How to Marry Your Frenemy - London Casey Page 0,96

and watched Vince write the check to me. I stood there and listened to everything he had to say. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, and in hindsight, I should have kicked Vince in the balls and walked out of the office.

But at that moment, I was in shock with what he was doing and saying.

I always knew Vince was an asshole. He wore that proud and didn’t care who called him that. What I didn’t know was that he had been setting Jackson up all along. He wanted to hurt his own nephew. He wanted to screw over his own family. I wasn’t sure how the company ended up in Vince’s hands, but it was pretty obvious Vince didn’t like the idea of Jackson ever taking it over.

All of it should have been clearer.

I was just too busy worrying about myself.

And why not?

The second Vince had a moment alone with me, what did he do?

He made a move on me. He touched me. He put his mouth to my mouth as though I was going to be okay with it. Because men like Vince thought it was okay to do that. They didn’t give a shit about women or their feelings or their rights or what they wanted or didn’t want. That’s why Vince loved the strip club. It was where his needs were met through transactions.

Except I couldn’t be bought or sold. That wasn’t my business.

Then on top of that, Jackson refused to give me a second to explain what had really happened. He just instantly assumed I was in on Vince’s plan. That I was going to, what, fuck Vince to get money and a promotion?

By the time I got back to my apartment, I was a mess. I began to question every decision I ever made as an adult woman. Which was wrong. I was a victim in this situation. I did nothing wrong. I worked hard, I kept myself as honest as anyone around me, and I never once gave the impression to Vince that I wanted him.

I would never…

I sat on the couch, put my face into my hands and began to cry.

Of course I would fall in love with someone like Jackson, only to have him think it wasn’t real. And why would he? I was the one who jumped at the chance to marry him and do the whole fake thing… for money.

Maybe I was exactly what both Jackson and Vince thought.

I reached for a blanket and curled up on the couch.

I tucked myself in like I was a little girl and a thunderstorm was passing by.

I hated thunderstorms.

And I hated the way I felt right then.

Empty. Alone.

In love.

“Callie? Callie… open your eyes…”

I did open my eyes. And Misha stood over me.

I sat up and wrapped the blanket around me.

The sunlight poured into the apartment and smacked me around.

I felt hungover but I hadn’t had a sip to drink the night before.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Do you know what time it is?” she asked.

“No.”

“Well, you’re late. And shit is hitting the fan at work.”

“What?” I asked. I blinked to let my eyes adjust. They were sore from crying so much. “What… is it Jackson? Is he at the office?”

I jumped up and dropped the blanket.

I grabbed Misha’s arms.

Her eyes opened big. “Your breath smells horrible. What happened last night?”

“Misha. Is Jackson there?”

“No,” she said. “Why… what’s going on?”

I shook my head. “It’s… wait. How is shit hitting the fan at the office?”

“Vince said… wait… you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Vince has security in your office. Cleaning your stuff out.”

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“You’re fired, Callie.”

“Fired?” I asked, almost coughing.

“He said you were drunk at work,” Misha said. “And that you started acting inappropriate. He said…” Misha rocked her head back and forth. “He said you tried to kiss him. That you started to ask him to sleep with you. That you offered your body in exchange for the promotion.”

“That fucker,” I growled. “That’s such a fucking lie. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I swear,” Misha said. “You didn’t show up and I didn’t know what was going on. So I hurried over here. Callie, what the hell is going on?”

I walked away from Misha.

My body was out of tears.

“It’s all over, Misha,” I said.

“What is?”

“Everything,” I said. “You should just go back to the office. Save your job.”

“I don’t want that job without you,” she said.

I looked at her. “Misha, please, don’t do this. Don’t be some kind of hero for me. I’m not worth it. Trust me,