“Because I think someone or multiple people took pictures when Tabitha kissed me.”
“And is that surprising? You’re one of the richest bachelors in L.A.” She shrugged. “What did you find out?”
I took in a breath, trying to stay calm. “He said to keep Labor Day weekend free.”
Cori clapped her hands excitedly, then whipped out her phone. “Let me call Abe real quick.”
I nodded, turning back toward the bar, and pulled out my phone to text Axel.
Will: Jason just left.
Axel: K
Club R hadn’t died down; the party crowd could go all night. I must have checked the time half a dozen times, thinking of Miranda at home alone, raging with the fire I’d lit in her.
“Abe is thrilled with this bit of news. Let’s go.”
“Great. Glad Abe is happy.” I was beginning to think Cori was the person keeping tabs on Jason to make sure he stuck with Abe’s plan. Hopefully Axel found what he needed so this charade could end and we can get the stolen money back and I could get on with my life with Miranda.
“Aww, don’t be a mood killer. The end could be in sight.”
I nodded, my hand on her lower back guiding her out. The end, what the fuck was the end?
The late morning sun reflecting off the ocean usually made me smile. The sight was like a promise the day would be pure and delightful. Maybe it was the lack of caffeine in my system, but today, the glimmering waters gave off an ominous vibe.
I stayed in a hotel after dropping Cori off at her place. When Axel had told me to push Miranda away to keep her safe, I knew not going home would make her pull back.
To maximize impact, I went straight into the office in yesterday’s clothes, tie loose around my neck and hair disheveled. My plan worked. Looks flew my way, jaws hit the floor, and whispers ensued.
I looked and felt like shit after a crappy night’s sleep, too worried about Miranda and how staying out all night would affect her. I shouldn’t have been surprised when she didn’t text last night or this morning. But I was.
Miranda would be in the building for a final meeting with my mother about the end-of-summer client picnic in an hour. Part of me hoped I wouldn’t see her yet. We both probably needed a little more time before seeing each other. The other part was dying to hold her and kiss away her pain. I was fucking weak when it came to her, ready to beg for forgiveness and promise to never hurt her again.
I couldn’t do any of it.
Draining my second cup of coffee, I nearly choked when Simone barreled into my office, hell on wheels, a white piece of paper flapping in her hand. She stormed toward me and slapped it on my desk.
“What the fuck is this?” she yelled. “Speak before I rip your head off your body!”
“Give me a damn minute to see what you’re talking about.” I lifted the paper. On it was a picture of Tabitha and me, her lips on mine in Club R. I knew it. Someone had taken a picture of us.
“Fuck! Where did you get this?” I stood from my desk, heart hammering against my chest for what this all meant, for what this would do to Miranda if she saw it. My stomach did somersaults, sloshing around the coffee I’d drank. I wanted to empty my guts and then crawl into a hole like a goddamned pussy; I’d never felt so low in all my life.
“It’s all over the fucking place, Will! Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. I haven’t even checked the tabloids. How could you do this to Miranda?”
I was hit with a moral dilemma. Then Axel’s words surfaced again; I couldn’t be weak.
“It’s not like I posted the picture myself,” I said sarcastically. “I guess I had too much to drink.”
Simone gaped, tears pooling in her eyes. When we were kids I used to call hersweet, sensitive Simibecause she’d cry easily.As she grew older and learned to deal with friends using her because of her money, she’d hardened. Even so, her soft side would come out for those she cared about, and I knew she loved Miranda.
It had never occurred to me what my fake affair would do to my sweet, sensitive Simi.
“You asshole! Have you lost your damn mind? This is abominable, Will.” She studied me, then plopped into the chair as if ready to faint. “You didn’t go home last night, did you?” Her eyes raked up and down my length.
I ran my fingers through my hair, inhaling deeply. “No.”
Simone leaned forward, elbows on her knees covering her face. Her head shook, and I knew she was in disbelief. I reached for a Kleenex in my lower desk drawer, then dragged myself to her, feeling weighed down by the guilt I carried. I placed my hand on her shoulder as she plucked the tissue from my fingers.