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“I don’t…”

This doesn’t make sense.

He said he was divorced.

They said they were exes.

They hate each other.

How could they be married?

Something close to manic glee shines across Celine’s eyes. She relishes my sudden confusion and goes in for the kill.

“That’s right, Verity. You just screwed away your entire career for a married man.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

CULLEN

“They’re late.” Halston checks his watch for the fiftieth time in the last two minutes.

“It’s Celine. What did you expect?”

I pull out my phone to check my text messages.

ME:Want to come over tonight? We can continue our lunchtime activities for dinner ;)

Verity read it over an hour ago and hasn’t responded, which is unlike her. Even when she’s up to her eyes with work, she finds a way to respond with at least an emoji.

Halston lets out a sigh.

“If they’re not here in the next—”

“So sorry. Hope you weren’t waiting too long.” Darcy glides into the office, not sounding the least bit apologetic.

Celine follows, and I pick up on her energy immediately. There’s a satisfied smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. Her eyes are slightly hooded with an air of haughty superiority.

She’s up to something.

And that is never good.

I should’ve fucking known she wouldn’t cave this easily.

My gaze shoots over to Halston, whose jaw tightens an almost imperceptible fraction. He can tell something’s wrong as well.

The women take their seats on the sofa while Halston drops into the armchair beside me. He gestures to the documents on the table, perfectly laid out with an ornate blue and gold Montblanc pen to the side.

Darcy picks up the ten-thousand-dollar pen, tapping it against her chin as she makes a show of looking over the papers.

The silence ticks on.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Five minutes.

Halston stretches his arms over his head and then leaves. He fucking leaves the room, like he is bored.