CHAPTER 43DENISE
CHAPTER 43
DENISE
My day was much saner after the interview prep was over. I made a note to have dinner with Cleo sometime this week. She needed a sounding board and I’d been so distracted by my own stuff I hadn’t checked on how she was really doing with Lucian. Once I finished vetting my list, I took a break and grabbed my cell. I was shooting off a text when the phone on my desk rang.
My phone rang even less now that Bree was fielding all my calls.
“Denise Roberts,” I said, placing the phone against my ear as I continued to tap and delete the message on my cell.
“You’re hard to get a hold of.”
My fingers froze as I heard Curtis’s voice on the other line.
“I had to pretend to be some dude I met at the party.” He laughed and I felt the chill of anxiety settle in my chest. Nope. I refuse to let this asshole fuck with me. I cracked my neck and took a breath before replying.
“Curtis, I’m asking you nicely to stop contacting me,” I said, my tone flat.
“No,” his barking reply was quick.
“What do you want?” I asked. If I could give him what he wanted, this would all be over. Done.
“I just want to know what you did to keep your job. I’m imagining you on your knees somewhere, begging and sucking,” I could hear the smirk in his voice.
He was talking in that same arrogant tone he’d had in that stupid fucking podcast. I was eager to punch him in his face to see if he’d still sound so bold with a broken nose and a black eye. Pausing, I took another breath, reminding myself that this call could be recorded.
“I wonder if you’ll keep your job when I send that thug ass bitch to jail for battery,” he continued, trying to get a rise out of me
Before I could bite my tongue, the words had left my lips.
“Don’t threaten him.”
“Or what about your whale of a friend? Prison food may be good for her,” he laughed.
My heart thudded against my chest as that rage I’d been feeling started to vibrate deep in my bones. I stood up, feeling the fire spreading across my bones.
“Rethink this before you see a side of me you never have,” I hissed.
“You asked what I wanted? To ruin your life the way you ruined mine,” he was furious and practically yelling into the phone.
“I’m hanging up,” I said.
“Go on that podcast and I’m sending my footage to the cops.”
The phone clicked twice before I heard the dial tone.
A shiver flew up my spine and my ears rang as I stood there. I couldn’t risk hurting Cleo any more than I already had. And Hugh? This could be Pandora’s box for him. I had no idea if Curtis was full of shit, but after his last stunt, how could I give him another chance to try and ruin our lives?
I turned on my heel and leaned against the front of my desk. I had a plan in mind, but a part of me knew it was extreme.
But, Hugh and Cleo were my anchors. I knew that I’d float away without them. I had to keep them safe. I would keep them safe.