Maddox
(95
5 vouchers
Coffee breaks were supposed to be the time that I had something to drink, but the cup of coffee was already getting cold as it barely had my attention thanks to all the emails, contracts and stack of files that were spread across my desk, waiting for my signature.
I was so focused on putting my signature on the contracts that I ignored my phone when it rang a few times, but whoever it was, just wouldn’t give it a rest, so I reached for it across the table to check the caller ID and it was Tiffany. Her name shing on my screen made my jaw tighten. I hadn’t spoken to her sincest week, when she had done that to Harper. She had given me another reason to like her even less.
When my phone rang for the sixth time, I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. She wouldn’t be blowing up my phone like that if it wasn’t urgent and I knew exactly why she just wouldn’t stop calling, so I finally answered.
“You know,” I began, “when you call somebody and they don’t pick up, it’s probably because they’re busy. I’d expect you to know that.”
“Oh, please don’t give me that!” she snapped, her voice so sharp that it made me pull the phone slightly away from my ear. “What the hell is this post on your most popr profile? A picture of Harper with a heart emoji as the caption? Have you lost your damn mind?”
I let the silence drag out for a few seconds just so I could savor her outrage. Then, in the calmest tone, I said, “I thought it would be obvious but since you’re so slow, I’ll just spell it out for you. I’m dating her.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“You should see my serious face right now.”
“But…but… why her? Why not-”
“Kate? The same one you’ve been pushing on me?”
The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds and when she spoke again, she didn’t even answer my question.
“It already pissed me off enough that you were sleeping with her,” she said. “Now, you two are together? Don’t you realize that it brings her closer?”
“That’s the whole point. Isn’t it obvious?<b>” </b>I said casually.
“No fucking way. This isn’t right. I refuse to believe that your yboy days are over.”
“Are you blind?”
“But..what the hell did she do to you to make you turn out this way? After everything I’ve done, she just won’t stay out of our lives<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“And that…” I trailed off as I thought about it “…is exactly why I like her so much.”
10:48 Wed<b>, </b>Sep <b>24 </b>
“No. I won’t let her get away with this. She’s going to pay f-”
<b>95 </b>
5 vouchers
“Enough,” my voice was sharp as my jaw clenched. “Things are different now, so you better leave her alone or you’ll have to deal with me. You already got away with what you did to herst week. No oneshed out at you because you’re pregnant and you knew that would happen. But you better be careful because Harper’s not just some girl anymore.”
She chuckled bitterly. “So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re going to take her side?”
Leaning forward, I rested my elbow against my desk and looked at my hand. “I can actually count on one hand how many times I’ve taken your side ever since you came into my life. Anyway, I don’t have time to keep listening to your endless rant. I need to finish up here because I have to meet Uncle Sebastian, then take my girl on a date.”
She scoffed. “Your girl?”
Before I could even hang up, she went on another rant, her voice screeching through the speaker. I ended the call before she could finish.
I gently ced my phone back on the desk, a satisfied grin on my lips as she didn’t see thising and it was only the beginning.
When I’d made the suggestion to Harper, there wasn’t even the slightest sign of hesitation in her eyes or
voice.
Had Tiffany not gone after the one thing Harper wanted the most, things would’ve been different but now, I wanted to protect her. I felt the need to do so. She was still hurting about the fact that Anna never contacted her. While I was aware that I was never going to be who her sister was to her, I was going to do my best to give her a good time, just like I always did.
Later, I met up with Uncle Sebastian at the golf club bar and the first thing he said before we even greeted each other made me shake my head.
“I just knew that sooner orter, you and Harper were going to make things official!”
I almostughed at the word official as we took our seats at the counter. If only he knew what the actual n
was.
ying along, I nodded in agreement with a confident smirk. “You were right. I stopped questioning my feelings and just went for it. Tiffany’s not too happy about it.”
He rolled his eyes. “As expected. The nerve of her to react that way after what she did. And to think that someone like that is your sister. You know what? Enough about her. I have something that’s actually important to talk about,”
“And it took you one week to tell me.” I huffed.
“Come on. We’ve both been busy and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. Just an hour from now, I have to go to Japan, but I made the decision to spend some time in London.”
“Well, here we are,” I said. “So, what’s up?”
“I’m getting a divorce.”
I blinked rapidly, caught off guard. “What?”
<b>95 </b>
E5 vouchers
“You should see the look on your face,” he said with amusement. “It’s beening for a while. Your aunt asked for it. She said we’ve grown apart.”
For once, I didn’t know what to say, not even when he waspletely at ease about his marriage ending.
Finally finding the words, I said, “I really wasn’t expecting this. I never saw the signs. You were always so happy with her.”
“That’s the thing.” He gave me a smile which didn’t reach his eyes. “No one ever knows what goes on behind closed doors. You’re someone who knows that pretty well.”
I expected him to linger on the subject just a bit longer, but the next thing I knew, he was opening a bottle of whiskey and pouring a little in my ss and his.
“You’re not supposed to be drinking with me like this since you’ve got ns with Harperter on,” he said.
His divorce was still on my mind, but I forced myself to smile. “Yeah, but it’ll take me a while to get to San Francisco.”
He shook his head with disapproval. “Is this how it’s going to be? Constant flights from London to San Francisco just to <i>go </i>out on dates?”
I paused with the ss in my hand, his question giving me an idea. “Uncle, you’re the best.”
AD