Chapter 16

Sixteen

Presley

Iam grateful Haden left for work early, leaving me alone without our usual fight.

Our morning bickering always involves Masen. We disagree, only to agree moments later, and by the time we leave for work, we have usually forgotten about it and end the morning with a goodbye kiss.

But things have changed between us.

Our pointless quarrels have now turned into full-blown arguments. Our words have become nastier. We both take a simple argument, such as who picks up Masen, into something far greater. I find myself constantly irritated by his selfish behavior, questioning why I have allowed him to act this way for such a long time.

Haden distances himself from me, limiting our interaction to the bare minimum. I watch him slowly pull away, unlike his usual overbearing self. We barely sleep in the same bed, using Masen as an excuse. He doesn’t dare touch me nor even make any sexual innuendos. I thought it would pain me to see him this way, but all I feel is numb.

It has been another late night, packing box after box after we accepted an offer on the house. Time is of the essence, sorting through our belongings, trying to discard what we no longer need and packing what we are taking to the new place.

Somewhere, after midnight, I come across our wedding album. Sitting inside our spare bedroom, I open the album slowly to a photograph of Haden and me. Our faces are beaming, joyous smiles and eyes stare at each other with a loving gaze. Every emotion I felt at that moment comes crashing back like a giant wave of nostalgia—the way he ran his thumb across my bottom lip, promising to always protect our family, to love us unconditionally.

His vows replay inside my head, the voice so loud and clear it’s as if he is whispering it to me.

I promise to be your best friend.

Support you, respect you.

Be there for you in the good times and the bad.

I shake my head in an effort to drown out the sounds. The picture feels like a lifetime ago, and perhaps, we are naïve to think we’re strong enough to make it through anything. He promised to be my best friend, and sadly, he isn’t because I didn’t live up to his standards.

I failed to give him the one thing he begged for from the second we said, ‘I do.’

It’s all my fault.

He never said the words, but I can see it every time he looks at me. His stare burns with resentment.

Refusing to torture myself, I throw the album into the box and go to bed.

* * *

Word around the office this morning is that Haden is in his office with a strict do-not-disturb rule. I have no business with him today, or rather, I postpone anything to do with him. Clint is on my nerves, and after I berated him yesterday for a poor effort on a piece he was working on, my frustration with this place escalates.

No one can do their job properly. I constantly have to check people’s work only to have to redo it to meet my standards. The only one who understands my frustration is Sandy.

I dial her number, knowing she will be out of her meeting since it as almost lunchtime.

“Hey, you,” she greets, her voice pleasing me.

“How was your meeting?”

“Great, actually. You know when you get that spark of an idea, and it sends your brain into overdrive? Well, that’s how great it was.”

I sigh. “I miss that. Lately, it’s just been me trying to get everyone to sharpen their game. You should have seen the rubbish Clint showed me. I really gave it to him.”

“You’ve got standards, Elvis. You’re incredibly smart, and beautiful, of course. The whole package. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise. You didn’t get to where you are by letting others dictate your standards.”

I relax into my chair with a smile. “No, apparently I got to where I am by marrying the boss.”

Silence falls over the speaker. Sandy keeps quiet when I speak about Haden, and to be honest, I don’t blame her. He has been a complete dick to her, dismissing her ideas and her ability to run Indie Press. After our meeting where Haden humiliated her, everything just blew up. The two of them clash, and I am the one caught in the middle.

“You don’t need him, everything you achieve is all you. And even if he weren’t around, you’d still be great.”

“Sometimes, I think it would be easier,” I admit, my voice croaking slightly as I stare at the wedding band nestled on my finger. “Everything about us feels too hard right now. He’s impossible, and I can never do anything right.”

Sandy has never held my vulnerability against me, especially when it comes to Haden. I have lost count of the hours in which I speak about him and our marriage. It’s always at the forefront of my mind. The timing of her return is perfect.

Charlie and the rest of our friends are getting on my nerves, treating me like a porcelain doll, and I am so sick of hearing the same broken record.

I need to grieve.

I don’t need to grieve.

What I need is for everyone to back off and just let me get on with life.

So, I avoid everyone for my own sanity.

However, I value Sandy’s opinion, even when at times, it causes an argument with Haden.

“You know what you need?”

I grin, knowing whatever she says will be exactly what I need. She knows me that well.

“A trip. You and me,” she suggests, with an enthusiastic tone. “Just like our road trips to Atlantic City, but maybe we could plane it since road trips cramp my style.”

“I don’t think I can. Masen and Haden—”

“Screw him. You do everything in your marriage. He can live without you for a few days.”

I do need a break.

It will help to clear my mind and really think long and hard about my needs and not Haden’s.

“Where are you thinking?”

“Manhattan,” she says. “I could meet with Natasha Summers. She’s planning to write a series, and I’d love some insight into what exactly she’s thinking.”

Natasha Summers is Indie Press’s bestselling author, so it makes sense for us to meet with her. I can sell this as a business trip.

“So, what you’re saying is a little bit of work and a lot of play?”

“That’s exactly right,” Sandy insists. “So, what do you say?”

The old Haden will argue me leaving Masen along with company costs. His jealous streak of men trying to get their hands on me is always the real reason, although he never admits it. But he no longer cares, so I don’t see this being a real issue.

“Let me talk to Haden tonight, okay? He needs to be the one to take care of Masen.”

We chat a little while longer before I hang up the phone. Sitting back in my chair, I start to fantasize about all the fun we will have together. We can see a Broadway musical, followed by dinner in Little Italy. I love visiting the Guggenheim Museum, and it will be an even better experience with her.

My phone buzzes on my desk, a text from Sandy.

Sandy:I know you’re thinking about it. It’ll be great just you and me, finally.

It will be great. Sandy knows how to have a good time, and with her, it is just easy.

I decide to head out to lunch walking past Haden’s office. Inside, I see John and Charlie. They’re all wearing a serious expression, staring at numbers on the screen. Haden never mentioned Charlie coming into the office, and the only time the three of them sit in a room is usually when big legal decisions need to be made, and I am always normally a part of these discussions.

As I go to knock on the door, Haden lifts his head before my knuckles even tap. His eyes narrow cold and hard before his lips move prompting Charlie and John to turn around.

I draw in a deep breath before entering.

“Is there something you need?” he asks, artic in his tone.

“Well, yes. I’m assuming whatever you’re discussing is important. Is this something I need to be involved in?”

Charlie lowers her head, the same time as John.

I fold my arms over my chest, meeting Haden’s stance.

“Nothing at all, Presley.” His smile is fixated, forced with a touch of malice. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re on a tight deadline.”

I don’t say another word, leaving his office before stomping over to Noah’s office on a mission, glad he is here today and not elsewhere.

Noah’s on the phone, yet he waves me in and gestures for me to take a seat. I continue to stand, the anger within me swirling like an impending cyclone.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Why are Charlie and John in with Haden?”

Noah blinks. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?”

“Because he won’t tell me the truth,” I bark back. “Apparently, our marriage is one-sided.”

“C’mon, Pres, that’s not fair. The guy is trying.”

Of course, he takes Haden’s side.

“That’s right… you’re Team Haden.”

Noah shakes his head, letting out a sigh. “There are no teams, Pres. You, of all people, should know that when it comes to marriage, the hardest part is working through the troubled times. You’ve hit a rough patch, and the two of you will get through this. You haven’t gone beyond that moment, and trust me, you don’t want to get there or you’ll end up like me.”

I am not going to pity Noah anymore. He stuck his dick into some other woman and fucked-up his life. And if he wants to take Haden’s side in all of this, then I don’t need to stand here and bother trying.

I storm out, grabbing my purse, telling Maria I am leaving for the day.

Walking for an hour straight, in pumps that pinch my toes, gives me a chance to clear my head. I stop at a café, order lunch, and take my time. The longer I give myself, the more logical my thinking becomes.

If I want answers, I need to go straight to the source.

And that source needs to be alone.

Without John.

Without Charlie.

I make my way back to the office. Maria is surprised to see me after my earlier exit but uses the opportunity to inform me that Clint is looking for me. He can wait, I have something more important to deal with.

Marching toward Haden’s office, I stop dead in my tracks at his door. Sitting across him is a woman. Platinum blonde hair, almost recognizable in a French braid.

The woman flicks her braid to one side in what I know to be a conscious act, flirtatious as she exposes her diamond earring dangling from her ear. Whatever she says makes Haden laugh until his gaze meets mine, and his face freezes on the spot.

He almost looks scared.

With a polite smile, I open the door to introduce myself until the woman turns around to greet me.

My mouth falls open, my posture stiffening suddenly. A heavy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach, turning into a burning sensation. My breaths become coarser, and faster, choking my ability to speak.

It is the final nail in the already fragile coffin.

Eloise.