Page 86 of Brassy Bigwig

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I spit through gritted teeth once I’m facing her where she sits in the back of a Town Car.

“Is there somewhere private where we can talk?”

I hate the sexual connotation she uses as she utters the word private. It’s how she used to speak to me when she wanted something and was going to use sex in order to get it from me.

“No. Why are you here?” I refuse to look at her as I question her again.

“You’re not taking my calls. I had to do something to get you to talk to me.”

“I don’t want you here.” This time, I lean down and stare straight into her cold eyes, enunciating each word as it leaves my lips. “Go. Home.”

“I want you back, D.”

“That’s never going to happen,” I laugh in her face.

“We’ll see.” She purses her lips as she looks me up and down. “I’ll expect a phone call from you this week, letting me know when and where you’re taking me for dinner. We have a lot to discuss.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“I would hate for your little plaything to find out she’s merely a habit you can’t quit. She probably thinks she’s special,” she mocks, clicking her tongue. “Poor girl. If you refuse to meet with me, then I’ll hunt her down and tell her all about your adventures with the slut who screwed you over in Torrance.”

Red paints my vision as I think about Emilia getting anywhere near Chloe. I don’t need to tell her that Chloe is already well aware of Kendra, but that wouldn’t stop Emilia from going after her anyway.

“At least she was smart and wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. That one there…” she nods her head toward the doorway Chloe walked through only seconds earlier. She pauses as she thinks about what she is trying to say. No doubt whatever comes out of her mouth will be vicious and spiteful. “She seems… simple. Plain. Of no consequence whatsoever.”

I ball my hands into fists and squeeze tightly to keep myself from reacting to Emilia. That’s what she wants, and I refuse to let her feel any amount of satisfaction at Chloe’s expense.

“Once she realizes she’s no longer unique, hopefully she’ll have enough self-respect to leave you. Although, how much does she really have to begin with to be sleeping with her boss? Come to think of it, maybe I won’t even bother with Plain Jane. She doesn’t seem like much fun to play with anyway. Maybe I’ll go to your board of trustees and tell them how worried I am about your pattern of destructive behavior. Maybe I’ll send an anonymous tip to the news outlets that hints toward foul play within Okeanós. The possibilities are endless, D.”

I don’t doubt she would spark a news story and then stand by my side, attempting to play the role of supportive wife while she watches my empire burn. That’s exactly the kind of narcissistic sociopath she is.

I feel frozen. Stuck. Completely worthless and weak, just like I did when we were married. When I don’t respond, she speaks again.

“I expect a call this week, Dimitri. Otherwise…” she cocks an eyebrow before winding her window up.

Finally, as her car pulls away from the curb, the fire I felt when I first laid eyes on her returns. Quickly, I rush inside, pulling my phone from my pocket as I make my way to the elevator. I pull up my messages and slam my thumbs down on the screen, frantically typing out a message to Dex and Bianca. If there’s anyone in the world who can give me the advice I need right now, it’s them.

Me: 911!

Dex Truitt: What’s up, man?

Me: Are you home right now? I really need to talk to you.

Bianca Truitt: What’s wrong? Are you okay?

Me: Yes and no. I’ll explain it to you when I get there. I need a few minutes to finish getting Chloe’s things loaded into the car. After that I’ll come over.

Dex Truitt: Okay, see you soon.

Pocketing my phone once again, I exit the elevator and walk toward the girls’ apartment. I overhear them talking once I step inside and close the door. Their conversation is like a complete one-eighty to the one I just had with Emilia.

“… just never felt this way before. Shel, I’m falling in love with him.”

My heart stops for the second time in five minutes. This time, though, I welcome it. Hearing Chloe say she’s falling in love with me stokes a different fire within me. I hear some sniffling coming from the kitchen, but I don’t know which girl it’s coming from. Perhaps both.

“I really am happy for you. You know that, right?”

“Of course, I do,” Chloe reassures a sobbing Shelby.

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