by E. L. Todd
“Don’t say that to me.” More tears fell down his face. “I love you and you love me. I want to marry you, have kids with you.” He hell to his knees and looked up at me. “Please, just trust me. I know everything makes me look bad, but I swear on anything and everything, I haven’t touched or looked at anyone but you.”
This was too much. I couldn’t handle it anymore. “Goodbye, Flynn.”
“No…” He took a deep breath and stilled the tears. “Don’t do this.”
I couldn’t look at him anymore. I walked out and shut the door behind me. When I was outside the door, I heard Flynn cry.
8
Flynn
This couldn’t be happening to me.
No. It couldn’t.
But she was gone. Gone. I’ve never been more broken or hurt my entire life. She took all her stuff and walked out on me, leaving me cold and alone. I wished she would believe me. She knew me better than anyone. I would never do that to someone, especially her. Hazel was my life. My whole world revolved around her.
But I couldn’t blame her for not believing me. If only I had told her about Zahara wanting me back when it actually happened, she may have believed me. But I was stupid and kept it to my self like a damn idiot.
I stayed on the floor, not caring about crying in front of my two closest friends. I’d never cried in front of anyone but Zahara. But I was so desolated that I couldn’t control the agony. I lost my whole world.
My friends didn’t judge me.
Johnny patted my shoulder. “It’ll be alright, man.”
I covered my face and controlled my emotions.
“We’ll figure it out,” Ian whispered.
“She left…” My apartment was empty of her things. She was really gone.
“We’ll figure out how to convince her,” Johnny said. “We will.”
“How?” I wiped my tears away. “I have nothing to prove my innocence.”
“Zahara,” Ian said. “You could ask her to tell Hazel the truth.”
I laughed despite my broken heart. “After she screwed me over, you really think she’s going to make it right? I don’t think so. This is exactly what she wanted. But if she thinks she’s getting anything out of me, she’s sadly mistaken.”
“Maybe we can wait a few days then try to talk to her friends,” Johnny said suggested.
“If I show up at Ryan’s place, he’ll kill me.”
“What about Cortland?” Ian asked. “If anyone will listen to you, it’s him.”
“No,” I said immediately. “He’ll rip me apart before I can get a word in. And he’s taking care of something else right now. I can’t bother him.”
My friends sat on the floor on either side of me.
“We’ll get her back,” Johnny said. “I promise. We’re with you in this.”
That should make me feel better, but it didn’t.
When I went to work a few days later, I was hoping Hazel would be there. I needed to talk to her. I’d do it as many times as it took to get her back. Even though we’d been apart for a short while, her absence was unbearable. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t do anything.
“Where’s Hazel?” I asked the choreographer without saying hi. I noticed a new girl had taken her place. I wasn’t sure why.
She looked at me with a stern expression but didn’t snap at me for my rudeness. I knew that was because I was the assistant director. If I were anyone else, she’d chew me out. “She quit.”
“What?” My voice came out louder than it should. “When?”
“Yesterday. She submitted her resignation and contract breach.” She walked away and started the next set.
My head was spinning. She actually quit her job, something she loved. Because of me. I didn’t even do anything wrong. God, everything was so fucked up. What the hell do I do?
After work, I called her but she didn’t answer. I left her three voicemails before I finally gave up. She would never return any of my phone calls. I’m surprised her phone was even on.
I went to Ryan’s apartment even though I knew he would punch me hard in the face. I wasn’t going to give up. That wasn’t an option. Hazel was the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn’t lose her.
I knocked on the door and waited.
Janice opened it. “Flynn?”
“Please let me talk to her.” I sounded so desperate, even to me.
Her eyes burned in hatred. “I should kick your ass right now.”
I knew she meant it. “I didn’t cheat on her! I swear on my life I didn’t. My ex-girlfriend set me up. Please let me talk to her.”
“She’s not here.”
“Where is she?”
“Work.”
Work? “Where does she work?”
“Sean gave her a job at the company.”
So, Hazel was serious. Her dance career was over—because of me. “Is she still staying here?”
She gave me a hard stare. “I suggest you don’t come back here. If you do, I’ll slap you so hard it’ll make Ryan’s punches feel like the wind.” The threat was in her gaze. “And you better leave before he gets home. Honestly, I think he might kill you.”
“I don’t care,” I said honestly. “Do whatever you want to me. I didn’t do anything wrong and Hazel is supposed to be with me. You think physical pain affects me at all? There’s nothing you can do to make me feel worse than I already do.”
She held her gaze for a moment, but her eyes started to soften.
“As long as she’s here, you should expect to see me often.”
“Then you should expect two black eyes.”
“When will she be home?”
“I’m not telling you anything.” She shut the door in my face.
I sighed then gripped my head. What the hell do I do?
I walked to Sean and Mike’s company a few blocks away. I knew which skyscraper it was because it had the logo right on the side. It was a huge building, and I knew it would be nearly impossible to find her inside. But I could find Sean. Of the two brothers, Sean was the more logical one. I figured I’d have better odds talking to him.
When I walked inside, I tried to get into the elevator.
The security man stopped me. “ID?”
“I’m a friend of Sean’s.” I held his gaze, trying to appear confident.
He nodded to the counter. “Check in.”
I didn’t realize this would so difficult. I walked to the counter and approached the woman. When she saw me, her eyes lit up in attraction. For the first time since I met Hazel, I was glad a woman was attracted to me.
“Hi,” I said. I rested my arms on the table, flashing her my tattoo on my forearm. I knew a lot of girls were into ink.
“Hi.” She smiled wide, smitten by me.
“I’m a friend of Sean Preston. I wanted to meet him today but I forgot to call ahead.”
She nodded. “I see. Well, I’ll give him a call.”
Damn. I knew he wouldn’t let me into the building. “Tell him it’s about Scarlet.” I knew that was low but I had to get inside.
“Sure.” She picked up the phone and made the call. I couldn’t understand what she said because she kept her voice low. Then she hung up. “Take the elevator to the top floor.”
I was in? “Thank you.” I winked at her then got into the elevator. I had a feeling Sean would punch me in the face when he found out I lied, but he was probably going to punch me anyway.
When I reached the floor, I looked around for his office. People passed me in the hallway, wearing suits and classy clothes. I felt out of place in my jeans and t-shirt. I walked into the room and noticed the two large offices covered in glass. Sean and Mike were in their separate rooms.
I approached his office then walked inside.
“Baby, have you spoken to Flynn today?” He was on the phone. His eyes met mine and angered crept into his face. “I got to go.” He hung up. A fire rose in his eyes. “You have something to tell me about my wife?”
“Okay, I lied,” I admitted.
He came around his desk, looking formidable in his expensive suit. “Don’t ever fuck with me like that again.” The fierce look in his eyes told me he was trying not to strangle me. “My wife is off limits.”
“I’m sorry.” I meant it. “I really need to talk to you.”
“About what?” He kept his hands in his pockets.
“Hazel.”
His eyes narrowed. “And what could I possibly do for you? I care about Hazel since she’s a member of our group, but I’m hardly the closest person to her. I suggest you ask Cortland to help you, that is, if he doesn’t kill you when he gets back.”
“Janice told me you gave her a job.”
“I did.”
“Take me to her.”
He shook his head. “She needed a job so she could support herself. She’s broken and hurt. I want her to feel safe at work, as I do with all my employees. I will not, actually, I refuse to let you bother her. You can chase her down after work, not during.”
I was meeting a blockade everywhere I turned. “Look, I know this looks bad. I know it looks like I cheated on her, but I swear on my parents’ lives, I didn’t. Of all people in the world, I know you will understand.”
“Me?” he asked. “I don’t see how.”
“Hazel told me about your relationship with Scarlet—from the beginning. Your ex manipulated you and tricked you. Scarlet didn’t understand that, at least not a first. But she did eventually. My ex is doing the exact same thing to me. She wants me all to herself, so she set me up.”
“Why was she in your apartment to begin with?”
God, I was never going to convince anyone. “She said her boyfriend and her got into a fight. He broke her phone and took her keys. She needed to call her roommate for help. I had no idea she was tricking me. She took the phone and sent that text while she set up my room. Please believe me.”
Sean stared at me but didn’t say anything.
“I would not be working this hard to get her back if I really did that. Come on, you’ve seen me with her. It’s obvious I love her with every word I say and everything I do. It doesn’t make any sense for me to cheat on her. I’m not like that.”
Sean rubbed his chin then fixed his tie. “When Ryan first told me the news, I admit I was skeptical about it. It did seem far-fetched.”
That was music to my ears. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“But…the evidence is pretty incriminating.”
“My friends were witnesses. They told you the truth.”
He shrugged. “I know my guys would lie for me if I asked them to.”
“No, they wouldn’t,” I snapped. “If you cheated on Scarlet, they would all turn on you, even your own brother. My friends love Hazel. Believe me, they wouldn’t lie and let her walk into a trap.”
Sean held my gaze for a long time. “Okay, for argument’s sake, let’s say I believe you…a little bit. What could I possibly do to help you?”
“I…I don’t know. I just need someone to be on my side.”
“I never said I was on your side,” he said simply.
“I need someone to help me convince Hazel that I’m not lying.”
“I don’t think I can do that.”
“It’s better than nothing,” I said desperately. “Talk to Ryan and Mike. Make them see reason.”
“I’m still unsure if I completely believe you,” Sean said.
“If there’s any doubt, then you know the story isn’t true,” I said firmly. “From one man who fucked up to another, please help me. Please. Ryan stuck his neck out for Scarlet to give you another chance. Stick your neck out for me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You know a lot about me and Scarlet.”
I shrugged. “Cortland told Hazel everything, and Hazel told me. I think your story is amazing, honestly.”
“Kissing my ass?” he asked with a smirk.
“No, but I will if it gets you to help me.”
Sean sighed. “I have to think about this…”
My heart was falling. “I’ll give you anything you want.”
He smirked again. “I already have everything, including a beautiful wife carrying my child.”
I sighed in depression. “Can I talk to Hazel?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, man. I’m very strict when it comes to work policies. After my wife was harassed, which I’m sure you know about, I feel obligated to protect my workers, particularly my women. As long as Hazel is clocked in, I will protect her from you.”
He was such a stickler. Maybe I should have went to Mike. “Could you tell her I’m here and I want to talk to her? Let her decide.”
He shook his head. “No. I already know what she’ll say.”
I was defeated. I knew I should pack up and leave. “Well, thank you for talking to me.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
I turned and walked out. “Please think about talking to her for me.”
“I will.”
I shut the door and headed back to the lobby. I knew Sean was sympathetic toward me, but he wasn’t convinced. I didn’t know who to turn to, who would help me. Then I realized something. There was one person in the group that ran the show. Everyone listened to her even though they acted like they didn’t. When she jumped, they all jumped. If I could convince her to help me, perhaps she could convince Sean. And then I would have two allies.
I knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. I heard her feet behind the door. I assumed she was looking through the peephole. She finally opened the door. “Flynn?”
“Hey, I’m sorry for dropping by like this.”
She stared at me timidly, suspicion in her eyes. “What can I do for you?”
“I was hoping I could talk to you.”
Scarlet crossed her arms over her chest, staring me down. “About what?”
“Hazel.”
“I should slam the door in your face.” Her voice was cold.
“Please,” I begged. “Hear me out.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I didn’t cheat on her. I didn’t. Please give me a chance to defend myself. I love Hazel and I need to get her back.”
She shook her head slightly. “You really shouldn’t be here. You could have called.”
“I didn’t have your number and I knew no one would give it to me.” I didn’t make a step closer.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know…”
“I just want to talk and then I’ll leave.”
“Sean won’t like this…”
I knew that. But I had to see this through. “Please.”
She sighed then opened the door. “Fine. Come in.”
I stepped inside their mansion and followed her to the kitchen table. She sat across from me.
“So…?”
An older woman came into the kitchen and her eyes widened when she saw me. “Who’s this?”
Scarlet stilled. “This is my friend Flynn. Flynn, this is our housemaid Olga.”
“Hi,” I said quickly.
She stared at me like I was a piece of trash, her eyes lingering on my scorpion tattoo. “Do you think it’s wise to have company?”
“He’ll only be here a few minutes,” Scarlet said.
Olga shot me a glare then walked off.
“Wow,” I said. “She’s protective.”
She rolled her eyes. “She’s like a girl version of Sean.”
I chuckled slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re telling me.”
I liked that Sean and Scarlet teased each other and picked on each other like friends, but they loved each other fiercely. It reminded me of Hazel and I—the relationship we used to have.
“Flynn, tell me why you’re here.”
I took a deep breath. “I didn’t cheat on Hazel. I didn’t. I know it’s hard to believe based on the evidence, but I swear I didn’t. My ex-girlfriend is crazy and she set me up. She’s d
oing this so she can get me—which is never going to happen. She tricked me into getting her way. I understand why Hazel doesn’t believe me, because she’s too emotional to see the situation rationally. But I know you’re known for it. Please believe me and help me get Hazel back.”
She sighed. “I don’t have any evidence to believe you.”
“I wouldn’t have moved in with her if I wanted to have an affair,” I snapped. “You’ve seen me with Hazel and know how much I love her. I haven’t looked at another girl since Hazel came into my life. I understand that you don’t know me very well, but cheating isn’t in my nature at all. I talked to Sean earlier and he seemed to be softening toward me. I was hoping if I could convince you, you could convince Sean, and then maybe the rest of the group. Together, we could talk to Hazel.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why not just tell your ex-girlfriend to admit what she did?”
“She won’t,” I said immediately. “She didn’t plan this sabotage just to confess her crimes. I’m not bothering with that. And getting me to talk to her is exactly what she wants. I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
Scarlet held my gaze for a long time. “Even if I did believe you, and we managed to convince everyone else, even Cortland, there’s no guarantee Hazel will listen to us, not without proof.”
“We have to try. I’m not giving up on her. I’ve worked my ass off to keep this relationship together because I love her so damn much. And I’m not letting it fall apart based on a crime I didn’t commit. I’m not letting her go. Sean was tricked by his ex, and I’m going through the same thing. Please help me. You’re the alpha of this group.”
“Alpha?” she asked with a laugh.
“Yes, you’re the leader. You control everyone and everything. They are loyal to you. Shit, you got four people to move to the other side of the country just because you asked them to. If anyone can persuade Hazel, it’s you.”
She stared at the table for a long moment. “Even if I did have that kind of power, I couldn’t use it on Hazel until I knew without any doubt you were telling the truth.”
I sighed in frustration. “I don’t know how to prove it to you.”
“What if I talk to your ex-girlfriend?”
“And say what?” I scoffed. “Interrogate her until she tells the truth?”
