Page 58 of Broken

The slightest dip of his brows is the only reaction. Our arms are still pressed between our bodies. Relaxing my grip on his wrist it takes him a moment to realize he’s free to pull away. When he does, it leaves me cold.

If he walks away after I told him that, I can’t face him again. How can something so simple as telling him about my profession cause such a visceral reaction? Why do I let it? I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Then it was all ripped away. Oh yeah, that’s why it hurts.

Garrett is watching me with those dark eyes of his. My heart stutters for a moment. There is empathy there. Not a word I would ever use to describe him. It’s almost as if he’s seeing inside me, right into my brain.

The fact he hasn’t left means something. Do I want to tell him? Not all of it. I can’t, it’s too awful and embarrassing.

“I’m not anymore.”

“Why?”

Such a simple word. Yet there is so much behind it.

“I owned my own company. It was very successful.”

As I talk, he steps away going back to the rail separating the promenade from the river below. Leaning one elbow against it, he never takes his eyes off me. I twist my fingers in the fabric of my skirt.

The silent question is written all over his face. What happened? Why are you here, working as a barista?

“My business… partner was stealing money. He…” I swallow hard and look out across the water.

Everyone in San Antonio knows of my downfall. It was plastered all over the news. The entire architectural industry knows. My reputation and company were destroyed. Why is it so hard to tell the truth to this man? Because I’m a fucking failure. No matter that it wasn’t my fault.

“He what?” Garrett prompts.

I almost forgot where I was, lost in the rising emotions.

“He was embezzling money from the company. For a long time. Not a lot at first, he covered his tracks. Then it got worse. He started to steal money from clients, big clients. He was creating false invoices, overcharging them.

“It’s complicated and messy. I didn’t know. Until an accusation was made and we were federally audited. Then a criminal case started,” I add quietly.

And that is the part that stings the most. I trusted Jared. There is no need to say anything about the rest of it, about the other things I learned about my husband.

“What happened to him?”

“He was arrested. We… Both were.”

Garrett straightens up, the anger clear in his expression.

“I was cleared,” I rush on.

Not before my name was dragged through the mud as being a part of the fraud. Not before my whole life was scrutinized and people I’d known and worked with for years stopped talking to me.

And the other thing. The one I refuse to think about, let alone tell Garrett.

“The damage was done. My name was blacklisted, and no one wanted to work with me. I owed money we didn’t have and had to declare bankruptcy. Then I came here.”

The last part rushed out, my voice high pitched. It’s a struggle not to let my emotions take over as I remember every horrible moment of finding out what he did. Being arrested, being vilified. Having to go through the ordeal of court, endless questions and smears.

“Hey,” Garrett steps closer, one hand going to my shoulder. “Breathe.”

My lips clamp tight together as I struggle to bring myself back from the verge of a panic attack. This is why I don’t talk about it with anyone other than Sin. Even with her it’s not a topic we raise.

Fuck, I need to get away from him. Why did I think I could tell him this? All because I want to know who the woman in his sketch book is.

Fucking idiot. This conversation is over. It’s more than I can handle right now. With him.

His palm is still cupping my bare shoulder. I’m drawn in by the scent of him. One I’ve dreamed about night after night as I relived the afternoon in my apartment. I don’t want his sympathy or pity. If I look at his face and see that right now, it will break me.

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