Page 206 of By A Thread

“Darling, you’re forty-five years old. That excuse stopped working sometime in your early twenties when you became an adult responsible for your own choices.”

The woman had a point. An annoying, infinitesimal one.

“It was a private matter. I didn’t ask her to quit. I would have been willing to continue working together.”

“Dominic, I say this with love. You’re being an unconscionable fool.” She disconnected with a sharp click.

It was official. Every woman in the building, including my own mother, hated my guts.

Nina from advertising had to be physically restrained in the elevator this morning. I got off on the thirty-third floor and took the stairs only to walk straight into Missie the copywriter who took one look at me and burst into tears.

I took my lunch in the cafeteria, and hoards of people turned their backs on me as I walked past their tables. Linus returned my “good afternoon” with a roll of his eyes and a middle finger. Even Buddy couldn’t look me in the eye. Buddy. The nicest human being in the world thought I was Satan. He’d picked up his brown bag lunch the second I pulled out a chair at his table. “Have a nice day,” he whispered as he left.

It was time things were back to normal. Normal was familiar. Comfortable.

I was single again.

My home was my own again.

And I could go back to business as usual.

I stabbed my chicken with a violent jab of the fork and grimly ate my lunch alone.

* * *

Christian James,the cocky son of a bitch, strutted into my office like a rooster. Or a peacock. Whichever fowl was more annoying.

He tossed a dark brown garment bag over the back of my visitor’s chair.

“The only reason I’m giving this to you is because it’ll make you feel like shit,” he announced.

“I doubt there’s anything you could do that would make me feel anything,” I said, ignoring him and returning to the stupid fucking article that I couldn’t focus on writing because everything in the world was wrong.

“Big man hiding behind his desk. I guess you’re braver when you’re yelling accusations at a woman half your size,” he snapped.

“Be very careful, James,” I enunciated coldly, forgetting about the document on my monitor.

His laugh was cold, mirthless. “You never deserved her.”

“I’d like to remind you thatLabeland the Russo family have been one of your most generous backers. That backing can easily be taken away.”

If I’d expected him to back down and apologize, I was mistaken.

“Fuck you, man. That’s your problem. You think everyone is out to use you, to get something out of you. Did it ever occur to you that Ally loved you?”

Loved.

Loved.

Loved.

My heart echoed the word sluggishly.

“Some people are incapable of love.” I was a blasé motherfucker.

“Yeah, and I’m looking at one of them. I can’t believe she cared about you. You really had her fooled, you know? You’re a fucking emotionless iceberg.”

“And you’re the guy who fucked my girlfriend. Congratulations to you both.”