Page 95 of Scandalous Contract

“To you. Not to me. I really wanted the gift card. I didn’t need anything with your birthstone on it. That’s the difference between you and me. I listen when you talk to me. You listen only when I’m talking about you to you. You listen only when it’s something you want to hear. You don’t know what I like. You don’t know what I want out of life. After all these years, you don’t know me. But I know you. And I know that you’re not the person I want to be with.”

“But he is, the man who keeps giving you things like your favorite flowers and coffee? He’s the one you want?”

I stared down at my bag. Was Julian the one I wanted? If he were older, if life had been kinder to me... yeah... Julian Cattaneo would be exactly who I wanted. He was thoughtful and considerate. He wasn’t pushy. I didn’t feel pressured by him. He was caring.

I hadn’t seen him since spring break, but he’d been there for me on days when I was spiraling and needed someone. Even if it was just in the form of a letter or a mug, this man kept me from losing my damn mind when those around me were sending me through it.

So yeah, he was the one I wanted. I could finally admit to myself that I had a crush on Julian Cattaneo. However, I was wise enough to understand that we couldn’t always have what we wanted. Too bad Hudson didn’t understand that.

“Are you really thinking about this jerk right in front of me?” Hudson complained, tone filled with fury.

It was a reminder that we were once again alone. I stared up at the corner of the hall.

“Careful,” I told him. “We have cameras. We don’t want security seeing you be volatile.”

His gaze darted to the cameras just as thunder sounded in the distance.

“And on that note, I’m going to head to my office to eat. Then I'll get ready for the first-alert weather day.”

I walked away from him. Though I didn’t look back, I did listen closely for the sound of footsteps. I was ready to throw this hot coffee in his face if he ran up on me.

“You should be careful, Stefanie,” Hudson called from behind me. “Those rumors from years ago may start up again. Times are different now. The most scandalous things are the ones that go viral these days. And there are a couple of scandals in your past, right?”

I stopped walking. I knew a threat when I heard one. And Hudson was threatening to start those rumors back up if he didn’t get what he wanted.Me!I turned slowly to face Hudson, only to find him gone.

I was alone in the hallway. Alone with the last words he’d uttered. Thunder sounded again, louder this time, more ominous. I wouldn’t put it past Hudson to stir up trouble if he didn’t get what he wanted.

He claimed he cared for India, but he knew starting those rumors again would hurt her. What he didn’t know was the lengths I’d go to ensure she never found out what happened back then. I’d go up against anyone to prevent that. I’d be willing to go to jail to prevent that.

I’d kill again to keep that from happening.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

JULIAN

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