I wanted to chase after him, to crawl and beg, but I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. I’d broken us and he’d never forgive me for what I said.
Wiping away a tear that had escaped down my cheek, I rolled my shoulders back and followed Charlie from the room, finding a sympathetic looking Marshall standing there. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head.
“Give him time. He loves you.”
“But I hurt him… in the worst way possible. He might love me, but I broke his trust.” I looked around. “Where is he?”
“Bathroom with the new guy.”
He wrapped his arm around me, squeezing tightly. “I’m sorry you’re hurting… both of you. If any of us can help, you just have to ask.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder as he guided me back to the table.
“Sweets?” Neo asked, sounding concerned as I took my seat and Marshall moved back to his.
I shook my head, telling him everything he needed to know.
“Anything happen while I was gone?” I replied, trying to change the subject, so I didn’t fall apart in front of everyone. He took my hand reassuringly under the table as he spoke.
“Yeah, some woman turned up the door with a check for half a million if she could come, join the party.”
I frowned. “What? How weird is that? Who was she?”
“Jennifer something or other. Apparently, she’s married to some big wig lord.”
I froze.
“Fern?” Aaron asked, obviously noticing my reaction.
“Tell Matt to meet me at the men’s bathroom. Don’t let anyone else overhear.”
Aaron nodded as I stood and tried to make my way to Charlie without drawing any unwanted attention, crossing my fingers and toes that this was all a misunderstanding, but when I found his bodyguard standing outside the bathroom door, my heart sank.
“Where’s Charlie?” I muttered, watching as he looked me up and down as though I was interrupting his evening.
“He’s busy, miss.”
I moved toward the door and he stepped in front of me.
“He asked that I keep everyone out for a while.”
“Heasked you or someone paid you to keep everyone out?”
He shrugged and my fists balled at my side.
“You are fucking fired. You’re paid to protect him. That’s the sole purpose of you being here. Get out of my way now,” I whisper-hissed. “But do not move from that spot because I willdeal with you in a minute, and trust me, you do not want to mess with me right now.”
“My job has nothing to do with you. I don’t even know who you are.”
I opened my mouth to tear him a new one, but then Matt appeared at the side of me, glaring like he was about to murder someone. “Is that right? Well, why don’t I tell you who she is while we discuss how you will never work as a bodyguard again?”
The man’s face fell as he stepped away from the bathroom door, and I grabbed the door handle.
“You need me to come with you?” Matt murmured.
“Only if I yell your name, but don’t go far.”
