“Yes, of course. Thank you for stopping by.” I stood with my hand out to escort her to the door. Wekissed-kissed,and she left.
The simmering inferno inside me spurred to life as I felt Sayton’s eyes on my back.
“She left you.” It wasn’t a question. Jason’s sardonic laugh enraged me. “No biggie, you have Cori.”
My jaw ticked as I faced him. “Why in the fuck do you find that funny.” I clenched my hands into fists, stalking toward him. He wasn’t laughing anymore. The prick knew I could beat the crap out of him. If I wanted to, I could kill him with my bare hands right now. The weak pussy couldn’t fight if his life depended on it. “Cori doesn’t mean shit to me. I want you out of my office now.”
“Just calm the fuck down. I’m here to help you.”
“I don’t need your help, you son of a bitch. You’re the reason she left. Ever since you waltzed your scrawny ass into my life, everything has gone to shit. So just waltz the fuck out of it!”
Jason stared at me, concern in his eyes. If I kicked him out of my life, his whole scam would blow up in his face.
Shit, why the hell didn’t I think of that sooner? ’Cause the fucking fake Feds and Cori got to me, and I believed every word they fed me.
“Listen, I’m sure she’ll come back after she calms down. End it with Cori and stay faithful to Miranda. There truly isn’t anyone better than her.”
I cut my eyes to his. There in his black depths was panic.
“If you felt that way about her, why the hell did you encourage me to cheat on her?”
“I didn’t think you really loved her. Thought she was just trophy-wife material to you.”
I gaped. Was he seriously still playing this game? Of course he was, because he didn’t know Axel figured out his scheme.
“If you really loved her you wouldn’t have cheated on her. I mean, damn, man, you were slumming it with Cori. You surprised the fuck out of me. Thought your taste in women changed from classy and refined to trashy and crude. You made me think Miranda was a lousy fuck but nice eye candy.”
I saw red. I may not be able to stop myself from breaking his face into a million pieces. “Get out. Now!”
“Fine. Call me when you’ve calmed down.” Jason practically ran out the door.
Before I could breathe, my secretary, Davina, popped her head in. I waved her off, not giving a shit if my yelling was heard.
I collapsed on the sofa. How was I such a goddamn fool? How did I let two people into my life and destroy it? Worse yet, everything Jason said wasn’t wrong, and it pissed me off.
I’d let money control my actions, and I let who I thought was the FBI take over my life. I thought I was doing the right thing, the honorable thing, and it had cost me the only person that mattered most to me.
I dropped my face into my hands to hide the tears, knowing full well Axel was watching. My father’s words echoed in my ears. “Crying is for the weak, William. A St. James man never shows emotion.” He had said those words to me every time I cried when I was a child.
I’m a fucking weak man. Stupid and weak.
“William?”
It took me two seconds before I registered the familiar voice. It couldn’t be who I thought it was, not now. Not while I sat here on the verge of sobbing.
I lifted my head, and sure as shit, my father stared shell-shocked. I had never heard him speak in a low voice… ever.
“Dad, what can I help you with?” I dried my eyes with the back of my hand. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. It felt like Grand fucking Central Station here with people in and out. It needed to stop.
He entered confidently, though his expression wasn’t smug. He seemed different. It unnerved me.
“York just called.”
I was off the sofa, my heart galloping like a racehorse crossing the finish line. “She stopped driving then? Where is she?”
“Washington.” He sat on the sofa, his gaze focused behind me.
Was he embarrassed I’d been crying? I didn’t care. I would finally know where Miranda had runaway to.