Chapter Seventy Six
There was a wary look in his eye that warned her this wouldn’t be easy. But then he didn’t give a damn about what people thought. He wasn’t ruled by the opinions of others. As she had so many times before, she wished she could be like him. Instead of answering him, she rummaged in her bag for the stupid gossip rag and then she thrust it at him as if it was self-explanatory. And it was in a way.
He glanced over the paper and then looked back up at her. “So? What’s the problem?” he asked.
She knew he’d react that way. Positively knew it, and it drove her crazy. She wanted to scream and rail at him, but she’d come across as some hysterical banshee, and then he’d never take her concerns seriously.
“That’s not all,” she said stiffly. “It’s all over the Internet. An advertising community site has it on their blog along with some snotty little line about how I got the account after the announcement of you signing with golden gates.”
He looked blankly at her. “I fail to see what the big deal is, and I damn sure don’t see why it’s any cause for us not to see each other anymore.”
She gritted her teeth. “You fail to see. Well, I don’t, Tim. This is my career we’re talking about. My reputation. Which I might add is in shreds now. Everyone in my office saw that. Everyone in the advertising community saw it. Everyone knows, or thinks they know, just how I got you to sign with golden gates. It doesn’t matter if it’s true. It’s what everyone thinks. Our announcement of our agreement will be posted in Advertising Media. Right on the heels of those pictures. Do you know how that looks?” She stopped and swallowed back the damning sob that welled up in her throat.
“How am I supposed to go out on my next client call? What if the client is male and what if he expects the same favors I granted you? Or maybe he’ll agree to sign with golden gates if I sleep with him.”
“I’ll kick his ass,” Timothy growled.
“You can’t be there to kick everyone’s ass, Tim. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. The best thing you can do for me is to back off until the smoke clears.”
He blinked and then his eyes went cold and hard. “Is that what you want, Chloe? What you really want?”
She was afraid to answer, afraid to confirm after that terrible look that had come over him. But she wouldn’t lie.
“Yes,” she whispered.
His lip curled in derision. “I won’t be anyone’s dirty little secret, Chloe. And I sure as hell won't be running around like two people having an affair behind their spouses’ backs. I won't settle for that.”
“Timothy, please, it’s not like that. I just need some time,” she pleaded.
“It is like that, Chloe. It’s very much like that. It’s apparent to me that I’m definitely not first on your list of priorities. Or even second or third. There’s a hell of a lot of things that rank higher than me. I don’t give a damn who knows that we’re sleeping together. And I damn sure won’t continue to sleep with someone who does. I can’t believe that you are about to do this to us…again. It seems like that’s all you do…Run.”
He turned and stalked toward the door. He flung it open and caught it with one hand, turning as he stepped out.
“If you change your mind, don’t bother to come crawling back. I think you’ve made it abundantly clear what I’m good for.”
The door slammed, and Chloe’s heart shattered into tiny little pieces. She stared numbly, hoping, expecting that he’d come back and tell her they could work things out, that he’d wait.
Minutes passed, and the sickening realization hit her that he wasn’t coming back. Not only had she lost her reputation, and possibly her career, but she’d lost the one man she loved enough to have risked it all in the first place.
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Evan Reese arrived at the small apartment which Christina had rented and banged hard on the door. It had taken him days to find the place since Christina would not pick his calls or reply to any of his messages. He had become so desperate that he followed her when she was leaving her work…just to find out where she was staying.
“Christina!” Evan yelled as he knocked on the door. “Please, Tina, I know you are in there. We have to talk, Tina please. You can’t ignore me forever. Please let's figure out a way to fix this.
There was no reply from her, neither did she make any effort to come open the door, but Evan was not deterred. Instead, he knocked harder on the front door. When he kept knocking and got no reply, he got pissed.
“Damn it, Tina!” he yelled, “I’m not leaving until you speak to me, and even if i do, i will keep coming back. I’m not going to give up on us Tina….I…I can’t.” His voice cracked as he started to break down. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry that I hurt you. I screwed up so bad…Hurting you was never my intention…Tina…Baby…I’m so sorry”
He didn’t know what else to do. His wife was slipping away from him and this time, it was his fault and he hated himself for it. If only he had been more patient…If only he had exercised some self control. His phone rang and he picked it immediately he saw the caller ID.
“Hey, Chloe” he said as he tried to put himself together, but Chloe must have heard the distress in his voice because she said; “Are you alright, Evan?”
Evan shook his head. To be honest, he wasn’t sure that he would ever be okay if this went on”
“Yeah I’m okay” he lied.
Chloe wasn’t fooled. “Are you sure?” she asked. “You don't sound alright at all. Where are you?”
“I went out to see Tina, except she won't see me talk more of speaking to me. She fucking hates me and i deserve the hate”
“I’m sure she doesn't hate you, Evan. She is hurt”
“I know.” Evan replied, “And i want to apologize but she wont let me. She fucking moved out Chloe. I wanted to leave so she could have the house but she said no. Apparently, she wants nothing to do with me or anything that reminds her of me. My marriage is coming to an end, Chloe. I ruined it myself.”
