Page 77 of Serving the CEO

And maybe, at some point, I’d be able to get drunk enough to forget the entire thing. But, for now, I was stuck playing it over and over again in my head, every humiliating, excruciating second of it.

What the fuck had happened?

It had all been going fine except for that one little hiccup and I’d fixed that. For two months, I’d had her hot, willing, all but begging me and I’d been convinced I’d have her that way for the nextyear.

Now, just a couple of hours ago, she’d decided she couldn’t marry me. Literally at the last possible second.

What the fuck?

I was furious…and mortified. I wanted answers.

Except I wasn’t sure it even mattered. She’d already told me what counted.

I can’t marry you.

I’d be damned if I let her know how much her desertion had bothered me. Hell,Ididn’t even know why it bothered me so much other than the fact that I hated she’d done it so publicly. Sure, the sex had been great and we’d enjoyed talking to each other, but it wasn’t as if I–

The door opened, letting light in and I snapped, “Get the fuck out.”

But it was Drew and he didn’t listen. He never did.

He settled in the chair across from me and stretched out his legs before speaking. “You drank all that today?” He gestured at my bottle.

“Get the fuck out,” I repeated, flipping him off for emphasis. A thought came to me as he returned the gesture. “You know what? This is your fucking fault. You’re the one who suggested the stupid marriage idea to begin with.”

His eyebrows went up, but his voice stayed even despite my accusation. “And I’m the one who asked earlier today if you were sure you wanted to go through with it. You were so convinced it was a brilliant idea.”

“Did you know she was going to bail?” I demanded, slamming my bottle down and leaning forward.

“Please.” He rolled his eyes.

“Then what the fuck was that this morning?”

He scowled, an edge coming to his words. “I already told you—and I think it’s the very reason whyshebailed. She developed feelings for you.”

“Then why wouldn’t she marry me?” I glared at him. “If she cares about me, wouldn’t she want tobewith me? That’s kinda what marriage is.”

“Because it wasn’treal,” he snapped. “If she cares about you, why the fuck would she want a marriage based on a business contract? Knowing that her new life with you would be over in a year and doesn’t mean more to you than fodder for a fucking book.”

“That wasn’t—” I stopped because thatwasthe purpose behind marrying her.Hadbeen. “She knew the deal from the beginning. I never lied to her about it. And she agreed to it.”

“Yes, she did,” Drew agreed. “But somewhere along the way, things changed for her. I think they changed for you, too. But you’re too stubborn to admit it.”

“Oh, what the fuck ever.” I grabbed for my bottle but Drew snagged it and I was too slow on the uptake to stop him. “Bastard.”

“You’ve had enough.”

“You stupid son of a bitch.” I stood on shaky legs. “Give it back.”

Drew stood up and blew out a slow, careful breath. “No. You need to drink some water and sober up.”

“Fuck off.”

He shook his head and turned away. “We’ll talk more later.”

He left, taking the scotch with him.

As the door shut, I grabbed an empty glass and flung it at the door, watching as the crystal shattered into tiny little shards.

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