Page 66 of Perfect Satisfaction

“I’m saying go into it expecting it and when you need a friend who understands everything your sacrificing, call me. I’m a good listener.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Really, it’s because you never insulted me in your column, and one of your brothers pays me an obscene amount of money these days. I wouldn’t be adverse if the other wanted to do the same.”

I smirk.

“Now, tell me the truth. Why did you want representation?”

“I didn’t.” Carys’s eyes widen in shock. I nod at the file. “I wanted to see how hard it was to pull all of that data if a person was so inclined without any hints.”

“Well, I’ll be—”

“No, I’m the one about to be damned. Remember, Carys?” My heart trembles.

“You wanted to know why your husband—a man renowned for hunting out the most minute of information about celebrities—never sought out the truth about you.”

“The answer’s pretty obvious. For all he claims to be a journalist, he never cared to look.”

“And you? Did you look into his past?”

I jerk my chin to the side. “I had my father’s investigator’s report. On top of that, Liza Hina was a friend of Dani’s until she... What good reason would she have to lie? I stopped trying to separate fact from fiction after that.”

“Would you have gone back to him?” At my confused look, Carys clarifies, “If he hadn’t cheated on you, what would you have done?”

“I meant the vows I took. They were simple, but true. ‘In sickness and in health. Till death do us part.’” Rising, I hold out a hand. “You have no idea how many times I’ve wished for death.”

“Sula,” Carys surges to her feet, face anxious.

“I’m not suicidal, Carys. I’m just exhausted from living in pain.”

Tears spring to her eyes. “Yet, you’re about to endure more.”

“I’ve never experienced a love that doesn’t cause pain. All love hurts. If it didn’t, I probably wouldn’t recognize it.” I nod at the file. “Enjoy your reading.”

I slip out the conference room door.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Question of the Day: What percentage of college graduates work in their field of study?

Answer: Approximately 46%

Egad! Does this truly make college high school 2.0?

If so, why would we subject ourselves to that?

—Moore You Want

“Do you have a plan for how you’re going to handle the dick?”

“JB, I haven’t heard you curse like this since you were a kid at university,” I remark.

“This is a bunch of bloody bullshit, Sula. Brendan agrees with me, in case you were wondering.”

My heart melts knowing my brothers are supporting me as always. “I refuse to give him power over me. You’ll see, JB, he won’t have the opportunity to hurt me.”

“How in the hell do you plan on that?”