Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Wendy
The moment I see Callum at my desk, it feels like the air has been sucked out of the room. I freeze in place, my stomach twisting as his familiar voice cuts through the quiet hum of productivity. My first instinct is to run, to hide, to do anything but face the man who humiliated me and turned my life upside down. But there he is, standing there, his eyes wild and his expression twisted in vile anger.
He's as I remember him. Tall, lean, and handsome in that cocky, too-perfect way that used to make my heart race. But now all I feel is sick churning in my gut. His hair is mussed like he's been running his hands through it, and his designer jacket hangs open over a rumpled shirt. There's a desperation to his appearance that wasn't there before, and I realize he's not here to just visit with his brother.
"Where's Cole?" Callum demands, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of everyone within earshot. Heads peek out from cubicles, whispers spreading like wildfire. Even more so than this morning when we walked into the office together. My heart pounds as I try to stay calm, but when his gaze lands on me, everything in me recoils.
His eyes widen in recognition, and then his lips curl into a cruel smile. "Well, isn't this just perfect?" he sneers, stalking toward me. "Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. I thought I heard your voice over the phone."
I can't move. My feet feel glued to the floor, my pulse thundering in my ears. Seeing him again after all this time is like being sucker-punched. Images flash through my mind.
Him tangled with another woman.
His smirk as he shrugged off my tears.
The sound of my own sobs as I fled Cole's apartment.
I thought I'd buried those memories, but with one look at him, and they're back, clawing at the surface. Not even the presence of Cole and Ethan next to me are helping to soothe my impending freak out.
"Callum," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.
"What are you doing here?" Cole demands.
Callum snorts at his brother's question. "What am I doing here?" He looks straight at me to deliver his next line. "I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing, Wendy?" His eyes narrow, and his grin turns vicious. "You're... you're screwing my brother, aren't you?"
I flinch at his words, but I refuse to let him see how much they hurt. He doesn't get any more of my pain, no matter how deep the words cut. Before I can say anything in retaliation he barks out a nasty laugh.
"Of course you'll play the innocent act. Just like when we were dating. Made me into the bad guy because I had to look after my own needs." He sneers at me, and I swallow down the tears that threaten to spill.
"You've always been pathetic, Wendy. But this?" He indicates Ethan and Cole behind me, and I straighten my spine to prepare for his next volley. "This takes the cake. Now you're really showing your true colors. You're nothing but a gold-digging leech, latching onto a first-class meal ticket. Tell me, Wendy. Does his husband watch you fuck him? Do you get paid extra for that?"
Each word lands like a blow, reopening old wounds I thought had healed. I've spent so long trying to build a life for myself, to prove to myself that I'm more than a lonely orphan girl.
And with a few carefully placed barbs he cut me right back down to the pitiful girl who ran from him.
"Callum, that's enough." Cole's voice cuts through the tension like a blade.
I turn to look up at him. His expression is a mix of fury and protectiveness. Ethan's jaw is tight, his eyes cold. Both men look at Callum like he's a bug under their shoes.
Just like that, with the small reminder that I have them behind me, I gain back some of the self-confidence I'd lost. Taking a deep breath, I step forward, my hands shaking, but I've had enough of this.
"You don't get to talk to me like that," I say, my voice steady, despite the fear still bubbling inside me. "The day I walked away from you, is the day you lost the right to treat me like a piece of shit. To be honest, I shouldn't even have given you that power over me when we were together. Regardless, we're done now."
"You cheated on me . You lied, not only to me but also to your brother. You deserve all the shit that's been shoveled your way the last couple of years. Now do us all a favor and leave your brother—and by extension, us—alone. The ATM is closed, Callum. Now sod off."
Callum's face flushes red. "Are you insinuating I'm the gold digger?"
I shrug. "If the shoe fits."
He growls and moves toward me, but before I can even think about stepping away, both Cole and Ethan move forward, each placing a hand on my shoulders, showing their support.
"Move another step, Callum, and I'll not only hand you your ass, but get the cops up here to arrest you for harassment. I've been chill because your brother cares for you, but you can only push me so far. Now do us all a favor and fuck off," Ethan says, disdain lacing his tone.
The office is dead silent, everyone's eyes on us, waiting to see how the rest of the drama will unfold. Callum looks like he wants to say something else, but Cole steps between us.
"You heard them, Callum," Cole murmurs.
He sounds so dejected that I can't help but step up right behind him and hold on to him.
"Please, if there is any love left for me in your heart, walk out and don't come back unless you’re invited."
Callum glares at his brother, then at me, before finally turning and storming to the elevator. The tension in the room slowly dissipates once the doors close behind him, but my hands are still shaking. Cole turns to me, his expression softening.
"You okay, babygirl?" he asks, his voice gentle.
And of course this perfect man is worrying about me after all of that.
I nod in response to his question before wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'm more worried about you. That was intense."
Ethan steps up behind me, and the three of us together, forming a unit helps soothe some of the jagged edges left behind by Callum's visit.
"I'm..." Cole starts before stopping to clear his throat from the emotion clogging it. "I will be okay. I have you two, don't I?"
"Fucking right, you do," Ethan responds before giving his husband a kiss.
Despite trying to control all the emotions roaring through me, tears prick my eyes. "Can we go finish our lunch now?" I ask, trying to break the tension.
And I guess it works. Because both my men chuckle before leading me back to Ethan's office.
Right before Cole closes the office door to give us some privacy he turns to face my curious colleagues. "Now that the show's over, you all can get right back to work."
His parting shot has the desired effect, because everyone jumps at his order.
This time, my laughter rings through the office.
As we sit down at the desk, Ethan looks at Cole, his eyes large with an unnamed emotion. "You know what this means, right?"
"No?"
"He's definitely going to run to your mom with the news that you've got a piece on the side, or something equally ludicrous. You're going to have to tell her about Wendy before he does."
"Ah shit."
Well that about sums it up, doesn't it?