Page 110 of Brassy Bigwig

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

DIMITRIOS

I never should have let her walk out.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I told myself not to make her stay. To give her time to get her anger out and by doing so, she would contact me when she was ready. But that backfired, and she’s been going strong for seven days.

It’s been the most agonizing week of my life.

I haven’t left the penthouse in days. I told the staff Chloe had to take some time off, and I was going to work from home.

Carla reached out to me to let me know there has been a lot of talk circulating around the office. Randall and Luis approached her not long after Chloe broke up our meeting. She could see there was something between Chloe and I the moment she saw us together for the first time.

She never said anything because Chloe was great at her job, and she started long before I even moved to New York. I gave her a brief explanation of how Chloe and I met in Greece and hit it off, but we fell out of touch. She couldn’t believe how big a coincidence it was that she began working for me without knowing it. She promised me she would quiet any and all rumors floating around and see to it that Chloe will be protected if she ever decides to return.

I pray every day she does.

When I got home from work the day after she left, I realized a number of her things were missing. I pulled up the security footage for that day and watched as she and Shelby collected her belongings. The sight of it hurt almost worse than watching her walk away.

I’ve sent countless bouquets of flowers to her, apologizing in each and every one. Begging for her to give me another chance. To see my only fault was trying to hide a dark part of my past. A side of me that died before she and I ever met.

When it felt to me like flowers were getting old, I switched to food deliveries. I sent her drunken noodles, her favorite sandwich from Katz’s, chicken parmesan from the Italian place up the street that she likes, hot and sour soup.

I’ve texted, called, and showed up at her door only to have Shelby or Reed tell me she doesn’t want to see me.

Not only do I miss her, but I’m scared Blake is going to get to her. Clint hasn’t finished reviewing all of the footage I asked him to review. If I can get a shot of Blake on any of the floors of my building, I may be able to get him arrested for trespassing.

But there is a part of me that’s even worried to do that now. If I fail in having him arrested, he could go after Chloe because of it. And I’m not there to protect her from him anymore.

Walking through the penthouse is depressing. It’s almost like living with a ghost. The cup of coffee I made for her that morning sits in my sink, unwashed. Her lip gloss has long since hardened to the ceramic.

A few nights after our run in with Blake at the bar, Chloe told me she was upset we never got to dance together that evening. So I put on some music, and we danced around the penthouse, talking and laughing for hours.

Now as I walk through the space, I can hear the echo of the music that played that night. I can see Chloe in her red dress, hair and makeup done, and the biggest smile on her face. Holding on tightly as I spun her around and around. I can picture her naked body pressed up against the window in the great room while I fuck her from behind that first day we left the office.

I walk to the bar and pour myself a double bourbon. The warm, amber liquid burns going down, and the heat spreads into my arms and legs, somewhat relaxing me. Taking to the sofa, I remove my phone from my pocket and sit down. I pull up my messages and scroll through what I’ve sent Chloe since last week.

Me: Chloe, please talk to me. I need you to understand that I had plans to tell you the entire time. I wanted to tell you as soon as she approached me, but things aren’t that easy when Emilia is involved. She’s a vulture, and I wanted to get her out of the city and away from you as quickly as possible.

Me: I was going to tell you tonight over dinner. After that, I wanted to tell you and show you just how much I love you. Because I do, Chloe. I love you so damn much.

Then nothing for a few more days. I didn’t want to bombard her.

Me: Good morning, théa. I know you’re still angry with me, but I’m not giving up on us. I haven’t given up since the moment I woke up in an empty bed in Greece…

Then from just a couple days ago.

Me: You not being here tears me in two. Please just let me know if you’re okay.

Me: He must still be watching us somehow. I added additional measures of security to the Wi-Fi to keep him out, but I haven’t received any more letters. He knows you’re gone, Chloe. Away from me and the safe haven I tried to build for you. That scares me more than the thought of never seeing you again.

I close my messages to Chloe and open a new one to Shelby. For a week, she’s also been ignoring me, which I completely understand, but I still try. I need to know what’s going on.

Me: How is she today?

This time, I see the three dots pop up on the screen. For the first time in a week, is one of them actually going to answer me?

After ten minutes, she finally responds.

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