My brows shot up. “What?”
“I have feelings for you,” he said, voice low like it was supposed to soften the blow.
Doubt: I told you to leave his crazy ass alone.
“No, you don’t,” I said with finality. “You don’t know me well enough to have feelings for me. I can count our interactions on one hand.”
“You think I don’t know that?” he said roughly. “You think I didn’t want you all to myself the moment I saw you for the first time in that office? You think I haven’t been fighting against every nerve in my body that screams at me to—”
He cut himself off and straightened. “He’s keeping you from me, Carmen.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, genuinely confused. “Where is this coming from? I can’t— You can’t— You were just looking at me like I pissed in your oatmeal not even an hour ago? Now you like me?”
“I was upset, Carmen.” he stepped closer, and I stepped back. “Seeing you up there, putting yourself on display like some game show host just to do his fucking bidding.”
I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t make me do anything; I offered to help when I saw his project needed help getting recognition.”
“And who the fuck do you think went out of their way to make sure that project doesn’t happen?”
Doubt: Oh wow.
“You?”
He nodded.
“What? Why?”
“Because he doesn’t need another thing taking his focus away from you.”
Doubt: Huh?
“Boy, what?”
He dragged a hand down his face, “I was willing to let you go, Carmen. Really. I thought, as long as you’re happy, it’s good enough for me. But running a company long distance and taking on this shit? You two will never last with all this shit on his plate.”
“It’sourbusiness, Vincent. It’sourrelationship,” I pressed. “It’s none of your business. Now get out of my way.”
“I don’t want you to leave with him.”
I shook my head and moved to step around him. “You crazy as hell.”
But he grabbed my waist.
I gasped as my back hit the wall. The chill of it cut through the champagne haze fast, but not fast enough. I was too drunk to push him off effectively, and he was so close.
“Please let me go,” I said, heart beginning to pound.
“I just want to explain myself,” he insisted.
“This isstupid,” I snapped. “I’m with Theo. Youmetme through Theo. Do you know how fucked up this is?”
His face twisted. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
I glared up at him. “I’m not going to argue with you about this. It’sourrelationship. We’re together. No matter how you feel about it.”
His eyes burned into mine for a long time before he dropped the bomb.
“He cheated on you, Carmen.”
