Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty Nine
Nico
Ican tell she’s here the instant I step foot through the door. It’s like a veil of negative energy I step through, and sure enough, when the elevator doors open, I see her on the couch scrolling on her phone with some trash TV show on.
She glances over to me before looking down at her phone.
“You’re home late. I’m starving so please tell me you have some kinda of food.”
Here we go.
Slipping off my suit jacket, I set it on the back of the chair as I begin rolling up the sleeves of my dress shirt. I cross the room until I’m in front of her before I take a seat on the coffee table. Carly side eyes me over her phone as she shakes her head.
“What?”
“I want to end this.”
Boom. Done. Band aid ripped off.
“End this?” she asks, like she’s never heard those words in her life.
Like I haven’t personally said them to her over a dozen times. This time is different, though. This time, it’s over.
“Us. This hasn’t worked in a long time and I know neither of us are happy. It’s time to part ways.”
Carly sits up, tossing her phone to the side as she turns her head to the side.
“Where is this coming from? Is this because I went on that girls trip?”
“No, it’s not. It’s been coming for a long time. Remember how we agreed I’d meet your parents in Seattle and then we would go from there? This is where I want to go.
She scoffs and tosses her hand out by her side.
“Well, yeah. That was before you wanted to stay even longer. I figured we were fine after that. We laughed, had sex, you bonded with my parents. This is honestly so shocking, Nicholas.”
“It’s Nico, it’s fucking Nico! Everyone on this goddamn planet calls me Nico except you.
Everyone knows I can’t stand the name Nicholas except you!
You’re a spoiled, entitled, brat and I don’t want to be with you anymore!
I don’t want to live with you, I don’t want to be near you.
I want to get the fuck away from you!” I snap as I jump to my feet, clapping my hands together with each word to emphasize my point.
She looks shell shocked at my explosion, and for a moment, I feel guilty. Tears begin to gather in her eyes but she doesn’t let it show, quickly swiping them away as they fall.
“Wow, I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were so unhappy. I—”
Her voice chokes, cutting her words off as she looks down at her hands.
“I know I haven’t been the best partner, and I’m sorry. Really. I…I guess I don’t have an excuse,” she says with a shrug of her shoulders.
I feel myself softening with empathy, but I don’t allow it. She plays these games every time we break up. This time is different, this time is final.
“I know that this will be adjustment for you. I took the liberty of securing you a few interviews for firms around the city. I submitted glowing letters of recommendations and I’ve secured you an apartment a few blocks away.
I’ve paid the rent through the year so you can get back on your feet gradually. ”
She looks shocked by this, and it’s as if she’s just now fully understanding how serious I am.
“Uhm, thank you. I…that’s very generous of you.”
I nod my head, waiting for her to say more. Instead, she just looks at me with big sad doe eyes, that unfortunately for her, don’t really do much for me.
“I have movers that are coming tomorrow morning to move all of your things to your new apartment. They’ll handle everything. I’ve cancelled your line of credit and will be changing the locks starting tomorrow afternoon.”
I knew that one was going to a shocker for her. Her face is stunned that I’ve moved so quickly, when really, I’ve been planning all of this from the moment Cassi and I gave in to one another back in Seattle.
Swallowing roughly, Carly nods.
“I understand. I…I’m sorry, Nichol—” she cuts herself off, shaking her head. “Nico. I’m sorry this didn’t work out. I’m sorry I couldn’t be better.”
Again, typical manipulation shit that I won’t be playing into. I shrug my shoulders callously and awkwardly, Carly stands.
“I uhm, I’ll get as packed as I can before the movers come tomorrow. I…” she pauses, her eyes searching my own. “I wish you a lifetime of happiness, you deserve it.”
I nod, not able to return the sentiment in this moment. She winces like my silence hurts most of all before she walks down the hall, shutting the bedroom door behind her. Her soft sobs echo through the apartment and I blow out a heavy breath before heading out the door.
The tight ball of anxiety that has been twisting in my chest all day eases when I step into he elevator and hit the lobby button.
That went a hell of a lot better than I thought it would.
Instead of anger she just seemed sad. I really do hope she finds happiness elsewhere, though.
For a while I convinced myself we could make each other happy enough, that what we shared was enough.
Now that I’ve gotten a glimpse at what real love feels like, real connection, the imitation just won’t do.
My fingers are flying across my phone as I send a text that I’ve been dying to all day.
Me: It’s done. We’re free, babygirl.
I stayed at the brownstone last night and stayed on the phone with Cassi until she fell asleep.
She couldn’t believe how well Carly took it and honestly, I’m still in shock myself.
Maybe I built it up too much in my head or maybe deep down, she has known it was coming for a while.
Either way, I’m officially a free man, which means that I can pursue and be with the woman I’m completely fucking gone for guilt free. Finally.
I’m fucking pissed I couldn’t take off the next few days.
All I can think about is getting to Cassi.
Unfortunately for me, I’ve taken off way too much time lately, honestly more time than I’ve taken off in the last ten years, and I have obligations that can’t wait.
First up is a meeting with one of my biggest clients, Arnold Maywhether.
A rich as sin mine tycoon. He owns over fifty gold mines and a handful of others, and we manage all of his portfolios.
He only likes to meet with me and for the price of the retainer we charge him, he can have whatever he wants.
I’ve been putting off this meeting with him for weeks and this morning was the last chance to see him before he goes on vacation with his wife.
I’ve met her a few times and she’s actually quite lovely.
They’ve been together for over forty years and seem like one of those true couples. The ones that stand the test of time.
That’s how we scored his business in the first place, that was my parents.
Or at least, to the public eye. They were married for forty six years before my dad passed away.
My mother never remarried and passed ten years later.
On the outside, my family looks like the perfect picture of a wholesome family business.
Beneath the smoke and mirrors, my dad was like any other rich asshat distracted by the dollar signs in his bank account than his family and the tight ass assistants over his wife.
My mother pretended not to notice, but she knew. She always knew.
When Jake tried to compare me to him, it cut deeper than I would like to admit. I’m nothing like him, and I’d rather die than ever be assimilated to a man like him.
Stepping out of the elevator and into the entry way of Sanders & Son, I smile to Margie, our receptionist as I walk back to my office. Glancing at Virginia’s desk, I notice it’s empty. She must be grabbing coffee.
As I open my door and step into my office, I notice it’s not empty. There, Carly is sitting in my chair, swiveling around as she faces me.
“Hello handsome.”
What the fuck? Gone is the morose look of rejection and sorrow. She’s dressed to the nines in attire that can barely pass for business casual as she stands and sashays her way to greet me.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Sanders, is that anyway to speak to your fiancée?” Arnold scolds from the corner of the room.
Fuck. I didn’t see him.
“Sorry, Arnold. I didn’t see you there. I…wait, fiancée?”
“Yes,” he smiles, crossing the room to shake my hand. “Congratulations, son. She just told me all about the engagement. I can’t believe you proposed to her at Mariano’s just like I did to my Mary.”
My head whips back and forth between Carly and Arnold in confusion because what the fuck is going on?
“Arnold, there is some kind of miscommunication here. I—”
“You know I hate doing business with those playboy types. No one cares about the family these days. It’s good to see you finally making an honest woman out of this gem.”
“Oh Arnold, stop. I’m an engaged woman now,” Carly says with a blush as she shoos him away.
A huge diamond ring catches my attention on her left hand, and I snatch it midair to examine it. She smiles at me happily as I glare at her.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Nico,” Arnold chastises as Carly smiles.
“It’s fine. We had a bit of a late night,” she winks.
Arnold laughs like he’s in on a dirty joke before nodding.
“I’m going to use the restroom, I’ll give you two some privacy. Congratulations again.”
“Thank you so much!” Carly smiles as she rests her hand onto my chest.
As soon as Arnold is out of the room, I toss her hand off of me and take several steps back.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Her blissful smile drops as she gives me a flat look.
“Jesus, you very well may be the worst actor I’ve ever met in my life. I’m securing you another fat investment from that rich son of a bitch. You’re welcome.”
“Why the fuck did you tell him we’re engaged?” I snap.
“Oh, because we are, baby. See, you even bought me this gorgeous six carat ring,” she says as she wiggles her ring in my face.
“I didn’t buy you anything,” I scoff.
She shrugs as she paces through my office, taking a seat once again in my chair.
“Well, it was your credit card that made the purchase, ergo, you bought it for me. How could I say no?” she smiles, lifting her shoulders up as she admires the ring.
Running a hand through my hair I shake my head.
“I don’t have it in me to keep up with whatever stupid fucking game you’re trying to play, Carly.”
“Baby, this is not a game. This is real. Did you honestly think I was going to let the best thing that ever happened to me walk out the door and I wasn’t going to fight for it?”
“Fight for what? We’re over, Carly.”
“We’re over, when I say we’re over.”
She slaps down a magazine onto my desk and my face pales as I look at it. An impressively well photoshopped picture of me on one knee proposing to her is on the front page with the words “Billionaire CEO Nicholas Sanders proposes to longtime girlfriend.”.
“What?” I snarl as I clutch the paper in my hands.
“Five other online media outlets have published their coverage on it and our engagement party has been all planned. Invites have already been sent out.”
“What engagement party? We’re not fucking engaged!” I shout, because my god, it’s like talking to a fucking wall.
She fakes shock as she covers her hand over her heart.
“Are you saying you want to break off the engagement? I don’t think that will look too good to your clients, your investors, the board.”
I stare at Carly in disbelief as she shrugs her shoulders.
“The choice is yours, I guess, I know you’ll make the right one, though. The party is next weekend. My family is thrilled and I told them you’d send the jet for them. Make sure you wear that black suit I love,” she says before pressing a kiss to my cheek before sauntering out of my office.
What the actual fuck just happened? Did I just get forced into an engagement?
Does she really think me breaking off an engagement would hurt my reputation that bad?
So, what? I lose a few clients? I doubt I’ll lose anything once I tell people she’s a fucking psycho who made it all up.
I want to know how she moved so quick with everything. I mean, she had to of been…wait.
Her family?
She talked to them already?
Oh fuck.