Page 46 of The Art of Deception

Chapter Thirteen

ALEX

Well, don’t I feel like shit.

The heat of the water beats on my back as I stand in the shower, trying to contemplate how this went so incredibly wrong. I knew telling Tomi would be rough, and I knew she’d react, but what I didn’t count on was her finding out before I had a chance to break it to her in the right way.

She wasn’t meant to find out like that.

I was supposed to explain things.

Bringing her here tonight was stupid.

It was a snap decision, and now it’s cost me everything.

I never even thought about the certificates on the wall or the file I was working on, the one I carelessly left on the coffee table—wide-fucking-open. Full of details about Tomi’s new shop. How I’m designing it for her. How I’m going to pay for the setup and the rent. How she and Levi are going to be okaybecause of me.

She wasn’t meant to see it.Not like this.

If she had only scanned the first page, she would have seen my business card. Maybe even the notes about the demolition on Hope & Faith Ink.That would have been enough. That would have explained everything before she had the chance to spiral.

But I didn’t think.

I.Didn’t. Fucking. Think.

Stupid.

Dumb.

Foolish.

I clench my jaw so tight it hurts, my fingers digging into my scalp before I slam the side of my head with a thud. The impactis dull, but it doesn’t matter—it’s not enough to knock the sheerfucking stupidityout of me.

How could I be so careless?

The hurt in her eyes was clear, but the anger, the rage, that seeped from every pore. I wanted to go after her, to stop her from leaving, to try and explain everything, but I knew attempting to force the issue then and there would only push her even further away. Tomi’s stubborn. Actually, more than stubborn. In that moment, she wouldn’t have heard anything I had to say.

I have to give her time to cool down, and it kills me.

But mark my words, I will tell her about the new studio and explain everything the way it should have been done. The way I had planned, if my needs didn’t overrule my sanity.

The news hit her harder than it was supposed to because of the way she found out.

I was going to break it to her gently.

The right way.

What a total fuck up!

Every bit of this ismy fault.

What the hell was I doing, bringing her here?There’s too much ofme, Alex Scott, in this damn penthouse. Leaving her alone was a huge mistake and an even bigger regret.

Turning off the faucet, I step out of the shower, my skin bright red from the heat of the water. I wrap the towel around my waist and rub my hand along the mirror to remove the fog. A hazy reflection of myself appears in the mirror, and I detest the man I see before me.

I lied to her.

All this time, I believed I was protecting her, but I was being selfish because I was only protecting myself.

---