Page 76 of The Monster I Loved
The woman studied me intently through narrowed eyes. “That’s what all addicts say. When you told me about working with him, fine; but, Summer, the Fitzgeralds are monsters. You know that better than anyone.”
A switch flipped inside me when she called them monsters. My toes curled, and my shoulders tensed as I went on the defensive.What do you mean, monster?Monster was a stretch. Thaddeus made a horrible mistake, and I, more than anyone, had the right to be upset, but he wasn’t thoroughly bad. He’dalways possessed a compassionate side. It was just buried deeply for a while.
As the prickly feeling grew, I had to remind myself that Olivia knew Thaddeus only after he’d made headlines for hurting my dad. She’d never seen any of the gentle or kind glimpses I’d gotten from him. I doubted whether even Mimi had seen anything close to that.Even with our marriage being forced, it will hold a lot more water than theirs. “Olivia, don’t be dramatic. He’s not a monster. He madeonemistake.”
Her jaw fell open, and she lifted a hand to my forehead to check if I was unwell.
I swatted Olivia’s hand away. This was the second time she’d looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe it was out of character, but our situation had dramatically changed since he was released. For all the deadbeats that were roaming the planet, I was lucky to end up with someone who clearly showed an interest in our child’s future.
But he murdered your father, a voice in my head echoed. This marriage would look insane to most people. Was I losing the plot agreeing to this?So much for that proud stand you took before. My forehead wasn’t hot, but my conscience was in a battle. I was sitting here defending the man I’d spent years attacking. Well, he was the father of my child and future husband, so I might as well get used to it.I have to put my emotions aside for the sake of the child. Yes, I was doing this because a broken family was the last burden I wanted to put on a newborn once they entered the world.
I spent the rest of breakfast explaining everything to Olivia, and while I managed to convince her I hadn’t lost my mind, she had no confidence that there would ever be a happy ending in my future if I went down this path.
I’d expected that and didn’t need her or anyone else’s confidence. What she didn’t understand was Thad and I meanttill death do us part. Even without ever taking the vows. Both of us had always planned a future with the other. It was never going to be any other way.
After my breakfast with Olivia, I hurried to work. I was twenty minutes late, so everyone would be in the conference room already, my empty seat signaling my lateness. I hurried through security to the elevator and pressed the button. It wasn’t until the doors closed that I noticed the guard hadn’t made me walk through the metal detector. Before I could think more about it, the elevator opened. I tossed my purse and jacket on my desk, took the file, and rushed to the conference room. Taking a few deep breaths outside, I pushed the door and found one of my coworkers mid-sentence.
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” I said, with my body half bent, hurrying to my seat.
She looked annoyed but didn’t say anything.
“Continue,” Thad said, then squinted at me.
My phone vibrated.
Thad
I see you’re already taking advantage of carrying the boss’s baby.
A gasp escaped me, and I quickly lifted a hand to cover my mouth.
“Summer, now that you’re here, you can tell us about the permits and regulatory compliance updates.”
I opened my folder and began to explain that things were looking good. As I spoke, my eyes landed on Thad. To think I once used the wordmonsterto describe him. He was gorgeous. Nobody that gorgeous could possibly be a monster. As he sat across the long desk, I admired him. Whatever was in Thad’s DNA, Fitzgerald needed to bottle and sell. Women would paylots of money for their skin to look like they’d just had a facial every day. He probably washed it with only shower gel too. Then there were his eyes. Hmmm, I’d never seen better eyes than his. They seem to help this dim room sparkle. I couldn’t stop staring, but I didn’t want the change in our relationship to become public yet, so I eventually tore my eyes away.
Somebody else started talking, and I took a second to compose myself.
Another message from Thad popped up on my screen:
You look good today. Definitely glowing.
I pressed my mouth firmly together, but it was no use. I broke into a smile. Thad had been showering me with compliments these days. He said it was all the things he’d wanted to say but denied himself, so there was no stopping him now.
“Summer, did you hear my question?” someone asked.
Erm . . . nope.
Thankfully, Thad repeated it. “Yes, Summer, when will you visit the town planning department to get those copies?”
“They will be delivered within the hour.”
Thankfully, my part of the meeting was over.
Thad
Where were you? Should I be jealous?
What do you want to eat for lunch?
