Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
The way I felt the second I saw Jules, only in a picture, I find it hard to believe you could truly love and adore someone and hold back for so long. I'm pretty sure I remember Lauren mentioning a boyfriend once. I could be wrong.
“Vincent.” She lets out a long breath.
“Don’t you have a boyfriend or something?” I don’t know why I ask. I’m trying to be as rational with her as possible and not be a complete asshole.
“I said that to get a reaction out of you,” she hisses, more of that anger coming to the surface and showing me a piece of who she really is. The Lauren I recall was always calm, cool, and collected.
“Did you say something to my wife? Something that would upset her?”
“What? Why would you—”
“Did you say something to my fucking wife, Lauren, that might upset her?” I cut her off. Obviously, the nicer way isn’t getting through to her. I can’t keep the anger out of my voice at this point. Now my mind is really starting to fill with possibilities. All sorts of thoughts run through it as to what Lauren might have said that changed my Jules toward me.
She opens and closes her mouth. “Never mind. I’ll find out for myself. You better pray you’ll be able to find a job in this city come tomorrow morning,” I tell her before I go in search of my wife, leaving her standing there.
When I don’t find Jules quickly, I pull out my phone that I’d switched to silent to see a string of texts and a few missed calls from Graysen.
“Sir.” Neily, the new woman Graysen hired, suddenly pops up in front of me as I’m starting to call him back. I’d told him to find a female to add to the security team who could not only work at the main office but also help if I ever needed someone to cover Jules.
“What’s happening?”
“She left, but Graysen is following her. He tried to talk her out of hopping into the cab, but she was persistent.” Of course, she was. Jules is a fighter, after all. She didn’t have an easy life growing up. Everything she has she fought for, and I know I’m about to be in for the battle of my life. “She looks to be heading back home.”
“Tell Justin I’m leaving.” I head toward the exit.
“Already done, sir. He’s waiting in the front.”
“Thanks.” I give her a nod. When she smiles at my approval, I notice how young she actually is, but I trust Graysen knows what he’s doing if he hired her.
I have no clue what I might be walking in to when I make it back to our building. I thought I was on edge before, but with each second that passes, it only grows. The ride up the elevator takes forever. When the doors swing open, I find Graysen standing in front of the door.
“Be honest” is all he says as he passes by me to grab the elevator before the doors close. “It’s easier. I promise.” From the look in his eyes, I know he’s speaking from experience. I give him a nod as I begin to yank the bow tie and slide my tux jacket off.
When I step into our home, what I find isn’t what I expected. I was sure I would see Jules packing and trying to get the hell out of here. Instead, I find her sitting in one of the entryway chairs. Her head is down, and she is staring at her phone. She’s still in her dress.
“Jules.” I softly say her name. She lifts her head, tear streaks staining her cheeks. The need to comfort her rides me hard, but the look on her face keeps me in my place. Before I can speak again, she says the one thing that takes me to my knees in front of her.
“I want a divorce.”
16
Julieta
Vincent on his knees does nothing to take away from the power and dominance that always surrounds him. It’s commanding really. I get why he easily takes the attention from the room when he enters it. Still, it captivates my attention. I don’t think Vincent is a man brought to his knees often, if ever at all, but he is right here doing it for me, my four simple words having caused it.
“No. It’s not happening.” My mouth drops open in surprise because that’s the last thing I expected him to say.
I’m not sure if I should be happy or angry at this point. Anger because he thinks he can control me but happiness that he wants me to stay. Even after I abandoned him tonight. I regretted it the whole way home, knowing what it’s like to be left alone, but he’s a grown man with all the resources in the world.