The Man I Thought I Trusted - E. L. Todd Page 0,77

rather take the comfort of your job and the reputation it gives you. You’ll either die because of it, or you’ll live long enough to be replaced by somebody better. If you’re willing to choose that over love, over having a family, over me…then you maybe you never really loved me in the first place.”

He gave me a disappointed look, as if his opinion of me had changed. “I’ve had to put up with a lot of shit from you too. You treated me like an object rather than a person when I wanted to actually connect with you. I’ve always accepted your headstrong attitude and your independence, when other men would be intimidated or simply annoyed. Instead of focusing on my flaws, you should focus on all the good things I’ve done for you and this relationship. I’m a pretty good guy, and you aren’t going to find anyone better than me out there. So, if you’re going to throw this away because of a huge misunderstanding, because I was trying to do right by my family after my first mistake, then maybe this isn’t right. Maybe it is best if we call it quits and go our separate ways. You aren’t the only one tired of making compromises. All I’ve ever wanted was to love you, and you made it a fucking pain in the ass every step of the way.”

Now, he was furious as well as disappointed, like his heart stopped loving me within a few beats. He gave me a final look before he turned around and left the apartment.

I stood there and stared at the door, my arms still crossed over my chest, my breathing getting shallower and harder with every second that passed. My eyes glistened and turned wet, and my chest wanted to heave with the approaching sobs.

The door opened again, and Matt stepped inside. “What happened? I just saw Dax in the hallway looking like he was going to demolish this building when he gets downstairs…” He stilled when he saw the look on my face.

I burst into tears—and I couldn’t keep it in any longer.

I sat at my desk and typed on my computer, finishing my notes on the prime minister before sending it off to Abby, the reporter who would take over the position.

Charlie stepped into my cubicle and placed a sandwich next to my laptop. “Just got lunch. Thought you might be hungry.”

I gave a slight smile as I looked at it. “You don’t have to buy me lunch every day, Charlie.”

“I thought I would grab something while I was out.” He took a seat and unwrapped his sandwich so he could eat it beside me.

I turned back to my computer like he wasn’t even there. My final conversation with Dax had been a few days ago, and none of my friends had asked me about it, as if they were giving me time to decompress without an interrogation.

He took a few bites and looked at my notes. “How are things with Simon Prescott?”

“I’m meeting a source tonight. I just need a couple more details confirmed, and then I’ll submit it to Vince.”

He kept eating, pulling the wrapper farther away to reveal more of the sandwich. “How are you?”

“Fine.”

“You sure?”

My fingers stopped on the keyboard, and I released a sigh. “Yes.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Well, I am.”

Charlie stopped eating his sandwich and set it down. “You’re sadder now than you were before.”

“Well, breakups do that to you. The pain comes at different times.”

He moved his hand to my laptop and closed it. “Carson.”

“We’re really going to do this now? At work?” I turned to look at him.

“I’ve been waiting for you to do it on your own time, but it’s obvious that’s not going to happen.” He studied my face like he was trying to read my real feelings through my features rather than through the words I chose. “I’ve been thinking about what Dax said…and I think he’s right. I also think you think it too—and that’s why you’re so sad.”

I dropped my gaze because eye contact was too much. “I thought you didn’t like him after what he did.”

“Never said that. I don’t dislike him. I just…didn’t agree with how he handled the situation.”

“But nothing has changed.”

“Exactly,” he said. “You still love each other. And his solution is a great declaration. He’s putting everything on the table to prove to you that he’s not sleazy. When we talked, he told me he didn’t even want you to sign