Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
He blocked the way, arms stiff at his sides.
“I’m not done,” he said quickly.
“I came to apologize. I shouldn’t have come at Presco like that. He pushed my buttons and I just… snapped. It got out of hand. I didn’t mean to wreck your place. That was on me.”
“You were howling for justice half a minute ago. Sounded like you were ready to level the whole building.”
“That was the rage talking,” he said.
“You’ve seen me lose it before. I thought you’d understand. He’s been lying to everyone. The bastard’s fooled you too-“
“Stop calling him that,” I cut in.
“Every time you spit out “that bastard”, you sound like a bigger prick.”
Out of the two of them, Presco had been the one actually showing up, getting work done, not shattering furniture and bleeding on the floor.
Between a sulky man-child and a quiet employee (though one that was proving difficult to get rid of), I knew which one gave me fewer migraines.
“You stormed in here spoiling for a fight, and now it’s Presco’s fault you lost your temper? It just proves how unstable you are. Go back to your hospital bed and stay there.”.
Daniel’s eyes, already slightly swollen, widened to saucer like proportions.
“You’re defending him?”
“I’m not defending anyone. I’m telling you this isn’t your turf. Get out.”
His face dropped.
He tried to look wounded.
“I came to apologize.”
“Don’t bother. Just pay for what you broke.”
“I will.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a chequebook.
“I lost it earlier. I’ll cover everything.”
I didn’t take the cheque he offered.
“You’ll pay once the cops finish their report. Through proper channels. Not now.”
I didn’t want it to look like we’d reached a private settlement.
I didn’t want it to look like Daniel and I had a “private” anything.
His hand hung in the air for a second before he lowered it.
I waited for him to leave.
He didn’t get the hint.
“Eleanor, it’s been hell. Catherine won’t sign the papers. Keeps dragging things out. My father blindsided us with some bastard son, wants to make him a Granger, put him in the boardroom like I’m already gone. My mum had a cardiac episode and ended up hospitalized. I wasn’t planning to start anything with Prescott, I was-
“How’s Aunt Louisa?” I interrupted his unsolicited soul-baring.
Daniel looked up fast, eyes glinting with hope.
“You still care about me, don’t you?”
“I care about Aunt Louisa. You’ve got nothing to do with it.”
“Right.” His shoulders drooped once more.
“She’s all right. It wasn’t serious. Her health’s always shaky. This time it was the stress.”
I said nothing, busy weighing up whether I should call the police, and wondering if Priya had already done it.
Daniel rubbed his eyes with the heel of one hand. Then: “Eleanor… I made a mistake. I’ve filed for divorce. Once it’s final… would you ever-
“Are you deranged?” I couldn’t suppress my gag reflex. I’m married. Happily. To a man who doesn’t cheat and doesn’t cry like a baby.” I thrust my hand with the ring right under his eyes.
“You and Catherine deserve each other. You two should never divorce. Keep your mess in-house.”
He grabbed my hand.
Iyanked it back so hard my shoulder twinged.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Sebastian doesn’t love you! I saw him, from a post, all over some actress outside a hotel. You must have seen it too. You think that guy’s loyal? You think he’s going to stick around?”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not-“
“You are. You read it in some gossip rag and decided it was true because it made you feel better about your own pathetic shit.”
His mouth opened again.
“You walking out, or am I calling the cops?”
“His face twisted.
“You really feel nothing for me?”
He sounded on the verge of tears.
His eyes, on top of being swollen, were also red-rimmed He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, or had a shower.
“Priya, call the police,” I shouted.
Daniel suddenly doubled over, clutching his stomach.
“Don’t.”
He sank into a squat, sweat breaking out across his forehead.
A thick vein bulged near his temple.
His mouth hung slack.
Priya and I exchanged a look.
“I’ve got stomach cramps,” Daniel croaked.
“Got into it with Prescott earlier. It flared up again.”
He slid closer and reached toward my ankle.
“It fucking Burts.”
I stepped around him before he got close.
My heel clipped the edge of his hand.
“Not my problem if you start convulsing. You have a phone. Call an ambulance.”
“No, no hospital. I just need somewhere to lie down… Could you grab something from the pharmacy…?”
“No.”
I shot Priya a look and telegraphed a message: [Drag him out. Gently.]
She winced. [Seriously?]
[Seriously.]
I would have done it myself, except I didn’t want to touch Daniel.
Priya shuffled over, crouched, and got an arm under him He groaned weakly.
She pulled like she was dragging a corpse.
It was a mess of limbs and wheezing, but she got him to the door.
He straightened up halfway there, suddenly stable enough to walk.
He glanced back at me.
“Knew you still cared.”
“I care about not having a corpse in my studio. Go die on the pavement. At least that’s public property.”
Priya shoved him onto the curb and hurried back in.
“I don’t think he was faking,” she muttered.
“He looked like he was actually in pain. What now?”
“Call an ambulance. Just in case.”
“On it.”
The sirens came quickly, and the medics loaded him in.
Priya and I cleared up the rest of the mess.
Within fifteen minutes, the place looked normal again not ready for business yet, but at least it no longer looked like a tornado had come through.
I stretched out my arms, shoulders stiff, back aching.
“wo smash-ups in less than a week. Maybe it’s time to shut this place down.”