He shakes his head. “I don’t need love, and as for any sort of affectionate feelings, that’s what I’ll take lovers for.”
My mouth drops open. He did not just say lovers.
“What?” I gasp.
“Don’t look like it actually shocks you, Avery. You don’t care if I fuck other women.”
“I would if I was your wife!” I cry. “I would if I had to tie myself to you for life.”
“We’re not going to have this conversation. You don’t get a say in this; you don’t get to choose how it goes. You’ll do as you’re told and accept it, because doing so will set up an amazing life for you.”
A life without love.
“I do get a say,” I whisper. “That’s the thing . . . I do.”
His eyes finally show emotion, because I think he finally realizes I’m serious. He gets to his feet and reaches out to take my arm, but I take a step back. The entire restaurant is watching, and an eerie silence fills the air.
“You walk away from this, you will lose everything. Your career, your home, your trust . . .”
“You mean I’ll be able to make my own mistakes, work for my own money and make my own career?”
“You’re not even going to consider this. Now sit down and stop your nonsense.”
“Maybe I am considering it,” I say, jerking my arm out of his as he tries to lead me out the door.
“Do you want to lose everything?”
I glare at him. “Lose everything to gain so much more.”
“You’ve lost your mind. We’re going to speak with your father and he can talk some sense into you.”
“My father.” I laugh bitterly. “My father hardly speaks to me.”
Jacob pulls out his phone and storms from the restaurant. I follow him, avoiding eye contact with all the people staring at me as I pass them. I step outside and I immediately feel a soft drizzle of rain kiss my skin as my eyes scan the car park for Jacob. I catch him over inside his car, talking frantically on his phone. I walk slowly over, letting the rain soak my clothes and hair. I stop at the car and swing open the door. Jacob’s voice fills my ears right away.
“She’s lost it. You need to talk to her.”
I roll my eyes and slip into the front seat. Jacob turns and glares at me, and he keeps his eyes on me the entire time he keeps speaking.
“She’s just gotten into the car. I’ll bring her over.”
No.
No way.
I swing the door open and jump out. Jacob curses and slams his phone down before leaping out after me. I start off down the street, furious. He’s trying to take me to my father, as if that’s going to fix all these problems. He has no idea—none. He lives in this fantasy world of business and logic. Love, happiness and friendship are not a part of that and I’m tired of pretending it’s how I want my life to go.
“Stop, Avery.”
I spin around, water dripping off my nose. I swipe my hand across my face and yell loudly through the rain, “Stop? Why should I stop? You’re trying to control my life. You’re telling me you want a lover and that our lives will always be like this. I don’t want that, Jacob. I want love; I want laughter and happiness. I want something beautiful. You’re not my something beautiful.”
“You walk away, you lose everything.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
He stares at me, and it seems to hit him hard because his face drops. “You’re not only taking your life, you’re taking mine.”
“No,” I say, as softly as I can over the sound of this rain. “I’m giving you a chance to have your life how you truly want to live it.”
“You walk, I’ll fight you. I’ll take your apartment; I’ll take . . .”
“Take it then,” I cry, throwing my hands up. “Take it all.”
He stiffens and straightens. “You’re making a mistake.”
I turn and walk away, not answering him further. I don’t need to; my choice is made.
~*~*~*~
“You’re not taking any of this,” he screams as I pack my suitcase.
“You can’t stop me from taking what’s mine,” I yell, throwing as much as I can in before he decides it’s all his.
“I can and I will,” he barks, lunging forward as I take my laptop off the desk.
He snatches it from my hand and I notice then that his are shaking. I got back to the apartment with a heart full of determination only to have that ripped from me when he came in after me. He’s angry. He’s desperate not to lose the company and he’ll do anything he can to make me stay.
Caffy comes trotting in and I lean down, lifting her into my arms as I glare at Jacob. “Fine, I won’t take anything. I don’t need any of this anyway.”