Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty One
Nico
She doesn’t believe me. I can feel it. I can see it in her eyes, and it fucking kills me.
I don’t blame her, though. If the roles were reversed, I’m not sure I’d believe me either.
As soon as Carly left my office I fucking ran to Jake.
We called in our PR company and I explained everything, even divulging my current relationship with Carly’s sister, though of course, Carly doesn’t know that detail.
Our PR manager, Brittany, was particularly nervous, which didn’t leave Jake or I feeling good about the situation.
Her first concern was bad press falling back on the company.
I mean, the fact that news outlets were already involved in mine and Carly’s ‘relationship’ meant that for their own interest, they would be following us very closely.
Me spontaneously breaking off our engagement or me going to the press and dismissing her claims of a proposal would only result in a ‘he said she said’ that Brittany informed me we would not win.
I told Brittany I didn’t care the fall out, I would not be marrying Carly for publicity.
She assured me that I wouldn’t need to let it go that far, but it would help tremendously to allow a little time before quietly breaking off the ‘engagement’.
Her logic is that new drama is always circulating and the best thing for us is to wait until something new takes everyone’s focus, and then Carly and I will quietly separate.
It’s like she doesn’t have a clue who we are dealing with.
Still, there may be some kind of option I can offer.
A chunk of money, a house, a fucking yacht.
I don’t give a shit. I just want the psycho out of my life.
Or at least as far removed from me as possible since there is a very high chance that there will be a Sanders and Fischer wedding.
It just won’t be to Carly. If Cassi will wait for me through this shit storm.
I jumped on a plane as soon as I finished the meeting with Brittany and headed straight for Seattle.
Cassi wasn’t answering my calls, understandably so, and I had to see her.
I had to talk to her. I couldn’t go another second with her assuming the worst. The devastation in her eyes when she looked to me was everything I expected and more, and it nearly cracked my heart in two.
After my gums finally stopped bleeding, I sat in the waiting room until Cassi was done with work and now here we are, in her car sitting at the airport.
I have moves to make in Boston that unfortunately can’t be made here.
I asked if she wanted to come back with me for a few days, but I already knew the answer.
“I have classes and work and you have…a lot of shit to deal with,” she says with a shake of her head.
I nod my understanding.
“I’ll be contacting my lawyer in the morning. See what we can do in cases of defamation for myself and the company.”
Cassi lets out a short laugh and shakes her head.
“If you think Carly will let this go for anything less than…everything? You’re completely mistaken.”
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair as I nod.
“I know, one way or another we will make it out the other side. Together,” I say, as if it were a certainty.
I take Cassi’s hand in mine before pressing a kiss to the back of it. She gives me a tight lipped smile, like she wants to be happy but she doesn’t know how to.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?”
Cassi nods. “See you at your engagement party,” she says on a bitter laugh.
Reach out for her face, my thumb grazes against her cheek gently.
“Hopefully things will be resolved by then. Don’t give up on us, please.”
She swallows roughly and nods as I press my lips to hers. When we pull apart, she looks a little more at ease.
“It’ll be over soon,” she says.
“So soon,” I agree.
It was in fact, not over so soon. I had spoken to lawyer after lawyer, all confirming that there was really nothing concrete that I could do about Carly’s stunt. Not preventatively. I’d have to sit back and wait for shit to hit the fan before we could go after her, which really fucking sucked.
The engagement party is tomorrow, and though I have every advisor under the sun, including Jake, urging me that attending is a good idea, I can’t fight the urge to say fuck it all to hell and drop a tell all myself.
I’ve typed one up half a dozen times and have been tempted to send it to the media outlets so that the narrative can be flipped for fucking once. But I haven’t, and I hate it.
Cassi and I have spoken every day, but there is hesitancy between us. A wall, and though she has every right to have it there, I want it ripped the fuck down. I’m finishing getting ready in the bathroom of my penthouse when I step into the bedroom and find Carly sprawled naked on my bed.
“Jesus Christ. Put some fucking clothes on,” I snarl as I look away, tossing the nearest item of clothing towards her.
“Oh please, you can’t even look at me?” she scoffs.
“I’d prefer not to, no,” I say as I head for the door, stepping out into the kitchen. “How the fuck did you even get in? I change the locks?”
She trails after me, deciding not to put on the shirt I threw at her.
“I called a locksmith,” she says with a shrug of her shoulders.
I turn to look her in the eye, derision heavy in my gaze as I shake my head.
“You’re fucking psychotic.”
“You’re my fiancé, Nicholas. We haven’t slept together in weeks and you won’t even let me stay at my own apartment.”
“This isn’t your apartment!” I snarl as I clench the side of the kitchen island. “I bought you an apartment, got you all set up when I dumped your fucking ass and you responded by telling the whole goddamn world that we are engaged.”
She doesn’t respond, just stares at me like she’s waiting for me to get to a point. My eyes practically bug out of my head as I point at her.
“Do you not see a problem with that? You’re essentially blackmailing me into marrying you, is that what you want?”
Carly rolls her eyes like I’m being dramatic as she shakes her head.
“I don’t see why you’re fighting us so hard. We have been happy for three years, it was time to take a next step, and I’m not going to apologize for fighting for us.”
A humorless laugh escapes me as I shake my head.
“You’re not fighting for us, there is no us, Carly.”
“Then why are you even coming tonight, hm? Why did you send the jet to pick up my family?” she taunts.
Because I’m trying to find a way to get the hell away from you with as minimal damage to my reputation and company you crazy bitch.
Of course, I don’t say that. Just as I’ve been advised, I’m keeping my mouth shut and moving forward while the suits do all the work. They better hurry up before I blow everything to hell, though.
Carly rounds the island towards me as her hand reaches out to touch my shoulder.
“Nicholas, c’mon. Stop thinking about this so hard and—"
I rip away from her before she can even touch me, shaking my head with disgust.
“Do not touch me. Get the fuck out of my apartment before I call the cops,” I say as I grab my keys and wallet and head for the door.
“You’re seriously not even going to fuck me!” she shouts in outrage.
Yeah, I’d rather my fucking dick fall off than stick it in her.
I’m not heading to the office today, I’d be fucking useless even if I did go in.
Instead, I’m swinging by the Brownstone, putting the finishing touches on a few things before Cassi and her parents land.
I told her they could stay in a hotel or the Brownstone, whatever was more comfortable for her.
It made me happy to hear she wanted to stay there instead of a hotel. It gave me a glimpse of hope.
I’ve been planning these changes over the last week or so but finally, it’s all finished and now I can make sure it’s perfect before she gets here.