Page 136 of Late Nights & Love Lines
His face falls in shame. “It was the worst mistake of my life. I wanted the life I built with you—I swear I did. I loved that life, but my father, well, he isn’t a good man, and I paid the price for his shitty decisions. If it’s any consolation, I’m still having to deal with her, and that kind of feels worse than hell.”
I don’t mean to smile, but he’s right.
“Why?”
It’s the one question I was always too scared to ask.
“She was blackmailing me about my true identity for about six months.” Even as he gives me the answers I want—I tune him out. It doesn’t matter. Holding up my hand, palm facing him, I wait for him to stop.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“She wanted to hurt you, Row. But it was never my intention and I’m sorry that I did.”
“Don’t take this deal away from Sebastian.”
“I’m sorry, that’s not even an option,” he says, leaning against the wall.
“Why not? Because fucking Haley says so?”
He shakes his head, staring at me as if he’s never met me before. Well, good. He doesn’t deserve to know me.
“No, Row. It’s not an option because Sebastian Walker called me this morning and told me to take my company and shove it up my ass. He was choosing you. In fact, his exact words were: he chose you, he’ll always choose you, and he doesn’t care if his company folds because you’re worth more than any deal.”
“W—what?”
“He’s right to choose you. I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to do that when we were together, but I—I wish you the best, Row. I really do.” His phone chimes, and he glances down. “If you want to hang around the lobby, you might see something that will brighten your day.”
Sebastian chose me over his company. He chose me knowing I was still giving him an end date. He chose me.
“Rowan?” Jake calls my name as if he’s said it a few times already. “I have to go. Haley and my dad are about to be arrested for insider trading, and I want to be there for it.”
“They what?” Karma might become my new best friend.
He grins. “They’ve been manipulating me since college,” he says with a shrug. “It’s a long story for another time. I wish youthe best, Rowan, I really do, and I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.”
He opens the door to the conference room, and I follow him out. We ride the elevator down in silence. Our door opens just as the one across from us does too.
Haley stands there, screaming at a man in a black suit. Her hands are behind her back, and he holds on to her elbow.
Another elevator chimes, and Mr. Coleman is escorted out in the same way.
“You,” Haley screams. “You did this.” She’s kind of foaming at the mouth while glaring at me.
“This has been the most messed-up day of my life,” I say, finally staring at her with all the animosity and loathing I’ve built up over the years. “And that’s saying something, but I had nothing to do with this. This, my dear stepsister, is destiny and karma rolled into one.”
She spits in my direction, but I’m too far away for it to reach me.
Jake stands off to the side, not saying a word, and as this all unfolds in front of me, I realize I don’t need anything from him to fix the holes in my heart that he left behind.
I can do it all by myself.
Exiting the building, I’m once again smothered in the overwhelming heat of a Manhattan summer. Steam rises from the sidewalk, making them appear wavy, and I don’t know which way to go so I spin in a circle.
I had a plan to help Sebastian, but he’d already made his decision.
He chose me, and now it’s time I choose him in return.
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