Chapter Twenty Four #3
Charlie shook her head. “I need to do this for me. I want him to see that I’m OK. I want to see his face when he hears what we’ve done.”
“OK, babe. But if he gets nasty, I’m stepping in.”
She smiled. Ever the protector. Her protector. She kind of liked it.
The door opened and there was Simon in his tailored suit and white shirt. He looked different though. His normally perfect hair was mussed up. His skin ashen.
“Charlotte, I’m so glad you’re—” He stopped, staring at Donnie. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“He’s with me. I asked him to come,” Charlie said calmly. Simon looked between them.
“You’re fucking him. I knew it. You bastard.” Simon moved toward Donnie, his arm raised as if to throw a punch. Donnie raised his arm and, in a movement Charlie didn’t even have a chance to process, Donnie had Simon’s arm twisted behind his back.
“That was not a good idea,” Donnie said. “And that was no way to speak to a lady. Charlie has something to say to you, and you are going to listen. Are we clear?”
Simon was squirming. Good. Charlie didn’t say a word. The bastard deserved it.
“Are we clear?” Donnie repeated.
“Yes,” Simon spat and Donnie released him.
“I don’t understand, Charlotte. You really prefer this thug to me?”
Charlie took a deep breath, determined to remain calm. As she looked at Simon now, it was hard to believe she once cared for this man. Or thought she loved him.
“Donnie is more of a man than you will ever be. A real man does not cheat on his woman—”
“I have never—” Simon interrupted, but Donnie stepped forward.
“Let her finish.”
Simon stopped talking.
“As I was saying, a real man does not cheat on his woman. A real man doesn’t criticize her, belittle her, try to control her. A real man doesn’t use drugs and attend sex parties behind his fiancée’s back. Nor does he arrange a sham marriage, so he can get control of his father’s company.”
When Simon’s face paled even more, her confidence grew. It felt good to get this out. To put this man in his place.
“Yes, Simon. I know about everything. And as of yesterday, so does your father.”
She and Donnie had gone to see Radwell Senior at his office.
It was clear in everything Donnie had uncovered that he knew nothing about the sham marriage.
Radwell Senior had been shocked when they explained everything and provided him with an envelope full of pictures and emails as proof.
Charlie explained, she did not want Simon tricking some other poor woman like he had her.
Radwell Senior assured them he would handle his son.
There would be no business handover, and he would cut off his income, and force him into rehab.
Whatever it took. Donnie had said he thought Simon was getting off lightly, but Charlie knew being shut out of the business would destroy him.
Life as he knew it was over. That was the worst punishment for a man like Simon.
“What are you talking about? My father? What have you done?”
Simon’s cellphone rang.
While Charlie had been talking to Simon, Donnie had texted Radwell Senior. They had asked him not to call his son until she and Donnie had spoken to him. Senior had agreed. The poor man had looked embarrassed and ashamed of his son’s behavior, and Charlie had felt sorry for him.
Simon answered the call. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she didn’t need to.
“Father, I can explain. She’s making it up—” Simon stopped talking and Charlie could see the anger building on his face. Daddy must have ended the call because he lowered the phone.
“You fucking bitch. You’re going to pay for this. I swear, I will ruin you.” His voice dripped with contempt and hatred. Charlie swallowed, fear creeping in.
When Donnie stepped forward this time, he didn’t stop until he had Simon up against the wall with a hand around his throat.
“Let’s get something clear. I would kill you right fucking now and not lose any sleep over it.
Whatever the consequences. Listen to me when I say if you so much as think about Charlie after today, I will know.
You come anywhere near her, or try to hurt her, and all that evidence that your daddy has?
I won’t hesitate to send it to the tabloids, to the news stations, to every fucking gossip column in New York.
It won’t be just the business you lose. You won’t be able to set foot in this city.
No one will work with you. No one will want to be associated with you. ”
The anger turned to fear on Simon’s face. Her stomach did a little flutter. Damn, she was turned on by the way Donnie was being all protector-ish. She was really starting to like it.
“Do we have an agreement?” Donnie said, not letting him go.
Simon tried to nod, but he could barely move. “Yes,” he hissed.
Donnie let him go, turned, took Charlie’s hand, grabbed the suitcase, and walked her to the door. She placed her key on the side table, together with the engagement ring. She took one last look back. Simon was sitting on the floor, his head in his hands.