Chapter 152
"No, I’m just afraid you can’t handle it," I said.
Parker stared at me for a long moment. His hazel eyes were cold. "Do you even have a heart?"
I fell silent. I opened the car door and looked back at him. "Maybe not. I'm skipping lunch. You need to cool off."
I stepped out and slammed the door. Parker stomped on the gas. The car roared and shot forward, disappearing around the corner.
I had no appetite. I went back to the office and sat alone. Time crawled. I turned to look at Parker’s desk. It was empty. The workday ended, and he still hadn't returned.
I opened my laptop and typed out a resignation letter.
I waited until most of the colleagues had left. I had thick skin, but the strange looks and whispers about the fight in the lobby were annoying. I didn't want to deal with them.
I didn't go back to Parker’s luxury apartment in the Seaport. Instead, I told the driver to go to my old brownstone in Back Bay. I hadn't canceled the lease yet. Subconsciously, I felt that Parker and I wouldn't last. I needed a backup plan. I hadn't told Parker I kept this place. Right now, we both needed space.
The next morning, I woke up and grabbed my phone immediately. No missed calls. No texts. I put the phone down, feeling a heavy wave of disappointment.
I went to the office. The walk to my desk was torture. Colleagues glanced at me and looked away. Yesterday’s drama had definitely spread. I wanted to kill Marcus Hayes.
I stood in front of our shared office door. I took a deep breath and pushed it open.
Parker was there. He sat in his chair, glaring at me darkly.
My eyes flickered. I let out a small breath of relief. I honestly thought he wouldn't show up today. I walked in, closed the door, and sat at my desk. I pretended to organize some files, but my mind was blank.
From across the room, I felt his gaze burning into me. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I looked up.
"What do you want?" I asked.
Parker just glared. He didn't say a word.
I sighed. "If seeing me makes you unhappy, I can resign. I already wrote the letter. Also, I’ll move my things out of your place as soon as possible."
Parker moved instantly. He shot up from his desk and stormed over to me. He slammed his hands on the armrests of my chair, trapping me. He leaned down, looming over me.
"Chloe," he gritted out. "How can you be so damn cruel?"
I looked up at him silently. How was I heartless? I was protecting myself. I was afraid of getting hurt again.
Being with Parker was the happiest I had ever been. He spoiled me. It was wonderful. But it was too perfect. I was terrified it was too good to be true. I tried to guard my heart, to keep my walls up. But looking at him now, I realized my defenses had already crumbled. Falling in love was messy.
Parker gripped my chin. His expression was fierce, but his fingers were gentle. "Chloe, I treat you like a queen. How can you even think about breaking up with me?"
I slapped his hand away and looked down. Parker forced my chin up again. He crashed his lips onto mine. The kiss was aggressive, desperate.
I tasted stale alcohol.
I pushed against his chest. "You're drinking at nine in the morning?"
Parker’s eyes were dark and unfocused. "It’s from last night."
He kissed me again, murmuring against my lips. "Ma'am, don't break up with me..."
After work, I met Maya for dinner.
Maya looked at my face and frowned. "What happened? You look exhausted."
I told her everything. I told her about Marcus showing up, Parker punching him, and the fight that followed.
Maya’s eyes went wide. "That is intense." She paused. "But Marcus is sick in the head. You guys broke up, and he still harasses you? Parker was right to hit him."
I gave her a weak smile. "Marcus is your brother, technically."
"He is nothing to me," Maya said sharply. "Is everything okay with Parker now? You didn't break up, right?"
My smile faded. I stirred my drink with a straw. "He is upset. But he won't break up with me. "
Maya looked at me with pity.
"I'm conflicted," I admitted. "If I stay with Parker, I feel anxious. But if I leave him, I can't bear it."
"Parker is a million times better than Marcus. If I met him first, maybe Marcus wouldn't have even existed in my life."
"Sometimes I wish Parker wasn't so good to me," I whispered. "Then I could find the resolve to leave."
"Chloe, stop that." Maya reached over and squeezed my arm. "You are amazing. If Parker ever uses Marcus to hurt you, I will personally kick his ass. Men are everywhere. We can find you a new one. A younger one."
I burst out laughing. "Okay. We'll find a young one together."
"Um..." Maya hesitated.
I laughed harder. "Scared of your man? Mr. Jealousy?"
Maya laughed awkwardly. "Yeah. Adam is the definition of possessive."
We finished dinner and went to a lounge for an hour. I drank too much. The world was spinning.
Maya drove me home. "Chloe, where to?"
I leaned back, my face flushed. I mumbled the address of Parker.
When we arrived, I slapped the door panel. "Here! Right here!"
Maya had driven past the entrance. She reversed the car.
I opened the door and stumbled out. I waved at her. "Thanks, beauty. Go home."
Maya watched me, concerned. "Do you want me to walk you up?"
"No, no. I got this." I swayed toward the building.
I stood in front of my door. I punched in the code. Beep-beep. Error. Beep-beep. Error. My brain was foggy.
Suddenly, the door clicked open from the inside.
Parker stood there.
I blinked, then grinned foolishly. I stumbled forward and fell into his arms.
Parker froze for a second, then caught me. "You drank?"
"Just a teeny bit," I giggled.
"A teeny bit? You can barely stand." He shook his head. He bent down and scooped me up effortlessly. He kicked the door shut with his heel.
I poked his chest with my index finger. "Who says? My tolerance is great. Let's compete."
Parker looked down at me. "Stop poking."
"I'll poke! Poke, poke!"
He dropped me onto the bed. The room spun. Before I could move, he pressed me down into the mattress.
Parker’s eyes were burning. "Ma'am, you are playing with fire."
I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down. I stared at his face. "Pretty boy," I whispered. "Why are you so handsome? You're going to be the death of me."
Parker couldn't hold back a laugh. The anger in his eyes vanished.
"Then stop talking about breaking up, okay?"