Page 105 of Pick Six

“If you think that will stop me, it won’t.”

“No, but my army of lawyers will. The auditors who are going to be investigating how you could afford that new penthouse suite on your salary. Especially when you’re bleeding clients.”

“I’m not bleeding clients.”

“You will be after today. When I tell them that you regularly break your NDAs and now you’re blackmailing your best client because you don’t like the choices he makes in his personal life.”

“You fucking went after my wife.”

“No. I never went after your wife. I left your wife alone. Your ex-wife, now that’s a different story. I lined up to give her anything she wanted the second I knew you were done.”

“Fuck you, Xander. Some fucking friend.” He looks around my shoulder to Tobias. “Just a matter of time until he betrays you too.”

“I’m not worried.” Tobias shrugs.

“You shouldn’t have cheated on her. You shouldn’t have lied. You shouldn’t have fucking tried to blackmail both of us to bring us to heel. You’re the fucking asshole in this scenario, so I don’t want to hear about friendship right now.”

“If I’d cheat on her, we both know you will.”

“I’ve never cheated on anyone in my life. I sure as fuck would never do anything to hurt her.”

“Yeah, well we’ll see if she still wants you when I’m done. When your reputation is fucked, your career is nonexistent and you’re a shell of who you were.”

I laugh, a smug smile coming to my lips as I try to control my temper.

“I already have her. In fact, I just had her earlier this week at Ben’s party. And if I’d known you were cheating on her, I would have had her even sooner than I did. Because the only thing keeping me away—was loyalty. And you had none.”

“Lecturing me about loyalty when you could have any fucking woman and instead you go after my wife. It’s fucking rich.”

“I had loyalty to you. She was with me first. Before you ever met her. She wanted me. I just couldn’t see what I had in front of me until it was too late. When I saw the two of you happy, I wanted to believe that you were the better man. That you’d treat her better. That I wasn’t good enough for her. So I stayed out of your way, thinking you’d make her happy. But you didn’t. You treated her like trash when in reality you weren’t good enough for her. Cheating on her was wrong, but that instinct you had that you didn’t deserve her? That was dead on.”

“You don’t know the first thing about my marriage.”

“There’s a lot I don’t know. I’m sure. But what I do know is I’veneverseen her look at you the way she looks at me.”

“Yeah, well her looks aren’t gonna keep you warm at night, Xavier.”

“You’re right, but the way she wraps around me and moans about how I’m the deepest anyone’s ever been… That? That does keep me fucking warm. Every fucking night. Because she’s happier fucking me on top of your dining room table than she ever was sitting next to you at it.”

His punch is lightning fast. I’m fucking surprised he has it in him. It nearly gives me whiplash and the blood on my cheek is immediate. I laugh as I rub the spot. Tobias has moved forward, but I’m calmer than I expected, holding my hand out to stop him.

“Wow. I didn’t think you had it in you. Good for you.”

“You’ll never have her. I’ll make sure of it.”

“It’s too fucking late. I highly suggest getting a lawyer. You’ll be hearing from mine tomorrow, and if you try to go through with any of your threats against me or her, I won’t be the only Xavier making your life miserable for it.”

“Is that a fucking threat?”

“It’s a promise.”

“Get the fuck out of my office.”

“Happy to. Stay the fuck away from me and my girl. And good luck Drew. Honestly, fucking good luck with the rest of your life. I hope if you get another chance, you don’t waste it.”

“Fuck off, Xander.”

Tobias gives me a pointed look, and we leave the office. I lean back against the wall of the elevator as it starts to move, trying to stem the blood still trickling down my cheek.