Page 78 of Man Vs. Woman
But it’s like my heart is ripped out.
“Colt, you need to understand something. Her ex-boyfriendandbusiness partner was cheating on her, literally right under her nose. She’s going to have trust issues,” she says in a soothing, therapeutic voice.
Is this what I’m doing? Searching for a therapist? Fuck, maybe. It does feel good to talk.
“I get that… I do. But I’m not that mutant. I’m notthatguy. I never gave her a reason to not trust me. Some of the things she said…God, they fucking hurt.” My confession pours out of me shockingly easy.
I eye my scotch, suspiciously. What in the hell did she put in this drink?
“I’m sorry. I am. But it’s not just Hoyt she had issues with. He was the latest in a long list of guys who have used and abused her. I’m not saying you’re anything like that. To be honest, I don’t see you having the capability to do that. But, it is her first instinct. It’s all she knows.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. It conveys empathy and sadness, and it breaks my heart that it’s directed towards Serena.
I nod my head in understanding, swigging back some Scotch. How could someone abuse Serena? What kind of fucking asshole would do that to my Goddess? It makes me furious to think about it. I’d fucking destroy them if I knew who they were. I mean, I’ve heard and have seen Hoyt, mutant and not, but I think her punishment was fitting. Kind of. Seriously, the damage and scars they left her with warrants a lot more.
Fucking bastards.
“I love her,” I say to Ashley out of nowhere. Her head cocks up and she smiles. But I continue, as if expressing something deep in my soul. “Not the kind of love with a white picket fence and a diamond ring,” I tell her.
Ashley frowns and I continue. “The kind of love that hurts when you’re with them, but hurts even more when they’re gone. Keeps you up at night. Makes your mouth dry right as you see them. Fuck getting your dick hard. This is the kind of love that makes you wake up and think about them. To look at them as they brush their teeth and think how you could ever be good enough for them. It makes my heart beat hard in my chest. It makes me sweat at night. Its fucking all consuming. Like a monster. Because it doesn’t fucking care what I’m doing. All it does is burn everything because it’s so fucking strong.”
Ashley looks at me for a long moment.
She stands up from the couch, smoothing down her grey skirt, and walks behind her desk.
She rummages through some papers and with every passing second, my heart beats faster.
“It’s about Hiram,” she looks up from the papers.
“Yes?” I ask, trying to refrain from freaking out. I’m screaming inside though—what is it?
“I was looking through the information I compiled on him and the various shell companies we think he has stake in.” She walks back over to me and hands me a piece of paper. “But what I found most intriguing is his connection to the Chinese Politburo.”
“Yeah, I saw that when I was reading over those files too. But I didn’t think too much about it. To me, I assumed it’s another questionable mark on his already blood-stained history.” I bend forward, placing my elbows on my knees. “Why? What intrigues you about it?”
“You’re right. Hiram is a high-level threat, one I wouldn’t want to go up against without the CIA on my side,” she admits and grabs the mug on her desk, taking a drink out of it.
“Too late for that, don’t ya think?” I ask.
She chuckles, but recovers, tightening her lips into a straight line.
“About Serena,” she says to me. “I’m sure you already have plans to win her back,” she winks at me and sits back on the couch.
Yeah, I approve of this chick. Taylor is a lucky guy to have her, well, if he’s ever fucking man enough to pull the trigger. He might be pussy-whipped but he has no idea what to do with the whip. But he needs to learn, and fast.
I put my drink on the glass table between us and read over the paper that outlines the specifics of his relation to the Chinese Politburo.
Wait…
“Shit, Ashley. This just might be it!” I jab the paper with my finger. It’s like I hit the switch to the fucking light bulb in my head. Fucking finally!
“What?” She jumps up and walks over, sitting on the cushion next to me. Looking between the paper and me, her face grows into a worrisome expression. “Colt?”
“I think this is the sole reason why he’s here. Why he’s trying to get the space at Clarendon Tower and why he’s so determined to start a job center here. This is it!” I shoot up from the couch and Ashley follows me, hesitantly.
Treating the paper like my victory flag, I wave it between us like so. I turn back to her, my face splitting in two. I can’t contain my excitement; I have what we need. This is the piece of the puzzle I’ve been looking for this whole damn time and it’s been right under my nose.
“Ashley, everything’s going to be ok,” I smile and wrap her in my arms, twirling her around. I’m fucking elated. I wish it was Serena I’m holding, but it will be…in due time.
If I play this card at the right time, I could save us—Serena and I, and get us our businesses back on track.
Now…I just need to get everything ready in time.
And then?
And then…we’re going to have some fun.
