Chapter 36
Zeke: Answer your phone. I need to talk to you.
Zeke: Logan I’m not fucking around. Call me now.
Zeke: I’m coming over.
ZEKE
She cuts me off before I can tell her that I have every intention of replacing that ring with something less gaudy, something more her.
Because I want it all with her, for real this time.
I want her to be my wife. I want to be the only man she wakes up to every morning until the end.
She’s looking at me like I’ve just booted her cat off the top of the Eiffel Tower, and I have no idea why.
“What? What is it?” Concern flashes through me as I see the flame in her eyes flicker and die.
Her fingers press into my chest, and I realize after a beat that she’s pushing me away. I reluctantly let her go, watching with dismay as she slides off the top of the dresser and backs up a few feet with her hands raised like I’m some kind of dangerous animal that’s cornered her.
“This is still all about getting your father’s company,” she breathes, almost to herself as she raises one shaking palm to her forehead.
I blink stupidly, attempting to catch up. “No, this is about you and me. Being together. For real.”
“But you just said—” She shakes her head and uses her hands to smooth her hair behind her ears like she always does when she’s trying to maintain her composure. “You just said that you expect us to still fulfil the contract.”
“No, I said I can’t tell my father about us pretending to be engaged until he’s out of the picture. Fuck the contract. Tear it up for all I care.” I swipe my hand sideways across the air.
I’m so fucking lost as to why this is a problem. She was on board with the plan to begin with, why would that change now? She blinks, moisture pooling in her beautiful crystal eyes. The sight makes me want to tear the responsible party limb from limb, but I’ve got a funny feeling that person is me.
“Help me understand what is going on here, Chloe.” My fingers itch to reach for her, but I can see she’s clinging onto control by the edges of her fingertips and so I root myself to the floor.
She sucks in a deep breath through her nose before she meets my gaze.
“I spent three years with someone who hid the true nature of our relationship from the world. I shouldn’t have allowed it then and I won’t allow it now.
If you can’t be honest with him and risk losing the chance to take his company, then I don’t think you really love me, Zeke. ”
My world tilts on its axis and I finally understand.
Panic flares in my chest because I’m cornered without a way out.
Tears spill down her alabaster cheeks, leaving glistening silvery paths in their wake.
Even if I was able to live with myself for risking my mother's final resting place, it isn’t my decision to make alone.
“I’ve thought a lot of things about you over the last few days, Zeke. But I never thought you would be so cold as to choose money and power over me.” She sniffs, quickly walking past me to snatch up her purse from the top of the dressing table.
My brows crumple into a frown and then it hits me that she’s missing the biggest part of the puzzle, because my stupid ass hasn’t given it to her. Cursing myself, I step forward, snaring her arm as she moves.
“Chloe, that’s not—”
“No, Zeke!” she explodes, shaking my hand off and rounding on me. “I’m so fucking sick of you steamrolling me in these conversations where all you do is talk and don’t listen!”
“But I—”
“Do you intend to tell your father what happened, or not?” she cuts across me, her nostrils flaring as the fire that made me fall in love with her to begin with encases her in a flaming whirlwind of fury.
“No, but—”
“Then shut the fuck up! Just shut that stupid, beautiful fucking mouth of yours for once in your life and just listen!” My jaw cements together, indignation and fear warring in equal measure in my heart.
“Words are cheap. It’s actions that count.
And right now, your actions fucking suck.
So, if you really love me, you won’t say another fucking word and you’ll go and do something instead.
Otherwise?” Her voice breaks as fresh tears slide down her beautiful face.
“Otherwise, I think it’s best we have some space. ”
She turns on her heel and marches out of the open doorway in a shimmering haze of auburn hair.
I take one step after her. My mouth opens, about to shout her name, and then I force myself to stop, because she’s right.
Words are cheap and I love her enough to let her go for now.
I watch her disappear around the corner and send out a silent prayer that she will forgive me for the pain I’ve caused once I have something solid to prove to her just how serious I am.