Chapter 4
The next day, Jack barged straight into my place.
He looked awful. His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, and he was still wearing the same suit from the night before.
"Where were you last night?" he demanded, not even bothering with a greeting.
"Just at home," I answered, keeping it short.
"Why did you turn off your phone?"
"I was exhausted. Just wanted to rest," I replied.
Jack sized me up, as if he was trying to decide whether I was lying.
He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration and then slumped onto the couch.
"Get me some water."
I didn't move.
He looked up, his eyes dangerous. "Laura, I'm talking to you nicely right now. Don't test my patience."
I said calmly, "This is my place. If you need someone to wait on you, call your assistant."
A heavy silence fell.
Jack got up slowly and walked right up to me, step by step.
"What do you really want? You've been acting weird for months, and now you won't even pour me some water? Laura, have I been too soft on you or what?"
I looked him in the eye. "We've known each other for seven years."
He frowned.
"Over those seven years, do you even remember how many times I've poured you water, cooked your meals, taken your drinks, or cleaned up your messes? Have you ever bothered to count? And now you think you've been coddling me?"
A crack showed in his composure.
"I..."
"You don't need to explain."
I stepped back, putting some distance between us. "I'll send you my resignation before the contract's up. I'll finish all the transition work over the next three months. After that, no more ties between us."
"What are you talking about?" Jack laughed, like it was the funniest thing he'd heard all day. "Laura, you really think we can just call it quits between us?"
"Why not?" I shot back. "You're the boss, I'm the employee. People quit all the time. It's only natural."
"You know we're more than just—" Jack said.
"More than just what?" I cut him off.
"Jack, in all these seven years, did you ever promise me anything? Did you ever say you loved me? That you'd marry me? Or were all those girls just flings, and I was the only one who really mattered to you?"
He was speechless.
He didn't even try to make up a lie for me.
"Violet's not the last one, right?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You'll keep promoting new girls, keep messing around with them, and keep making me clean up your messes. Because in your mind, I'm always the Laura who'll never leave."
"No..." Jack said.
"Enough," I cut in.
I walked to the door and pulled it open. "You should go. I need to head to the office and deal with the mess you and Violet made. Oh, and the paparazzi already got shots of you two kissing at the after-party last night. This time, it's not going to be easy to make it go away."
Jack's face went white as a sheet. "What did you just say?"
"I said," I spelled out each word, "you've just added to my workload. Again."
He grabbed my wrist, demanding, "Where are the photos? Who took them?"
"No idea. Some paparazzi sent them to me anonymously, asking for one million," I replied.
I yanked my hand back. "I've already paid them off. The invoice will go to our finance department. Next time you feel like taking that kind of risk, check for cameras first."
Jack fixed me with a furious stare, his chest heaving with rage.
In the end, he didn't say a word. He just slammed the door behind him and stormed out.
I stood at the door for what felt like forever, and only when I was sure he was really gone did I sink to the floor, leaning against it.
The tears finally came.
Seven years. More than two thousand five hundred days and nights.
I had spent the best part of my life on him, and in the end, all I got was one cruel, polished line, "She's a family to me."