s in a trance.

“He pulled his dick out and asked me to suck it,” Julia flings at him.

A loud, high pitched gasp is followed by the scraping of chairs. Duke ’s mother is on her feet. Her face is mottled bright pink and she’s glaring at her Julia like she’s the devil.

“I’ve heard enough. We’re leaving.” She snaps at him before she turns on her heels. Her husband only hesitates for a minute before he’s on his feet, too. Her sons stand, albeit reluctantly and with their wives, follow her out.

“Mama —” Duke calls out to her but she doesn’t break stride or look back.

“Fix this, you fuck up,” his father snaps over his shoulder before he follows the rest of his family out.

“Drew, we should go, too. Cameron needs to get to bed.” Fiona says in a small apologetic voice.

My father stands, but he doesn’t acknowledge Fiona. Instead, he’s staring at Duke. He doesn’t say anything, but it’s clear from the very meaningful look on his face that this is something they’ve discussed.

“Don’t take it too personally. Fidelity isn’t how men show their commitment. That diamond and their last name,is.” He squeezes my shoulder hard and walks out, Fiona behind him trying to keep up.

I can feel Julia seething with impatience and my insides shrivel when I think about what she must have been through today.

“Dina, Georgia, can you please give us some privacy?” I level them with a stare that brooks no argument.

Georgia gives Duke a lingering glance that doesn’t bode well for any of us before she stands and leaves.

Dina stands, too. She’s got feral gleam in her eyes and Duke in her sights. “Can I stay? I don’t want to miss seeing you kick him in the nuts.”

Duke grabs my arm before I can finish scowling at her.

“Shecame on tome. I turned her down and she’s made my life hell ever since. I swear.” He says, his voice low and urgent.

“Youfilthyliar. I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.” Julia rushes up to us, her chin thrust forward and her hands balled in fist as she leans in to get in his face.

I have a terrible vision of this turning physical.

I pivot to put myself between them. “Julia, there’s been a mistake. I’ll go to HR on Monday and fix whatever’s wrong.”

She turns her vengeful gaze on me. “You think I want to work there again? No, I think I’ll take the money instead.”

“Whatmoney?” I turn to him and find him glaring at her, his eyes intent and full of

“I offered her money to go away. But you’re not getting shit from me, now.”

This is getting worse by the second. “Why did you offer her money?” I ask Duke, horrified by what an unmitigated disaster this is.

“Because she’s unhinged. I mean, look at her.” He waves a frantic hand in Julia’s direction. “Why would I risk what we have onthat?” he flings his hands out in her direction.

Julia gasps, her eyes bulging in anger. “How dare you?”

“Liz, take note. He fights dirty,” Dina chimes in unhelpfully, again.

I glare at her.

“Get out.” I growl.

She has the grace to look shamefaced as she slinks out of the room. As soon as the door closes behind her, I regret asking her to leave.

I’m alone in a pit of vipers.

“But now I want more. I want two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and I’ll get out of your hair.” Julia says as if it’s a reasonable demand.

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