Chapter 15
BLAKE
What a way to kick a man when he’s down.
My best friend and my faux wife making out in my kitchen while my business crumbles around me.
The ink of the paper of our marriage certificate has barely dried, and Danielle and Issac are like love-struck teenagers.
Even from my office, I can hear them talking.
I want to hear every fucking word, but my jealousy has no place here.
Danielle is doing this for me.
“Fuck.”
I need to apologize, but I’m scared of walking in to find Issac between Danielle’s thighs, or worse still, her on her knees.
Jesus.
Forcing myself to drain a beer first, I focus on the family portrait on the wall. Dad seems to be glaring at me, his eyes screaming at me to behave appropriately.
“It's not my fault that she prefers Issac,” I mutter. “It’s your fault I’m even doing this.”
Laughter rings through the house, and it's strange. It’s genuine, and it's coming from Danielle.
Closing my eyes, I rise to my feet, crossing over to the door.
I spot Danielle and Issac crossing to the front door, his hand on the small of her back as she turns to say goodbye.
I’m frozen to the spot, my jaw clenching so hard that pain slices through my face.
Issac gazes at Danielle, his hand sliding around her waist as he dips his head to her lips, her hair tumbling down her back as she leans up to kiss him back.
I want to interrupt them, but I also want to see how far this goes.
Is he going home?
Or is Danielle going to let him take her against the front door?
My stomach hardens, and I wait with bated breath.
Danielle pulls away first, and a smug grin takes over my face, the pain easing in my cheeks when Issac sighs.
“It doesn’t have to be just sex, you know.” Issac smirks, cupping her face in his hand. “I know we can’t date properly, but you can come to mine. I’ll cook you dinner…”
Just sex?
This is interesting, to say the least.
“I know, I guess I’m just feeling a little out of sorts.” Danielle sounds like she’s going to cry, and my heart ices over.
Don’t fuck my best friend then, Danielle.
I know I’m being irrational, but I can’t stop it.
Watching these two together is enough to make me want to smash this beer bottle at the wall.
“Blake didn’t even speak to me after the ceremony, not really. He was so cold,” Danielle confides tearfully. “How am I going to make this work for five years?”
Issac leans down, pulling Danielle into his arms as she sobs a little, and I feel like a total bastard.
I guess I hadn’t behaved overly well for a new husband, and somehow this bothers me. I want Danielle to feel happy and safe here, not in tears because of me.
“Blake doesn’t mean to be like that.” Issac sighs, and I nod firmly.
This is better.
Back me up, Issac.
“Isn’t he? What man marries his ex, then speaks to me like nothing has happened, leaving me in an unfamiliar house, and refuses to discuss business with me?”
Ouch.
“I know. Listen, today has been a big day for all of you, plus you’re probably tired from last night…”
The pair of them laugh, and I step back into my office, not wanting to hear the rest.
They’d slept together. The night before our fucking wedding.
The door closes as Issac leaves, and I’m torn between going down to confront Danielle and getting incredibly drunk in my office.
I have more things to be worrying about than Danielle Vee.
“Hey, Mom.”
Oh, fuck.
Now she’s calling her mother.
“Actually, I need to tell you something…”
This I’m not listening to.
Danielle’s family detests me—and with good reason, too.
I kick my office door shut, bypassing the beer for the vodka.
When did my life spiral this much out of fucking control?
The business is falling apart, and I’m married to my fucking ex, who is fucking my best friend.
Worse still, I can’t be seen out in public with another woman, or the contract is null and void.
I need Coke to go with my vodka, and that means going downstairs.
“Fucking hell.”
This is my house. Why should I tiptoe around?
I stride down the stairs, ignoring Danielle’s tearful words from the lounge. The Coke is ice cold, but I can’t be bothered to walk back upstairs to drink it, so I head back outside to sit beneath the stars.
The pool shimmers beneath the moonlight, and I try to calm my erratic heartbeat as I sip my drink.
The business can handle losing the money; that’s not the issue. The issue is it happening before my dad is even cold in the ground, for fuck’s sake. I don’t want to let him down.
“Blake?”
I stiffen at the sound of Danielle’s voice and fill my mouth with alcohol so I can’t respond.
“Can we talk? I think this has been a bad idea.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake!
“I don’t need this, Danielle,” I grit out, my fingers clenching around my glass. “Go and talk to Issac about it.”
“Don’t be a child,” Danielle mutters, dragging a chair over to where I’m sitting.
The moonlight seems to adore her, dancing on her cheekbones and full lips like fairy dust, its cool glow making her look almost ethereal.
“What do you want?” I snap, no longer giving a shit about her.
Danielle knew what she was getting into, and she slept with my best friend the night before she married me.
Hardly a delicate wallflower, is she?
“Blake, Jesus, can you please be civil?”
“Did you use protection?” I continue, swigging the last of my drink.
Danielle pales, her brow furrowing as she stammers. “I don’t know—”
“What I’m talking about?” I cut her off, a grin twisting on my lips. “You and Issac, Danielle.”
Danielle stares past me, swallowing hard. “That’s none of your business.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I rise to my feet. “No, you’re right, it’s not. But still, use protection. I’m not raising a child that’s not mine.”
I know I’m hurting her, but I’m so pissed off.
Then she clears her throat.
“I want to annul the marriage.”