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Chapter Fourteen
Preston
What the hell have you done, Leighton? I asked myself, reading through the countless tabloid magazines and articles that stated we were getting back together. Katherine wasn’t answering any of my phone calls, nor did she answer her door when I tried to buzz her apartment. There was no voice on the other end of the line this time, and I had no idea how else I was going to be able to explain myself. My stomach turned at the thought of how much she must’ve hated me now, and I knew there was only one person to blame.
I heard my home phone start to ring, and I picked it up, hearing the concierge’s voice, but I didn’t recognize it.
“Hello, Mr. Clarke.”
“Hello, um where is Natalia?”
“She couldn’t come into work today unfortunately. My name is Victoria and I’m here to help you with whatever you need. You have a visitor, sir.”
“Who is it?”
“She says her name is Katherine. Should I send her up?”
“Yes, right away. Thank you.”
My eyes widened and I rushed to the front door. I was ready to do whatever it took to make Katherine hear me loud and clear when I told her that there was absolutely nothing going on between Leighton and I. I was so afraid that she was going to shut me down for good this time and everything we built together would crumble down around us. I knew that with the investigation coming to a close, I may never see her again, and I just couldn’t deal with that.
I heard a knock, opening it up, and I nearly slammed the door closed when I saw who was standing there.
“Leighton. Get out.”
She put her heel in the doorway to stop it from closing, and I sighed, trying to keep my cool.
“I’m sorry, Preston. I had no idea that there were going to be paparazzi there. Besides, it’s not like we did anything anyway.”
“You know what, Leighton? It doesn’t matter because the woman I’m falling in love with won’t answer my calls because you just had to get in the middle of my business,” I said.
She stared at me blankly and I wrinkled my eyebrows, wondering why the hell she would even be so confused.
“You love her?” she asked.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did. I knew you were an asshole, Preston, but I never realized you were an idiot too. She’s the one investigating your company for fraud. She’s the one that has made your life a living hell. What’s wrong with you?”
“The only person that’s making my life a living hell is you, Leighton. I need you to get the fuck out of my life. Get out of the city. Leave, and never come back,” I spat.
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll do as I say. I have to figure out how I’m going to fix your damn mess before I lose Katherine forever. Unlike you, she’s someone actually worth loving.”
I saw the tears well up inside her eyes and I couldn’t wait for her to bolt on out of my home. I didn’t need her fucking things up any more than she already did, and now I had to do the impossible so Katherine could understand I never wanted this to happen. I’d never hurt you like that, Katherine. You’re the only woman I want to be with.
“You can’t kick me out, Preston.”
“Watch me.”
I grabbed my home phone, dialing down to the front desk.
“I need you to have this woman escorted from the premises. Her name is not Katherine, it’s Leighton. Ensure that she never steps foot anywhere near me again.”
Leighton looked like she was just about to cry and I grabbed her arm, carefully leading her out the front door of my penthouse.
“Fuck you, Preston.”