Page 64 of Broken Vows

He waves it off. “Come on, we’re here to have fun. Network. Not actually work.”

“It was personal,” I lie, though only really a half-lie, already irritated that I feel the need to justify myself to him of all people.

His smile drops instantly and his eyes start to darken. “Oh, yeah?” he says. “Who’s calling at his hour? A boyfriend?” My shoulders tighten at the edge in his voice. “Well, I’ve got you for the whole evening. So whoever it is, can wait,” he adds, punctuating it with a wink.

My stomach twists as something about the way he says those words feels very, very wrong.

Almost two hours have passed, and each second slogs by at the pace of a melting glacier. The group has now moved to a booth and Cody’s already downed at least five drinks since. He’s so loud, I’m amazed his co-workers’ eardrums are still intact. I’ve tried to make my escape more than once, but somehow he keeps pulling me back—another question fired my way, a small, unwelcome touch to make sure I’m still here.

It’s unnerving.

The only thing keeping me sane are the stolen moments when I message Theo. I shouldn’t get so excited, but even now I’m hyper-aware of how I’m waiting for the phone in my palm to buzz with his reply to my latest message.

I should be focused on work. Instead, my mind is entirely on Theo, and I can’t shake it. Maybe I just need to leave—call it an early night and get out of here before this feeling gets any worse.

As I start to move out of the booth, Cody is suddenly all over me, an arm around me in a way that’s far too familiar, his mouth brushing my ear, “Where are you rushing off to?” he murmurs.

He yanks me back, and I fall into him slightly before righting myself. Enough. I might work with this guy. I might know him well enough to fake familiarity. But he has no right to grab me like I belong to him. Powerful vendor or not. Discount or not, I’m done with this shit. My phone starts ringing—the perfect escape—and I answer it immediately.

“Hello,” I say, pressing a finger into my free ear.

“Hey, I know you’re busy…” Theo’s voice comes through, slightly muffled, and relief washes over me. He’s the only thing I want to hear right now.

“Hold on,” I say quickly. “I’m going to step outside so I can hear you better.” I tap Cody’s arm, already pulling away. “Good to see you again,” I add automatically, the words tasting like bile. “I’m heading out now.”

This time, I’m not asking.

“The fuck you are.”

I freeze in shock. “Excuse me?”

“Come on,” he says, his mouth twisting into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. I sense the undertone immediately, and a slick heat crawling up my spine. “Jesus, it’s a party. Drink up, loosen up, and try not to ruin the mood. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Fuck you,” I say, loud enough that a few heads in the booth turn. I’m past caring at this point. My hands shake as I grab my purse and slide out of the booth. I realize I’ve forgotten all about the call with Theo, and I look down to see it’s already ended. I must have hit it by accident. It barely registers, as all that matters now is getting out of this place as fast as I can, collecting my jacket en route.

Outside, the night hits me cold and sharp. Streetlights, car beams, and storefront lights illuminate the sidewalk. I pull my jacket tighter, barely managing to slip my arms into it when a hand clamps around my arm. “Hey, sorry, okay?” Cody slurs. “I didn’t know you’d be so sensitive. I was just giving you shit. Come back inside.”

“No,” I snap. I dash to the edge of the sidewalk and wave down a cab, relief spiking when it slows—only for Cody to yank my arm down hard. The cab speeds off.

What the fuck.

“I just want to talk,” he says, irritation creeping into his voice. “Christ. Come on.” His apology is all for show; I can see right through it. The tight, panicked knot in my gut tells me he’s not letting this go. “I was just fucking around in there. I thought you were one of the cool chicks that could handle hanging with the guys. Guess I was wrong. I’m sorry. Don’t be like this.”

I barely know this man. He has no right—none to talk to me like this. I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off again, but he grips my elbow, hard, and drags me toward the alley. My feet stumble before my brain can catch up.

“What are you doing?” I gasp.

“I just want to talk,” he snaps. “That’s all. Seriously—calm the fuck down.”

And suddenly, I’m very aware of how dark the alley is—and how alone we are. I try to step around him, but he blocks me. For the first time in my life, I’m truly scared. My mind flashes to the time when Theo cornered me in the office. But it was nothing like this. Theo’s presence has always been dark, brooding, intense, but never physically threatening. I wrench my arm, but Cody doesn’t loosen his grip. If he squeezes any harder, I’m kneeing him in the balls.

“Get your fucking hands off me!”

He doesn’t drop them. “You’re going to come back inside and stop being a little fucking cunt—”

Hands come out of nowhere, gripping Cody by the back of his collar and yanking him off me, before slamming him into the brick wall. My breath catches, locking painfully in my chest.

A familiar silhouette fills my line of sight.