Chapter 151
The next morning, I found myself in the worst possible place at the worst possible time. I was in an elevator with Preston Palmer.
I stood in the corner. I clutched my bag tightly. My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt guilty. Preston definitely knew. Parker’s mother must have told him everything by now.
"There is a meeting in twenty minutes," Preston said. "Notify Parker."
I blinked. "Yes, sir. I will."
The doors opened. Preston walked out without another word.
I stood there for a second. That was it? No yelling? No termination letter?
I hurried to the executive suite. I closed the office door and leaned against it. I let out a long breath. Parker was already at his desk. I walked over and hugged him from behind. I buried my face in his shoulder.
"I just ran into your dad," I mumbled.
Parker stopped typing. "What did he say?"
"He wants you in a meeting in twenty minutes."
"Okay."
I pulled back. I walked around the desk to look at him. "Parker, isn't that weird? He didn't yell at me. We are hooking up right under his nose. Shouldn't he be furious? It’s suspicious. Are your parents just too polite to scream? Are they plotting something?"
Parker pursed his lips. He looked unbothered. "Their opposition doesn't matter, Chloe. They wanted me to study finance; I didn't. They wanted me to run the company; I refused for years. Who I date is not up to them."
Lunchtime arrived. The office buzzed with activity.
I grabbed my purse. Parker stood up too. Today, he didn't leave first to avoid suspicion. He waited for me.
We walked toward the elevators together. Just then, the receptionist from the front desk hurried over. She was holding a massive, expensive bouquet of red roses.
"Miss Vance!" the girl called out. She stopped in front of me. "These just arrived for you."
I froze. "Who sent these?"
"It’s from a gentleman named Mr. Hayes. He said he is waiting for you in the lobby."
I looked at the flowers with disgust. It was ironic. In the three years I was with Marcus, he never sent flowers. He was too cheap. He was too careful. Now that we were done, he was trying to be romantic.
"Take them back," I said coldly. "Tell him I don't want them. Tell him I have lunch plans."
The receptionist looked confused. "Oh. Okay. I’ll take them downstairs."
The girl got into the elevator with the flowers. The other employees followed. They sensed the drama.
"The elevator is going to be crowded," I mumbled. I stepped in anyway.
Parker followed me. He didn't stand in the corner. He stood right next to me. His arm brushed against mine.
I shifted a tiny step away.
The elevator reached the lobby. We were at the front. We stepped out first.
Marcus Hayes was standing in the middle of the atrium.
He spotted me immediately. "Chloe." He walked over. He ignored everyone else.
I glanced at Parker. His face was terrifying. His jaw was clenched tight.
Marcus stopped in front of me. "Let's grab lunch. I know you love caviar. I booked a table at that French place on Newbury. We need to talk."
Behind us, the stream of employees slowed down. People were watching. It was like a car wreck; they couldn't look away.
I glared at Marcus. "I'm not going anywhere with you." I tried to step around him. "Go away."
Marcus reached out. He grabbed my wrist. "Chloe, stop. Just listen to me."
I tried to pull away. I couldn't. Then, a hand clamped down on Marcus's arm. Parker stepped between us.
"Mr. Hayes," Parker said. His voice dripped with ice. "Forcing a girl to go with you in public? Is that your idea of class?"
Marcus flinched. He looked at Parker. Then he looked at his own trapped wrist. "And who are you?"
Parker released him with a shove. He wrapped an arm around my waist. He pulled me against his side. The gesture was possessive. "You were just harassing my girlfriend."
The lobby went silent.
Marcus looked at Parker’s hand on my waist. His expression twisted into a sneer. "Girlfriend? Really?" He looked at me. "You move fast, Chloe."
Marcus glared at Parker. "Break up with him, Chloe."
Parker drew back his fist. He punched Marcus in the face.
Crack.
Marcus stumbled back. His gold-rimmed glasses flew off his face. They skittered across the marble floor. He crashed into a decorative plant.
The elevator doors opened again. More people spilled out. They gasped. They stared at the scene.
Marcus touched his nose. It was bleeding. He picked up his glasses and put them back on. They were crooked. He looked at Parker with pure hatred. He raised his fists.
"Get out!" I shouted, stepping in front of Parker to block him. I glared at Marcus. "Leave now, or do you want me to call the cops?"
Marcus looked wounded. "You're protecting him?"
"Duh! Why the hell would I protect you?"
"Chloe," Marcus stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Don't you love me anymore?"
"Marcus, are you sick in the head?" I hissed. "We're done. It's over."
"No," Marcus said stubbornly. "I don't want to break up. You were the one who left."
"Marcus, listen to me," I said. My voice was low and dangerous. "Leave right now. Or do you want your wife to find out exactly why you are here today?"
Marcus froze. His hands balled into fists. He looked at Parker. He looked at the crowd of people watching. Finally, he turned around. He stormed out of the building.
Parker grabbed my arm firmly. He pulled me back into the elevator. He pressed the button for the garage.
We reached the underground garage. Parker marched me to his car. He opened the passenger door. He basically shoved me inside. He walked around and got into the driver’s seat.
He didn't start the car. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. The flame flared in the dim light.
I watched him. I had never told him about Marcus. Before Parker, we were just friends with benefits. I didn't owe him my history. Then we started dating. I was too afraid to bring it up. I never thought he would find out like this.
"Parker," I said softly.
Parker didn't look at me. He stared out the windshield. He smoked aggressively.
"Before you... I was with Marcus for three years," I admitted. My voice trembled. "He was my boss. We kept it a secret. No one knew."
Parker’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. The leather creaked.
"Later, I found out he was married," I continued. I looked down at my hands. "I quit my job immediately. I broke up with him. I cut all contact."
I took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to lie to you. I just didn't know how to say it. It’s messy. If... if you mind, we can break up."
Parker threw the cigarette out the window. He turned to me. His eyes were fierce. They were filled with a dark, possessive anger.
"Break up?" he snapped. "Is that what you want? You want to break up so you can go back to him?"