Page 41 of Playing the Game
How did this happen?
It’s just one more reminder that someone has it out for Dorothy. I’m so far from understanding the rules of the game that’s being played that I’m terrified of finding out what’s in store.
The room clears, but I stay where I am with my head buried in my hands while trying to figure out how to get mylife back on track. I’m already worried I’m losing her, and this is the nail in the coffin.
A cold emptiness spreads through my chest as my heart collapses, a heavy weight settling within me. I don’t know what I feel worse about. Her losing her dream job or me losing my dream woman.
I stand and get ready to return to my office, feeling the size of a speck of dust. As I step forward, Isabella slides into the room and shuts the door behind her.
“I warned you, Hunter. I’m not fucking around. The sooner you realize that, the better your life will be.”
With a sickening gut punch, all the evilness falls into place, and the puzzle pieces click together.
I laugh at my stupidity. “How did you get the pictures?”
“They were anonymously delivered to me over the weekend.”
“Sure they were.” My eyes burn into hers, a furious glare that speaks volumes without a word. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you won’t win.”
“Don’t be so sure.” She tilts her head with a spiteful gleam in her eyes. “I’m not the one toying with you. I simply did you a favor before you blew yourself up.”
She’s too sure of herself, so I take the bait. “How so?”
“Dori and Jamison have been together for months. They’ve been playing you for a fool for some time now.”
I ball my hands into fists. I fucking hate Isabella’s confidence, so I dig deeper. “And you know this how?”
“I went out to dinner with them. They disappeared into one of the back bathrooms for quite a while. Let’s just say they seemed much more relaxed when they rejoined Melanie and me at the table.”
“Sure they did.” My sarcasm is evident.
She brings her nails to her face and inspects them. “You can ask Melanie if you don’t believe me.”
My stomach spits out bile. If there is another witness, Isabella isn’t lying. My insides twist.
I sent Jamison there to keep Dorothy and Isabella apart. He did that by seducing Dorothy in the restroom.
That information clears up a lot for me. I grit my teeth, remembering that was the night she told me she thought she wanted to be with Jamison. It all makes sense now.
Before Dorothy found out about his son and Lauren, she was ready to leave me and settle down with him. I couldn’t figure out how she felt so close to him when she claimed they were barely talking.
That wasn’t long ago. My heart folds into a pretzel, and my hands go numb.
How many other times have they been together?
I try to ignore the deceit and reach for the only leverage I have. “I’ll be at the doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Plan on getting the paternity test at that time.”
Isabella smiles like she won a jackpot. “I knew you’d come around. I’ll send you all the details once I get back to California this afternoon.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. The test will prove once and for all that I’m not the father of your baby.”
She shrugs. “We’ll see.”
I brush beside her and leave. I’m more than sick to my stomach, so I go straight home. Anything I do will only make matters worse, and at this point, I’m a shattered shell of a man.
Jonah agrees to let me tell Dorothy about the board’s decision. She’ll still have to go through the technicality of her termination, but at least she won’t be blindsided.
I roll my eyes at that thought. She’s going to be blindsided no matter what. There’s no softening the blow.
