“And it’s dated two months ago?” He pushed hair off my face.
I turn away and close my eyes, not able to bear looking at him. My stomach pitches, and I bend over, trying to stop the nausea.
“Charlotte, come sit down.” Xander leads me over to the couch.
Why is he calm about this?
I lean over and put my head between my legs. Xander wraps his arm around me and rests his hand on my hip.
This cannot be happening.I sit up. “What is on this video?”
A sympathetic expression crosses Xander’s face.
“Have you seen it?” I whisper.
“HR emailed it to you, and it popped up on your phone.”
My eyes widen in horror, and I shake my head. “No.”
He pulls me into him, but I push him away. I stand and go to my room.
“Charlotte—”
I turn back to him. “I want you to leave, Xander.”
“No. I’m not leaving.”
“Go,” I yell at him as tears stream out of my eyes.
He steps closer to me. “I said I’m not leaving.”
“Get out,” I cry, as embarrassment, anger, and shame all drive through me. And it’s not only at Damon, or myself. It’s at Xander as well.
Xander pulls me into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You didn’t remember me. You told me all about her and how you’ve only ever loved her,” I sob into his chest, pushing against it with my fists. “I thought you were never coming back to me, and I needed you. I was so alone.”
He holds me tighter. “I’m so sorry. I know I wasn’t there for you.”
“I didn’t even know he was coming over. I just wanted to feel something besides pain,” I cry into his chest.
“Shh. It’s okay.” He kisses the top of my head.
“How did he record me?” I sob.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I don’t know,” he murmurs.
I pull away. “I need to see it.”
Xander sighs and looks at me then hands my phone to me with the email.
“Can you go into the other room,please?” I ask.
“I will, but I’m not leaving now or after you watch it.” He shuts my door behind him.
I go and sit on the bed. I feel sick but know I need to watch it. I push play, and it starts. When it ends, one thing is clear. Damon has stripped the audio and made it appear like things went further than they did.
26
