her up and trying to place blame on her now. You narcissist piece of shit, Edwards.
“I’m warning you now, Edwards, so listen to me real good. I don’t know what you’re doing or who you’re doing, but you might want to rethink your actions because as you sit there wallowing in self-pity, a certain journalist is here at the gala, and I can tell you now that your wife seems to be enjoying his company.”
The fucking scumbag.
A wave of fury crashes through me at the thought of him trying to win her back. I panic, needing to get out of here.
“Nikki, please promise me you won’t let her do anything,” I plea, desperately.
She remains quiet.
I can hear whispers in the background.
“I’ve got my eye on her. You just better be on your way here because it looks like your competition is this close to winning his girl back.”
I hang up the call quickly and dash out to my car. I speed home, then rush inside and quickly change into my tux. As I race back to the car and drive off, I’m lucky not to get pulled over for what I am clocking. I drive up the long, winding driveway, frustrated that the parking lot is full, but luckily, I find a spot in a dark corner.
I enter through the side entrance, not wanting to be noticed, but Rocky has me on radar. Nikki is across the room, talking with Kate, eyeing me with caution.
“Dude, seriously, what the fuck is going on? Are you banging Montana? You’re a fucking mess. I swear that chick looks nice and tight… but fuck you if you are ‘cause I love Charlie like a sister.”
“Rocky… I’m not, okay? In fact, she is no longer my assistant.”
“All right, what happened? She sucked your dick, is that it?”
“Listen—”
“Dude.” His tone softens. “I know you wouldn’t do that to Charlie. I mean, purposely fuck around, but you gotta fix your marriage. Whatever the hell is bugging you, fix it now because if you look over there…” he points to the dance floor where Charlotte is in Julian’s embrace, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, “… you are gonna lose your woman forever.” He pats me on the back before walking away.
The temperature in the room is rising, my blood pressure ready to blow as I remain fixated on how she is dancing with him. He whispers words in her ear, my heart beating out of my fucking chest. I’m trapped in my own mistakes, bleeding profusely, yet I’m the one holding the knife, tearing us apart.
She’s parading my weakness in front of me and the world, the one thing I can’t control no matter how hard I try. Julian Baker will forever be the man who proposed marriage first to Charlotte, who offered her a life when I didn’t. He’s touched her in ways only I should have fucking touched her. And despite it all, they will always have that bond, and nothing I do will ever change that.
Charlotte is my fucking wife, yet I stand absolutely paralyzed with anger until her eyes search the room and focus on me.
Don’t leave me, Charlotte.
I love you, baby.
Don’t listen to him, I’m good for you.
I watch her pull away from him. I watch as he grasps onto her for dear life without a doubt making promises to give her everything I haven’t because I’m a fucking selfish dickhead ambushed by my own insecurities.
She walks over, and it’s impossible to be immune to her beauty as she stands before me in a strapless black evening dress that hugs her body in all the right places, the places I want to roll my tongue over.
Hold onto her, Edwards.
Don’t let him steal her from you.
Charlotte says the words that need to be said after I allow my emotions to ravage her with accusations. Knowing I’m completely out of control, I pull her along to the exit, needing to get out of there and get her alone. I need answers. I need her to know she’s mine, I’m finally finding my balls and putting up a fight, hoping it’s not too late, and I haven’t lost her forever.
The desperation has consumed me. I pull her forcefully, pushing her onto the hood of my car taking back what has been mine all along. I need to claim what belongs to me, it conquers all rational thought, and I know I’m hurting her. I know she is crying, yet the minute my cock buries