sure whoever posted this article retracts their damn words. Look, Will is going to be here any minute. Can you please not mention why she left?”
A few minutes later, Will walks in. He’s elated to see Lex, who tries his best not to show any anger in front of the child. I have to hand it to him, taking a kid’s feelings into account is hard to do when you are feeling like complete shit. Will asks where Charlie is, so Adriana quickly explains that something urgent came up in the city. He doesn’t seem to notice anything else, but he begs Lex to ride in the car with us. Of course, Lex agrees, and that’s the end of the conversation.
We pack our things and drive out of The Hamptons. Adriana and Elijah take Charlie’s car, and the rest of us take the RV Rocky borrowed from a friend. I sit in the back with Will as he quietly plays on his iPad. Every so often, he looks up and asks if we are home yet. I scour my emails for anything from Charlie. Nothing. Frustrated, I place the phone back in my bag and stare out the window.
Lex is texting furiously on his phone—the constant pinging sound keeps coming through. Thankfully, he at least has the decency not to answer calls because his words would be enough to make Will scared of him for life. A few moments later, my phone vibrates. I grab it out of my purse, Eric’s name flashing on the screen.
“What do you want?” I answer, careful not to mention his name.
“Nikki.” His voice is all high-pitched, typical Eric in panic mode. “What the hell is going on?”
“With what?”
“With Charlie. She texted me, and I found her crying in the basement of her building. She didn’t want to tell me what happened, but Emma said there was some article about Lex being caught with his pants down this morning.”
“Correct.”
“Nikki, why are you talking like that? Oh wait, shit, is he with you?”
“Sure, okay, yes, get the papers drawn up.”
“Okay, sorry, didn’t realize. Listen, she’s in the office, but… but… she’s acting weird.” His voice quietens, trying to explain it all. “She took a shower, got changed, and it was like a different person emerged from the bathroom. She told me not to forward any personal calls to her, make sure security doesn’t allow Lex in the building, and she said no one was to enter her office, including me. I don’t understand what I suddenly did wrong?”
Eric is hurt and betrayed, and I don’t blame him for feeling that way. He doesn’t know the Charlie I knew, the one who, when in that dark place, doesn’t care for anyone.
“Let’s meet at midday. We’ll discuss any concerns, then.”
I hang up the phone without saying goodbye.
Lex and Rocky glare through the rearview mirror. With Will in the car, we are unable to talk. A second later, my phone lights up.
Lex: Was that her??? Tell me what the fuck is going on.
I didn’t appreciate him taking his frustration out on me considering it isn’t my dick that landed him in this hot mess, but I sympathize with him. I cringe, not liking myself softening toward him.
Me: No, it wasn’t her. I don’t know what’s going on apart from the fact that she has told our security you are not to enter our building so don’t even try to see her at work, Edwards.
With his anger suppressed under his cold exterior, it’s the last of the conversation as we cross the bridge into the city. The sky is gray as we drive in, a far stretch from the perfect blue we had experienced the past few days. The weather alerts predict severe storms for the next few days.
Rocky drives to the Waldorf where Lex is staying. As he pulls into the valet parking, I ask Rocky to park the car for a moment, so I can have a word with Lex alone.
We both exit the car, but I’m quick to stop him walking away without getting my thoughts out.
“Do not fuck this up any further, you understand? Let her cool down. She’s stubborn, and if you push her, she’ll run to Julian, and then you might as well say bon voyage.”
The mention of Julian’s name is enough to burst the vein popping on his forehead. Fury tears through his face as he bows his head with his fists clenched at his sides.
“What the fuck do you want me to