Page 29

Ellie

Things were going so well between us, and as much as I hated to throw a wrench in that, I couldn’t just go along with what he wanted this time. My head had still been in the meeting we’d just had and trying to crunch numbers and the figures of what blood was coming in—too much.

Always too much even if good news.

Then it was something fun and a present that I hadn’t seen except I felt like I was standing in the past. Over ten years ago even and hearing that I really should know better and wear lingerie for my lover.

Staring into the bag and seeing the stockings and garters was like a slap to the face. Taking them out and seeing them up close made them real and not just a flash or my mind making me—this wasn’t me projecting. I stuffed them back in the bag and tossed it to the edge of my desk.

“No, sorry, but no.”

“What?” he asked. “Wait—what? Why not?”

I let out a slow breath and kept focused on my desk. “I’m not wearing lingerie for a man ever again.”

He was quiet for several tense moments. “So this is about Tommy, not us.”

I ran my tongue over my teeth and decided to be as shitty. I raised my head and was glad he flinched at whatever was on my face. “No, it’s about not repeating past mistakes and learning to not be stupid.”

Anger filled his eyes. “How is my gift—”

“This is the first gift you’ve given me and it’s stockings? ” I drawled. “A garter. Yeah, I’m fucking touched .”

“No, not the first,” he argued.

“We buy each other food,” I pushed. “Yes, you’ve gotten me flowers.

We did spa stuff. The funny brownies. All gifts.

I accept that.” I gave him a moment with that.

“I gave you drawers and closet space. You told me you love me and then stopped saying it. Then you give me stockings and a garter. Not a sweater that matches my eyes or would complement my hair.”

“Wait, okay, so clearly—”

“Not earrings after I lost one of mine at your place—not that I’m hinting, but that would be something sweet for a partner to do,” I told him.

“Or I was thinking of getting you a new band for your Apple Watch because you said yours was getting loose, but you like the silicone ones and those are like ten bucks.”

“That’s actually really sweet and I would have liked it,” he admitted.

“Glad you think so,” I said, reaching over and tapping the bag. “This is sex.”

“No, no , Ellie. It’s meant to be fun for us .”

“Well, I don’t wear stockings and garters, so it seems like changing me for you,” I snapped.

He opened his mouth but then closed it. Ha-joon tried again and then let a slow breath out before seeming to mentally say “fuck it.” He grabbed the bag and shoved it in my garbage.

“I obviously missed the mark of what should have been next for gifts between us, but I don’t think that was a fair shot at all .

I’ve accepted secrets and more—accepted you . ”

He seemed at a loss and just left.

“Damnit,” I sighed when he was gone. He wasn’t wrong.

I just didn’t think I was either. How I handled it probably, but… Fuck.

And I didn’t know how to fix what I’d done, how to process what I was feeling, or even where to start.

Then I realized I hadn’t had a good talk with Renee in a while.

I knew her kids were still at her parents’ for the summer because they lived by the ocean and the kids loved it.

She went out there on weekends and for a few weeks.

But she would be home now. I picked up the good Chinese she liked and a couple bottles of wine, figuring that was the price of dropping by for help… And walked into chaos.

“Renee?” I whispered when I found her sitting in the middle of her living room that looked like it had been ransacked. “Renee, did you call the police? Are they still here?”

She frowned and glanced up at me for a full moment and then burst out laughing.

“Oh, I bet that—no, there wasn’t a burglary.

Gods, I’m mortified you’re seeing this. I want to scream you’re seeing this and came over, but I was the one who lectured you so much about letting people in and not to ever be embarrassed between friends. Great, I’m a hypocrite also.”

I was so confused, but at least she hadn’t been robbed. “I got your favorite and some wine.”

She stared at her hands for a full minute before she let out a shaky breath. “I know you’re here for help, but I’m glad you’re here because I need help. I really need help, Ellie. I came home and realized I didn’t want to…”

Keep living. It was in her aura. “Renee, what happened?”

“My mate’s been having an affair,” she choked out.

“That bastard,” I hissed as I sat next to her and hugged her.

“I ignored all of the signs. I was so—it was so blatant. He wanted to get caught. He said as much. He said the fact it took me so long proved this was all my fault and how I neglected him—our mating. All I cared about was my job, ASH, and our kids.”

“Bullshit,” I hissed, shaking her when she just covered her face.

“ Bullshit , Renee. Even I remember that he was the one who wanted to stay home full time when you guys decided to have kids.

He wanted that. He was the one who pushed for kids.

Yes, you wanted them, and you love them to bits, but he was the one who outlined the plan.

“He doesn’t get to play the victim—it’s bullshit.

If he was unhappy then you talk. Things can be changed and something else—I know how much you make.

I was the one who gave you the raise when we just renegotiated your contract.

You could hire a nanny or three if he was unhappy.

If he had told you, you would have suggested that in a heartbeat. ”

“I would have,” she choked out. “You brought wine? I drank everything here in between tearing apart my house the past few weeks once the shock was over.”

“Where has he been?” I worried.

“I tossed him out to be with his slut while I figured out what comes next,” she mumbled. “He tried to drain our accounts so I didn’t screw him.”

“More like hide what he can since you found out before he was ready,” I grumbled as I moved her to the kitchen with the food and wine. The dining room was just as trashed as the living room, so that wasn’t an option.

She snorted. “He laughed when I asked how much he’s spent on her or demanded to know if he’s stolen from me. He said I financially abuse him and he’ll get a ton in alimony since he’ll get the kids. He’s going to take my kids, Ellie.”

“We won’t let that happen. We won’t let him use them,” I promised, kissing her hair as I put food in front of her. I went for a wine opener and found what we could use for glasses. “But you need help, Renee. If you’ve known for a bit, it’s beyond time to act.”

“I know. I know that but…” She quietly cried before taking a huge gulp of the wine I poured her.

“Let me get Carla here,” I begged. “She’ll know what to do.” More like she was much better at handling situations like this than I was. I wasn’t the best with the personal aspect.

“I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable,” Renee whispered.

“Hey, you didn’t.” I tapped the table until she looked at me. “You. Didn’t.” I stared her down until she nodded. “I just don’t want to make it worse, Renee. I jump into what’s next and everyone isn’t ready for that. I move into battle and fixing what I can. It’s—it’s the only way I know to be.”

“It’s not a bad way to be at all except you never deal with the shit you push to the side,” she muttered.

“But you’re starting to. Be proud of that.

Be proud of coming here for help for whatever happened.

That’s a big step for you. Truly.” She poured herself more wine and nodded.

“Call help. Please. Yes, but with more wine. Are there egg rolls?”

“Of course and all of your favorites.”

“I knew you really did love me,” she muttered and started digging through the bags I’d brought.

I texted Carla, Alexis, and, after a moment, Jackie Dillon who was the personal assistant for the department heads and me but also used to work as a private investigator. We would obviously need someone well-versed in that.

For her mate to be throwing it all back in her face and trying to beat Renee down, he didn’t expect her to fight.

Which meant we needed to get all of the ammunition.

Then I decided to text Ha-joon and be honest.

Me: You weren’t wrong with what you said earlier. I just don’t think I was either, but I mishandled it. I came to ask Renee for help and how to articulate where I am better, but found her in bad shape from something personal. I’m not avoiding you but handling that.

Ha-joon: Thank you for making it clear to me. What can I do to help? Is she okay?

Me: No, her mate is cheating—it’s bad. He’s emotionally abusing her and going to take the kids, planning to control her that way. I called in help and—I’ve known her a long time and never seen her so broken.

“Tell Ha-joon I say hi,” Renee whispered.

“I want to tell you to run because mating is bullshit, but he seems like a good one.” She snorted and I glanced over to see she was drinking directly out of the second bottle.

“I thought my mate was too. I never thought—that geek I met decades ago who could barely talk to a woman would never have cheated.”

Oh boy. This was really going to be bad.

“He asked what you needed,” I told her. “If there was anything he could do. I didn’t tell him much but basically that I wasn’t avoiding him.”

“Tell me what happened before I get shit-faced and help arrives,” she said, pushing when I tried to deflect.

She nodded along as I told her and kept putting more food in her. Now that I was really paying attention and not just quickly seeing her in passing at work, I noticed the state she was in… And it wasn’t good.