Page 121 of Last Fall

Poor thing.Not really. I didn’t care. Everything he said was abouthim.Howhewas put out.No remorse, no sympathy. Proof he never really caredaboutme.

If I ever left Erik like that, accused him of hurting me, he would be broken. He’d care more about how I felt than any hurt Icausedhim.

ButnotTony.

“You could have simply told your friends that after repeatedly beating your fiancée she chose to find a more respectful living situation. I’m sure they would haveunderstood.”

Oh my god. I said thatoutloud.

Tony was just as shocked. His jaw fell open and he jerked hisheadback.

I grabbed my headphones and jammed them over my ears. While he stared at me I turned on my music andsmiled.

I kind of wanted to flick him off too but I knew without a doubt that would cross a line. It was one thing to make it clear I was a strong independent woman, but quite another to intentionally provoke thebeast.

Besides, I was pretty sure he got my message loud and clear. I was not the Zoe Burke he was engaged to, and trying to manipulate me today would notgowell.

I was rewarded with nearly three hours of peace. I kept my headphones on and blatantly ignored anything and everything from Tony. Mariah was clearly aware that something was going on but she didn’t press it. She delivered our meals, refilled our drinks, and kept her distanceotherwise.

My peace ended when I was forced to use the restroom. A glass of champagne and a bottle of water were too much for my bladder. I took off my headphones and tucked myphoneaway.

“Excuseme.”

With an exasperated sigh he picked up his laptop and let me out. When I returned he stood, but didn’t completely get out of my way. “Won’t your boyfriend miss his good luck charm while you’reinLA?”

Oh yeah. He knew. He kneweverything.“May Ipleasesit?”

He moved out of my way but before I could put my headphones back on he leaned in. “The books you write are positively scandalous, Zoe. I never would have allowed you to write such filth for the public. I would have, however, happily acted all of it out. Why didn’t you tell me you fantasized about having a threesome with myfriends?”

Disgusting.“I have never once had a sexual fantasy about you or yourfriends.”

“Never? Where else would you get so many ideas?” He sucked in a breath. “I was particularly intrigued by the one with the couple who preferred to fuck in sex clubs. To think if I’d only known of your preferences we might have beenhappier.”

He was provoking me. Iknewhe was provoking me. I also knew responding to any of this was exactly what he wanted—a door into mynewlife.

So even though it was difficult, I kept my lips sealed together and reached for myheadphones.

“Oh, Zoe. Really? Must you ignore me like this? It’s so childish.” And then, just as I was about to cover my ear, “I’ll be in LA all week. Call me to your hotel room at the Belmont any time you like. I’ll beready.”