Page 108 of Brassy Bigwig

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

D shouts, “Because I love you.”

Knowing how much I cared for him until now, hearing him say the words I’ve been thinking, hits me hard. There have been a few times recently, like this morning, when I felt like he was going to say it. Like he ached to say it, but something was holding him back.

Is this it?

The fact that he’s chosen this moment to tell me is fucking bullshit. I don’t know whether or not to believe him. Is he only saying it because he thinks I’ll get over him going to dinner with another woman—no… his fucking ex-wife? Or does he genuinely mean it?

“You’re unbelievable. Did fucking your assistant have something to do with your divorce?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe you. Do you lie to everyone you love…?”

“I’m telling you the truth. She left me for someone else. There’s a lot more to the story than you know, Chloe.”

“I can’t imagine why she would want to leave you, D.”

“She was cheating on me, too. Our whole marriage was a fucking disaster. We were completely wrong for one another.”

“I don’t care! I sat in front of you the night you followed me to the club and told you exactly how I felt about liars and cheaters. And you didn’t say one word. You sat there acting like a fucking saint who would never do anything like that.”

“I didn’t. This is what I wanted to talk to you about tonight. I wanted to tell you before something like this happened, but I was scared. Chloe, I’m a stupid fucking coward who is terrified of losing you forever. The whole week in Greece, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you. I wanted to know you, to spend time with you. At dinner, I fell in love with your personality. The night we spent together was one of the greatest nights of my life. When I woke up and you were gone, it felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest.”

Yeah… he’s told me this story before. The first time I heard it, I practically melted into the marble floor. This time, I still want to melt, but my icy exterior is keeping me in place.

“When Dex called me and told me he found you and who you were, it took me less than thirty minutes to realize I wanted to pick up my entire life and move here so we could be together. I knew then I would do anything to keep you from leaving me again.”

God, why is this so fucking hard? He lied. I’ve been sitting here, listening to him for longer than I should have already. I have a firm no liars and no cheaters policy.

D is both.

My heart is burning, threatening to destroy my resolve. But fortunately, my brain is putting up a tougher fight.

“Well, your plan failed. I don’t ever want to see you again. Consider this my resignation.”

“No! Chloe, stop.”

His words cause me to halt, but I don’t turn around and look at him. I can’t.

“Please don’t do this. Don’t leave like this.”

He’s right behind me. I can feel his breath on the back of my neck. I can hear the pain in his voice as tears start to pool in my eyes.

“Chloe, please… please don’t give up on us. I was going to tell you tonight, I just wanted to get rid of her and make sure she was gone for good this time.”

I honestly don’t know what to say to him. I deserved the truth when I asked for it. It may not have been a flat-out lie, but a lie by omission stings just as much.

“Chloe—”

“Goodbye, Dimitrios.” I whisper to him over my shoulder with tears in my eyes and a painful crack in my heart.

“This isn’t over, Chloe,” I hear him shout just before the elevator doors close, and I leave D’s office for the last time. Hailing a cab, I hop in and pull out my phone to text Shelby. I’m reminded of the last time I felt this way, which was also caused by D.

Me: I’m on my way home. To the APARTMENT. Get out the wine. One bottle won’t be enough.

I ride the entire way home in both silence and disbelief.

---