“I’m so glad you’re focused on the important things like how you’re the wronged party here, and your money is the only thing that matters! Did it ever occur to you that I might be HURT by seeing you and fucking HOLLY together? That I didn’t get pissed off and go screw someone, I got trashed. Again. By some jerk with no impulse control and his all too eager secretary,” she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling. “Do you realize this is the second time this has happened to me?”
“It’s why Lena picked a secretary. To piss you off even more!” He ran a hand through his hair. “She’s so conniving. The crazy bitch planned it out perfectly. We both know Lena knows everything about you. She wanted to cut you long, deep, and wide. Lena was screwing with both of us! You can’t let her win.”
“So she has a bag of tricks?”
“She’s coming at us with everything she has. Sabotaging this marriage is her number one priority. I’m going to have to call the lawyers and explain that there may be a backlash; that you’ve behaved indiscreetly, and the press is likely to know about it.”
“You’re going to, what? Tattletale on me to your lawyers? Ooooh. Big scary lawyers are going to come tell me to keep my knees together, right? Maybe they should give you that lecture since you were the first one to stray. Gosh, we didn’t even make it the six months!”
“You’ve jeopardized my inheritance, the future of the family business. All because you felt, what? A little bit neglected? Like you wanted attention? There’s a pretty strong possibility that you’re too high-maintenance for a corporate wife anyway. Instead of talking to me about the misunderstanding, you took off running like werewolves were after you and then did god knows what until two in the morning with whoever you could find to look at you twice. You’re irresponsible and immature, and I can’t count on you to keep your word,” he said grimly.
“You’re a sexy bastard,” she replied simply.
“I’m what? That’s your response to being called out on your ridiculous behavior? To call me a name?”
“Just stating the facts, Cates. It isn’t high maintenance to expect to see my own husband on a daily basis. You’re not, like, deployed overseas. You just like to work late and go running and shit without me. You can’t keep your face out of your secretary’s crotch, and you’re trying to make it sound like I’m public enemy number one for going dancing after my husband HUMILIATED me at his office when I came by to lend emotional support as we had promised to in our vows. But you were busy trying to bone your gorgeous blonde secretary.”
“It was an exit interview.”
“Goodbye fuck, then? No need to argue over terminology. You treated me like crap, and you want to turn it around so you’re the wounded bird, and I’m the big mean person who took advantage of your trust. Well, fine. I’ll go. I’ll pack my stuff and go. We can get an annulment, or you can even stay married to me on paper till your precious will clears probate. I just don’t intend to have to lay eyes on you again.”
“That would never work. Lena’s lawyers would catch on in a heartbeat. I can’t believe you can’t see that Holly was a plant straight from the Wicked Queen herself. She knew too much and was pretty relentless—”
“Oh, did the scary, pretty, blonde woman frighten you?”
“Frankly, yes. I was afraid I’d fuck up my marriage and lose you and the company. So I sent her to IT for a reassignment. I never laid a hand on her. In fact, I turned her down. But you were too busy dancing and drinking to ask me straight out what went on.”
“Let’s just give it up. Neither one of us is mature enough to handle even the pretense of a serious committed relationship, so just leave. I’ll be out of here with all my crap by the time you get home tomorrow night. I’m sure it won’t be hard to find a place to live. In Brooklyn, since I let my apartment go,” she groused.
“Look, Marj.” He took her by the arms. “I’m disappointed in both of us. We can do better than this. I apologize. I shouldn’t have blamed you for walking in on something that upset you, and I also…I kicked the wall after you ran out, so I overreacted, too. I don’t want to quit you. I believe this can work, and I need for it to work.”
“I’m disappointed, too, Brandon. But right now I’m going to sleep. No promises. You hurt me, and I don’t appreciate that. My trust doesn’t come cheap, and it’s nearly impossible to repair.”
“Please don’t leave, don’t move out. I’m begging you, Marj.”