Chapter 66
In the Uber from Gideon’s place, I nurse a to-go coffee, simmering on what a fucked-up day I’ve had. How did I not see it? Saturday. I know Adderall isn’t cocaine, but it’s still an amphetamine. He uses it to focus, but still. I hope he is serious about being done with that and also the coke.
Climbing my building’s stairs, I hear the buzzer going off again. Turning back, I find a delivery man by the door.
“Dani Sommer?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I scan your ID to confirm delivery?” he asks.
“Of what?”
“Rolex.”
“Rolex?” I breathe, then dread sets back in. Is this how Gideon is apologizing to me? Just like how Adam did—buying me things.
I hand the guy my ID, and then he hands me a bag. I open it on the street and find a gold watch with a diamond bezel and hunter green face. It’s a lot … flashy. Opening the card, I find a printed note.
You deserve the world. He can’t give it to you. Check your email for a revised prenup. I think you will like the changes. Tick. Tock. - Adam
“What the fuck?” I mutter.
How does he know I’m dating Gideon? Why is the universe giving me all this shit on a day that I’m hungover?
Not wanting to walk up the three flights of stairs again, I call an Uber, then text Adam’s assistant, Allison.
Dani Sommer
I am returning a present Adam had delivered. I’m putting it in a car, and it’s going to be at the office in eighteen minutes.
Allison
What are you talking about?
Dani Sommer
You will understand when you see it.
“Dani!” Dan calls out, walking up to the building.
I force a smile.
“Rolex!” he says, seeing the bag. “Gift from Gideon?” I shake my head and hope Dan has not heard all the crazy sex we’ve had so far since I moved in.
The Uber pulls up, and I put the bag in the back seat. The driver looks at me, confused. “There will be a really pretty brunette waiting for it.” He nods, likely thinking this is a sweet surprise. If fucking only.
“Well, that was something you don’t see every day,” Dan says, watching the Uber drive away.
We start walking up the stairs. At this point, the only way I’m going to feel better is a little hair of the dog. I splash some whiskey into my coffee once in my unit and then sit at my computer.
An email from Adam’s attorney is waiting for me. This is the third rendition of the prenup. I shake my head at that little fact. It’s always so confusing when this guy emails me, too, because his name is also Adam, Adam Shapiro.
Just delete it. My heart rate increases as I click the link.
Skimming through the document, I notice how it’s set up so I can virtually sign it. Does Adam seriously fucking think I’m going to sign this and get back with him?
I notice a couple of big changes since the last draft I saw. Twelve million dollars per child. What the fuck is wrong with him? Why does he want me to have his babies so bad? Then a vesting schedule.
“Holy shit!” I breathe. He’s offering me one percent of Harris Ventures for every year we are married. I shouldn’t care. But … fuck. That is a lot of money.
I allow myself to toy with this proposal for a few minutes. Even if we were married for one year … No. He can’t buy me. I never thought I’d be in a position to turn down this much money. I think about the offer a bit more. It’s so much money.
If these details were in the draft I saw before he threw my phone at Lily’s birthday party, I would have signed it. I blankly stare at my computer screen, considering that.
But he wants to control me. He wants to own me. That is exactly what this prenup is: a contract for him to fucking buy me.
He wants a reaction. These changes are getting one, but not the one he wants. How can he not internalize the fact that he can’t buy me?
“Fuck!” I mutter. Is Adam going to be at Declan’s dinner party tonight?
I can’t go. I can’t go tonight for so many reasons, and this is another one.
Gideon and I are recovering from our fight.
The last thing I want to do is put on a happy face and make idle chitchat.
Declan … I can’t handle his nonsense tonight either.
Gideon Stone
What time are you getting to Declan’s?
I look at my phone. It’s a little after three o’clock. Gideon’s board meeting must be over.
Dani Sommer
I’m not going.
His call comes in seconds later.
“I’m not going,” I answer.
“Please. I need to see you after today.” G’s tone sounds stressed. Maybe the board meeting was really bad.
“Can you confirm Adam will not be there?”
“Why?”
“Because I do not want to fucking see him today.”
“Did something happen?”
“Yeah!” I huff. “He’s on his bullshit.”
“Are you … in touch with him?”
“No!”
“He knows we’re dating.”
“Wait, how do you know he knows we’re dating?”
“He made it very clear in front of the board during the meeting. Did something happen to you?”
“He fucking sent a Rolex to my apartment. I have no idea how he knows where I live.”
“A Rolex?”
“The note basically said like tick tock. Like I’m ever going to get back with him.”
He loudly sighs. “Please come to Declan’s tonight. We have a lot to talk about.”
“No way.”
“Dani, Adam threatened me. He said he will remove me as CEO if I keep seeing you.”
“Shit.” I take a deep breath. “He said that?”
“Yes. Please come to Declan’s.”
“Only if Adam won’t be there.”
“I’ll confirm.”
“Fine. Go confirm.” I’m definitely not fucking texting Declan.
I lie in my bed, eating popcorn, waiting for an update, and am completely content not moving.
Gideon Stone
All clear. Tech founders and their dates. No Adam.
Why should I attend this dinner party? I need new clients, and there will be good networking. Gideon and I also really need to talk about the board meeting.
Why shouldn’t I go? Declan, obviously. This small headache remains from my hangover, and I don’t want to talk to anyone.
Reluctantly, I throw on wide-leg jeans and a cropped shirt, something casual enough for networking but still professional. Scanning my closet, I suddenly see Adam’s mark on every piece of clothing I own. He’s always been trying to buy me, and I see that now.
Dani Sommer
Text me the address.
Seeing the address, I know it. This address bought every piece from every collection. This was my fashion startup’s number one customer.
“Fuck you!”
Declan Kruk was Adam Black, our top customer. I didn’t need this information before tonight. This is the last fucking thing I needed today.
I call Gideon. “I’m not going.”
“What? Why?”
I consider lying, saying I puked or something. “There’s too much going on. I don’t want to make small talk.”
“You lost two huge clients this week.”
I huff. He’s right. “Okay. I will go—for the networking.”
I’m also going to do my best to forget that Adam Black is Declan Kruk. God. What a shit day! I summon a ride and text Gideon.
Dani Sommer
My Uber says I’ll be there in twelve minutes.
Of all the neighborhoods for Declan to live in, I’d never assume the Gold Coast. It’s like the senior citizen neighborhood of Chicago. I guess for a sober guy, a quiet, ultra-rich neighborhood close to downtown fits the bill.
In the car, I sigh loudly, thinking about how there has always been this cat-and-mouse game between Declan and me.
From the first night I met him, he’s been playing games.
Always hot, then cold. I hate that every time I see him, he’s insinuating my life would be better if I didn’t have vices.
The straight-edge thing is so annoying. It’s extreme, like a different manifestation of addiction.
I flip my hair around in the car to get some more volume and sex appeal, trying to feel like a regular human rather than this frazzled disaster that’s currently having a really bad day. Adding a layer of ChapStick to my lips, my heart races as the car pulls up to Declan’s house.
“Damn, babe. Look at your abs,” G mutters, his eyes locked on them before kissing me gently. I hesitate, then soften into him. He looks effortlessly cool in dark jeans and a tan suede jacket.
I’m happy to see him and vow to make the best of the evening. “I’m focused on finding some new clients tonight.”
“Sounds good. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve recovered.”
“Good. When we go back to my place later, I have to tell you about the board meeting. It didn’t go as expected.”
“I’m sleeping over?” I ask, surprised to hear him say that.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Our fight this morning.”
“And?”
“We’ll talk more later, but there’s no way I’m having sex tonight,” I say as we walk up the front stairs of the vintage four-story brick walk-up.
“Why?”
“I just found out you do drugs, Gideon!”
“I did drugs,” he clarifies. “I’m done.” He kisses me, then rings the smart lock.
“I need to sleep tonight. Today has been too much for me.”
“We’ll sleep. I’m going to warn you,” G says, squeezing my ass, “I’m probably going to get into some kind of pissing match with Declan. We’re very professionally competitive with each other.”
Declan opens the door and I giggle because I’m not the only one that has little sparring matches with him.
“Dani, Gideon,” Declan greets us. He goes in for a side hug. It’s a completely normal thing to do, but it throws me off balance. He has never hugged me before—ever. Like a weirdo, I don’t hug back.
Checking him out, I try so hard not to have a little smirk seeing him in socks. He’s totally casual in a knitted white pullover and jeans. His tattoos always look so good when he wears white. He always looks so good when he wears white.
I squeeze G’s hand and we walk into a home that is like a Restoration Hardware showroom.
Looking around, I spot so many familiar looking pieces I considered when I was decorating the apartment Adam got me.
The way this house is decorated feels warm and luxurious.
It’s exactly what I would have done with the place.
We have the same taste, I internally groan.
“Thanks again for joining the call earlier this week,” Declan says as we enter his living room, and it’s not lost on me that he hasn’t looked at G since we were standing outside. “You’re keeping these people on their toes and accountable.”
“It’s easy work.”