I called the next day. “But I’m not canceling.”
“Oh, we received your email and signature. We’ve already accepted the payment, Ms. Hardy, and we’ve been blessed with a few applications for your unit already.”
“That fast?” I said in disbelief, but I knew what was happening.
Fucking Cade.
“We really appreciate the generous lump sum you provided—”
I hung up. That’s when I started the voicemails to him. I smashed his number into my phone and waited for him to not pick up so I could leave a message.
“Listen, you dick, you don’t want to be a part of my life, then stop meddling in it. I told you I loved you and you left me. That means that’s it. And stop sending me flowers. Technically, you’re sending them to my mom because all of them would be in the trash if it weren’t for her.” I sighed and tried not to cry. “I need to go back to my apartment. I’m... I freaking miss you, and my heart is breaking, and I can’t do that here. I don’t want to break down in front of my family. It’s not fair to them.”
He didn’t call back.
And, of course, I then broke down in front of my sister and my mom. They held me as I cried. We ate ice cream and watched theReal Housewives,and Lucas even drove over to watch it with us. It was terrible and gross and exactly what I needed.
The next day, I got another email saying my penthouse apartment in the city was ready.
I called him again and left another nasty voicemail telling him I didn’t want it. But my dad told me to quit being a baby about it and take a nice ass penthouse when it was offered.
“Oh, should I take Bug with me?” I lifted a brow, because the man was sitting there with my cat on his lap.
He looked instantly nervous. “I’ll keep Bug for a bit, huh? She needs a vacation from you two and your chaos.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled. Yet, he was probably right. Plus, Lilah and Lucas wanted that penthouse for me, and they pretty much packed my suitcase and dragged me there.
I walked in, and on the island counter were more roses. Outrageous amounts.
But no Cade.
Lucas told me not to dwell and to just enjoy the damn penthouse. So I made him come with me to move in my belongings. Not much was needed though. Beautiful leather furniture had been placed throughout with expensive paintings on the walls, lush carpets, and a walk-in closet that held a whole wardrobe of pencil skirts and freaking nineties T-shirts. My heart hurt when I saw a folded pile ofEdward Scissorhands, Men in Black, andPulp Fictiongraphics. Another pile though had Harley Quinn on each shirt. He was making additions to my freaking life, like he wanted to be in it, like he still knew me and wanted me.
I fumed to Lucas and made him stay over night after night to keep me company.
We talked about our sobriety. I told him I was scared, and he held my hand while we both cried. I think we decided then that it was best for me to go back to work, to find purpose without Cade, and to move on.
Yet, when I tried, Jett Stonewood met me in the lobby of the damn building with his wife.
He informed me that Cade really wanted me to take some time off. I tried to temper my anger and my hand went to my wrist to twist the bracelet that wasn’t there anymore.
Fury flew through me at the thought that he’d taken that too. He’d taken my heart, the bracelet, and his love from me.
So, want to know what I told the owner of Stonewood Enterprises?
“You can fuck right off, too, Jett,” I growled, because I was so done with all of them.
His wife was this beautiful tall blonde, and she looked up at him and said, “Well, she’s right. You’re all assholes.”
“Vick.” He sighed, but he was looking at her like she was the sun, the moon, and the stars.
“Come with me, Izzy.” She looped her arm in mine and didn’t wait another second to be told to stay put.
She led me to the elevators and then to my desk, talking the whole time. “They think they’re smart, but they’re so dumb. Just ignore them and do all the work here that you want. If they try to lock you out of your office, here’s my number. Cade’s being idiotic. He’ll be back.”
“I don’t want him back,” I seethed like an upset child.
“Right. My husband told me he left after a hiccup with the election system?”