“You think she’s strong enough for your world?”Brielle hisses, voice like venom.“She’s a farm girl, Nate.She doesn’t belong in the spotlight, and she never will.I did her a favour.”
“I didn’t ASK for your help.”My voice cracks with rage.“What the fuck did you SAY to her?”
Brielle lifts her chin.“Nothing she didn't deserve to know.The truth about the PR, the timing, the deal you made with the team, your contract clauses...”
I don't think.I lunge.
Reeves and Anders grab my arms instantly because they know.They know this version of me.They know how close I am to doing something I can’t undo.
“Get.Out.”My voice is ragged.“Now.”
Brielle smirks at the guys, then at me.“Good luck cleaning this up, Captain.”
She leaves.
The door clicks shut.Something inside me tears wide open.I storm into the bedroom, needing air, needing answers, needing HER.
And that’s when I see it.The closet door is wide open.The dress I bought her is crumpled on the floor, the zipper half broken from when she must’ve ripped it off.
A stack of papers lies scattered everywhere...It takes me a minute to register what was there, what those papers were with.
But then it clicks, and my heart beats wildly.I run back out to the living room and see the guys all standing in front of the island, stiff.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
No one speaks, but when McKenna shifts uncomfortably, I see a stack of binders that makes my blood run cold.I move past them and see it.
Formulas.Appearances.Branding suggestions.
Her name is highlighted.
Her life turned into bullet points.
A page defining alternative solutions if Tessa were to become uncooperative is ripped out, as if she wanted me to know she'd read it.
And on top of the mess...
Her key and a note.
My hands shake as I pick it up.
I unfold it.
I read it.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
The room spins.
“She left,” I say quietly.
Reeves steps forward, cautious.“Nate...”
“She left everything.She only took what she came with.”My throat burns.“She thinks I USED her.”
