“How much did he pay you this time? Are you his full-time whore?”
“Say what you want but this is all about him not wanting you. You have done nothing but flirt and try to get a foot in with any rich man you’ve come across,” I say, and her cheeks flush because we both know that’s the truth.
“Don’t you dare.”
“You were jealous it wasn’t you.”
She slaps the table.
“You think I’d sleep with him?”
I can’t stop the ironic laugh that leaves me. “Yes. I know you were willing.”
“Yeah, well I was trying to save us.”
“By offering me up instead? And now you hate me for it.”
“You disgust me, Leo,” she says and I finally feel released from whatever this relationship was. This isn’t just about Ethan. I disgust her and disappoint her. Not the rich man out there closing deals like she wants. I don’t know her anymore, and I don’t want to. It’s over.
“We’re done, Sarah,” I say, and she doesn’t respond. She doesn’t look sad or happy. Whether she wants to admit it or not, we were over a long time ago.
She grabs her coat and bag and storms out of the apartment. I sink into the kitchen chair and hold my head in my hands, frustrated it had to get nasty, toxic. I look atthe bank statement and consider our options going forward.
“What have I done?” I ask myself, questioning all the decisions we’ve made since Ethan put the offer on the table. The question dissolves into the room, unanswered.
But somewhere in the city —
I know he will be victorious as this was the outcome he wanted all along.
CHAPTER 24 - ETHAN
Something is wrong with Leo. I’m not sure what, but he’s not acting like he normally does when I’ve seen him within the workplace.
I can see Leo and Danny from my office as they make their usual rounds and it takes all my attention, like Leo always does. There is something different about the way he moves. He’s slower and his face is emotionless, which is new. Even on his self loathing days there would be a frown, or he would chew his bottom lip like he was holding back an outburst.
It is Danny that alerts me to the change when he speaks to Leo too loudly, like he isn’t getting a response. It’s the way Leo drops a stack of envelopes and doesn’t curse as they slide off the desk. And it’s because, for the first time, he doesn’t stop and perform his mundane small talk with the girls.
I lean back in my chair, tapping my pen against my lip while I think. I’m reviewing financial projectionswhich have now become unimportant. As Leo walks past my office, he doesn’t look up like he usually does, he has no reaction at all. Acting like I don’t exist.
I watch him disappear down the corridor, shoulders curved inward as if the world has increased its weight overnight. I’m frustrated that I don’t know what he is thinking, or what has happened. The need to go after him and to demand for him to tell me what his problem is, is hard to hide.
Deciding to do something about it, I exit my office and follow the direction that he and Danny left in. I follow them down to the mailroom and notice the lack of conversation, although Danny is trying his best to get Leo to talk. Danny walks into the mail room first, so I take advantage of calling Leo’s name.
“Leo.”
He startles and turns quickly to face me.
“Yes, er, sorry Ethan.”
What the hell has happened? The usual spark in his eyes has gone, and we’re left with a deadness that makes fury rise into my throat, needing to know what’s happened so I can fix it. The exhaustion on his face is palpable.
“How much sleep have you had?” I ask.
“I — I don’t know.”
“You do.”
“Two hours maybe,” he admits. I nod.
