But with me, he means it ...
He kissed her and Brie was there and everything was fucked and yet Ayumi couldn't stop it. She cried and she held onto him and she wanted him to fix her. Wanted to be able to fix him.
The universe, however, had other plans.
“Eden, look what we brought! Your favorite tacos! Katya and I -”
Ayumi broke the kiss and they both turned to face the open doorway. Katya Tocci and Tori Bellows stood in it, both with their mouths hanging open. Ayumi cringed. There would be no explaining this away. Liam was touching her, holding her. Had been kissing her.
“What, uh ... what's going on?” Katya finally managed to say something. There was a beat, then everyone started speaking at once.
“I should go,” Ayumi tried to pull away from him.
“You're not going anywhere. Can someone shut the fucking door?” Liam demanded. Katya quickly shut it behind her and Tori.
“He totally used me for sex!” Brighton started shouting.
“He what?” Katya asked.
“He used me, then he ghosted me, and now he's using her!”
“You and Liam?” Tori asked in a soft voice, staring straight at Ayumi.
“I ...”
“EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Liam roared, and for once, everyone listened to him.
“I'm sorry, we'll be quiet,” Katya finally broke the silence.
“First of all,” he started, breathing heavy. “This isn't Grand Central fucking Station! This is my goddamn place of business, not your fucking hang out spot. New fucking rules – Tori and Ayumi are the only ones allowed back here. Understood?”
Katya nodded her head, but Brie just grumbled and bristled.
“You can't tell me where I can and can't -”
“And you,” he turned on the girl. “You shut the fuck up, right now. We used each other for sex, and that was it! Stop fucking stalking me, you little psycho, or I will seriously have you arrested.”
“I'll tell my brother how you -”
“I give less than zero shits about Wulf or what he thinks of what we did, so go fucking tattle tale. I don't care. If you ever come back here again, I'll call the cops.”
Brighton looked like she'd sucked on a lime, but she kept her mouth shut. She glared at everyone and her cheeks turned bright pink. Then she let out a huff and stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
“I ... I have to go,” Ayumi said softly, leaning down to grab her case. He grabbed her by the arm.
“No,” he said. “You ... you are quite possibly the only woman I've ever really, truly cared about. This last week was one of the best of my life, even when you were being a bitch and fighting with me. Don't walk away from me. Don't ruin this.”
Bad word choice.
Before Ayumi could run away, though, someone beat her to it. They all turned in shock as Tori let out a sob. Then she turned and struggled with the knob for a moment before yanking the door open. They all listened as she ran off down the hallway.
“What the fuck was that?” Liam asked. Ayumi didn't know, and she really didn't care. While he stood there in shock, she grabbed her case and hurried away from him.
“Katya, I'm ...” she babbled. “I'm really sorry.”
She didn't know why she was apologizing. She didn't need to, of course. But it's what she did best. Apologize for not doing anything wrong.
She didn't even glance back as she, too, ran down the hallway.
“UM ...”
Liam had almost forgotten Katya was there. He groaned and collapsed into the chair Ayumi had been sitting in just minutes before everything had gone to shit. He let his head fall back and he closed his eyes.
“I'm so not in the fucking mood right now, Angel -” he cut himself off as Ayumi's words came back to him. He cleared his throat. “Katya.”
“Okay. Okay, I get it. Do you want me to leave?” she asked, hovering around his side. He thought for a second, then blindly reached out and grabbed her hand.
“No. And I didn't mean it, I'm sorry. You can come visit me at work any time you want,” he sighed. She hesitated for a second, then she sat in the chair next to him.
“Maybe I shouldn't,” she said in a slow voice. He finally looked over at her.
“Why not?”
“Well,” she licked her lips and seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “If there was a woman I knew Wulf had slept with regularly, and they were all buddy-buddy and they hung out all the time and talked on the phone a lot, I don't know. I don't think I'd like it.”
“So we can't be friends anymore?” he asked. She shook her head.
“I'm not saying that, but maybe ... just tone it down? Just until you two figure out your relationship,” she suggested. “You really like her, don't you?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“She was with you this whole time?”
“Yes.”
“So she didn't go to Seattle.”
“No.”
“She lied to Wulf.”
“Yup.”
“And Brie. She knew about Brie.”
Liam cut his eyes back to her.
“Katya, don't make this something it's not,” he warned her. “Except for saying she was in Seattle, Ayumi never once lied to Wulf. I asked her not to bring up Brie because it was nobodies fucking business, so she didn't. Don't bring him into this because I'm an idiot.”
“Okay!” Katya held up her hands. “I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble here. I only want to understand. Maybe start at the beginning? Tell me everything?”
And so he did. All the way back to the stupid vacation with her and Wulf in Carmel, when Liam had fucked Brie in the Tocci's pantry. She looked shocked, but she didn't interrupt him, and really, he didn't care. He loved Katya, but ultimately, his happiness didn't hang on whether or not she liked him. Not anymore.
He told her about the first night he and Ayumi had hooked up, explaining how they'd gone into the laundry room so as not to disturb Tori, or to not get caught by Landon. Then he gave a Cliff's Notes version of their week together.
“She knew,” Katya gasped. “Tori told me she had the craziest dreams that night, about you running your sex club out of your laundry room. And then she said she dreamed you were making out with Ayumi. We both laughed about it. She must have actually seen it.”
“She must have. What was up with her just now, anyway?” he asked, glancing at his door. Katya was quiet for a while.
“You'll have to ask her,” was all she would say on the matter. “So. You and Ayumi, huh? Crazy. I never would've imagined it.”
“Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure you can unimagine it right now, because I don't think she's coming back.”
“Don't say that. She's confused and she's not used to like ... having real people emotions.”
“Are you saying she's not real people?”
“Liam, the woman is super human. She can take part a multimillion dollar property bid and make the other realtors wish they'd never been born, then she does errands for Wulf for eight hours straight, then she still does a five mile run at the end of the day. Does that sound human to you?”
“Fives miles, huh? Probably up hill.”
“Both ways.”
They both laughed for a moment.
“I know she does all that, but somewhere under that machine, she really does have a heart. I thought maybe she was learning to use it with me,” he said in a soft voice. Katya smiled and reached out for his hand again.
“I think Liam Edenhoff is perilously close to falling in love,” she teased, but he didn't laugh.
“Don't say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I won't be able to handle it if she doesn't love me back,” he whispered. Katya groaned and got out of her chair. She got down on her knees next to him and pulled him in for a hug.
“She will. Just give her a chance. Give her space. Let her be crazy and stupid. Remember how I was? I know you don't like to hear
about it, but it really is like Wulf and I. He told me that once, that no matter how long I needed to take, he'd wait for me. She cares about you, that much is obvious. So just let her figure out how exactly she needs to show it, okay?” she assured him. He nodded and buried his face in her neck.
“Okay. But she better not take too fucking long. This feeling sucks.”
“Doesn't it? Why do people like us always fall for the unemotional robots of the world? Let's go get margaritas, we've earned it.”
“Roof top?” he sighed, leaning back from her. She smiled, but then she shook her head.
“No. No roof tops. Save that for her.”
“This love bullshit isn't as much fun as people make it out to be.”
“It's the worst. C'mon, we'll make it double margaritas.”
“Triples. And you're buying.”
They both stood up and she looped her arm through his.
“Such a charmer, Liam Edenhoff.”
“I know. Can you pass it on to Ayumi?”
“Will do.”
17
Ayumi felt like she'd been run over by a car, but she got up the next morning and she got ready and she went to work on time. Once again, Wulf was locked away in his office. She was nervous. The last time he'd done that, she'd wound up agreeing to move in with Rosemary's Baby and had gone off on an adventure with Liam.
Liam.
She shook thoughts of him away, though, when much to her shock and surprise, Bright Stone walked out of Wulf's office. She didn't look into Ayumi's office at all, just strode right past and continued on down towards the elevators.
A few seconds later, Wulf's voice barked over the intercom, telling her to come to his office. She grabbed her planner and some files, not sure what all he'd want to go over, and she scurried up to his door. Before she could knock, though, the heavy slab of wood opened in front of her. She stared in surprise as Katya greeted her.
“I'm so sorry,” the other woman whispered, and Ayumi's surprise turned to shock when she realized Katya had been crying.
“What's going on? Is everything alright?” she asked, hurrying into the office, worried something had happened. Was someone sick? Was Ms. Stone alright? His other sister, Genevieve? She'd gone on a long trip to the U.K. – a large and potentially dangerous city.
“Everything's fine, sit down,” Wulf instructed. He wasn't looking at her, though, but was leaned back in his chair with a hand over his face. Ayumi frowned, but did as she was told. Katya sniffled and took the seat next to her.
“Did someone die?” Ayumi finally asked bluntly. Katya actually laughed at the question, which also seemed to answer it.
“How long have we known each other?” Wulf asked in return. Ayumi thought for a second.
“I think six years, now? Or closer to seven,” she guessed. He nodded his head.
“I meant what I said. You're like family to me, Ayumi. I would give you the shirt off my back,” he told her, and she nodded.
“I know. I believe you, Wulf,” she replied, her mind still reeling from the bizarreness of the situation.
“Then why did you feel the need to lie to me?” he demanded.
Ayumi stared at him for a second. Then glanced at Katya. His girlfriend shrugged and held up her hands.
“It wasn't me,” was all she said. Wulf narrowed his eyes.
“Which just makes it worse. The two closest people to me, and they both lied to me,” he growled. “Do you have any idea how goddamn insulting that is?”
Ayumi understood Katya's fears, she really did. This was the man Katya loved, and he was clearly upset, as well as very offended. It must be hard to see someone she cared about hurting so much, and scary to think he might possibly leave her because of it. So Ayumi took a deep breath and decided to be strong for the both of them.
“What, exactly, did we lie to you about?” Ayumi asked in level, calm voice.
“Where to start?” he asked. “How about Seattle? How was your vacation?”
“Okay, I'll admit, that was childish of me,” she agreed. “I shouldn't have lied to you about where I was, and I'm sorry. But really, where I spend my vacation is none of your business.”
“Of course it's my fucking business. I'm your friend. I worry about you!” he snapped.
“I know. And I appreciate that. Still doesn't make it your business.”
“Then how about who you went on vacation with? I specifically asked you about Eden, and you specifically said there was nothing,” he pointed out.
“Which wasn't a lie. Liam and I weren't dating, and I had no plans to go on that trip with him. After I spoke with you, I remembered him inviting me on his road trip. It sounded a lot more relaxing than a grueling marathon in Seattle, so on a whim I decided to take him up on his offer.”
“You know, Ayumi,” Wulf's voice had turned steely. “You can word this any way you want, say it however you want, if it makes you feel better. Bottom line, though, is you did a shitty fucking thing to a friend who's done nothing but be kind and honest to you, and we both know it.”
Okay, ouch. That one hurt. She winced at his words and lost some of her steam.
“I'm ... I'm sorry. I really am. I wasn't sure what was going on between us, and I know you don't really like him, so I didn't want you getting upset over something that might not be anything,” she tried to explain. “I didn't want to lie to you. I've never lied to you. I just didn't ... I don't know. I was confused and embarrassed and I didn't want you to think less of me.”
“Well too fucking late.”
Her jaw dropped.
“Wulf!” Katya snapped, but he just held up his hand.
“Because I could forgive all of that, I really could. I even understand it. But Brighton,” he hissed his sister's name through clenched teeth. “You fucking knew. You knew they'd been sleeping together, and you didn't say a word. That's my sister, Ayumi. My fucking baby sister. Maybe I don't have a right to know about your life, but I sure as shit have a right to know about hers, especially when it concerns her well being. You knew about it and you said nothing.”
In all the years Ayumi had known Wulf, she'd never seen him so upset. Suddenly, she was very, very scared. She'd never been fired before, didn't know how she would handle it.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “It wasn't ... I didn't. I told them I would tell you if you asked about it, that I wouldn't lie about it. But they're both consenting adults, it was their business, their relationship.”
“I can't listen to this bullshit anymore,” he growled. “You both knew and you both lied to me. Un-fucking-believable.”
Ayumi gathered up what little courage she had left and sat up straight again.
“Don't blame Katya, she really didn't know about Liam and Brie,” she insisted. “I was the one who did, and didn't say anything to you. Not Katya. I never told her about it.”
“No, but she found out about it and still didn't tell me. I had to hear it from Brighton herself. The fact that neither of you felt comfortable coming to me and talking to me about this, at any point in time ... my god, am I that much of a monster?” he asked. Katya dropped her face into her hands and Ayumi struggled to keep from crying.
“No. No, you're not a monster. We just know you care about her so much, we didn't want you to be upset. We didn't -”
Wulf slashed his arm through the air, cutting her off.
“You're officially on leave.”
Ayumi gasped again.
“Are you serious?”
“Until further notice. I'm not suspending your pay, but I don't want you in the office right now. I don't know if I can work with someone who can keep things like this from me. Someone who can lie to my face.”
“This must be a joke! I've seen you lie to lots of people! All the time! You lied to her, for christ's sake! For months!” Ayumi shouted, gesturing to Katya. Wulf stared coolly back at Ayumi.
“Maybe. But I never lied to you.”
Now she just felt like shit. She grabbed her
planner off his desk and stumbled away from her chair.
“Fine. Okay. I'm sorry I lied to you, Wulf. I really am. And if you can't work with me anymore, I understand,” she babbled, backing away towards his door. “Just please, if you're going to fire me, can I at least have two weeks notice? So I can say goodbye to everyone.”
“Jesus, I must be a fucking monster,” he snapped. “I'm not gonna fucking fire you, and if I was, I would certainly give you notice. Go home, Ayumi, and make sure Brie doesn't sleep with any of my other old business partners!”
As she numbly walked to her office and collected her belongings, Ayumi couldn't believe it. Could not believe it. How had life turned to shit so fast?
She had known better. When she'd realized Liam and Brie had slept together, she'd known she should tell Wulf. He'd want to know. And if she'd really thought about it, she would've also known he wouldn't have killed Liam. At worst, he would've moved Brie home. Why hadn't Ayumi just trusted her gut and told him!?
Because I eventually ruin everything.
“THAT WAS, WITHOUT A doubt,” Katya finally spoke after Ayumi had run off. “The biggest asshole move I've ever seen you make.”
“Me!?” Wulf exclaimed, pressing his hand to his chest. “I'm the one who got fucking lied to!”
“Oh, shut up,” Katya hissed. “You don't like getting lied to? Get over it. I got lied to for months, and I'm still here.”
“Hey, we agreed we'd leave the past in the -”
“I get why you're upset,” she interrupted him. “I felt like shit when I came home last night because I wanted to tell you so badly. I almost did. But it was Brie and Liam's secret to tell. And I sure as shit wasn't going to tell you about him and Ayumi because it wasn't any of my business.”
“You lied to me,” Wulf said in a strained voice. “I asked you what was wrong. I asked you to talk me. You said everything was fine. You lied to my face. You know me, Tocci. You knew this would upset me. Why didn't you just tell me?”
She was at a loss. She finally shrugged and just smiled sadly at him.
“Because I knew it would upset you,” she said in a soft voice.
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