Tit For Tat Chapter 18
I had loved him so much once.
No matter how late he came home from business dinners, I would leave a light on for him.
When his stomach hurt, I could tell from a single furrow of his brow whether it was from alcohol or from skipping a meal.
The first time Sloane had linked her arm through his and called me too sensitive, I had even wondered if I was the one who wasn’t being generous enough.
Now, he stood before me with reddened eyes, and all I wanted was for the conversation to be over.
“Adrian, a chance isn’t something that automatically renews after the damage is done.”
His voice tightened.
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
I closed the file.
“Pay the two consultant invoices in full.”
He froze.
“Have Cole Capital cooperate with the independent forensic process.”
“Stop using project cash flow to interfere with my personal choices.”
“Don’t show up at my company again, and don’t drag out our past to prove how much you loved me.”
He stared at me.
“And beyond that?”
“There is no beyond that.”
Those four words seemed to strike him like a physical blow.
A long while later, he asked quietly, “And Noah?”
I frowned.
“That’s none of your business.”
“He hurt you too.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you willing to work with him?”
I looked at him for a few seconds.
“Because he handed me a contract that I was free to refuse.”
“You sent everyone a poll I never agreed to be a part of.”
“Noah’s contract doesn’t decide who I love.”
“Your email tried to decide how everyone should see me.”
Adrian’s lips moved, but no sound came out.
I pressed the button to have him shown out.
“Mr. Cole, anything further can go through our lawyers.”
He reached the door, then stopped.
“If I hadn’t hit send that night, would we still be getting married?”
I didn’t offer him any comfort.
“But you did.”
The door closed behind him.
That night, the overdue payments arrived in full.