Chapter 31
Chapter 31:
“He can’t do that,” Jocelyn whispered. “That’s illegal p>
“It’s business, darling,” Bella cooed. “He wants you to know that you might have a rich husband, but you’ll never have a career. Not in this city p>
“He’s insane p>
“He’s hurt,” Bella said. “He thinks you’re throwing a tantrum. He’s waiting for you to come back and apologize. He says if you admit you were wrong, he’ll lift the ban p>
Jocelyn hung up. She threw the phone onto the sofa.
Diѕ𝘤𝗼vе𝗋 𝗵𝗂ddеn 𝗀𝘦m𝘀 on.с𝗼𝘮
Apologize? For what? For not letting him cheat on her?
She walked to the window and looked out at the skyline. Kieran thought he could starve her out. He thought she was still the girl who needed his paycheck to survive.
She looked down at the massive diamond on her finger.
Kieran had no idea who he was fighting anymore.
The coffee shop in SoHo was noisy, filled with the clatter of ceramic and the hum of espresso machines. Jocelyn sat in the back corner, watching the door.
Bella Douglas walked in ten minutes late, wearing oversized sunglasses and a coat that cost more than most people’s annual rent. She slid into the seat opposite Jocelyn, glancing around as if she expected paparazzi.
“I shouldn’t be here,” Bella said, pulling her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose. “If Kieran knew I was talking to you, he’d cut my allowance p>
“Why did you agree to meet?” Jocelyn asked, cutting straight to the point.
“Because he’s scary right now,” Bella whispered, leaning in. “He’s not sleeping. He’s drinking at the office. He fired his VP of sales yesterday for wearing a perfume that smelled like yours p>
Jocelyn stirred her black coffee. “He hates losing control p>
“It’s more than that,” Bella said. “He’s obsessed. He thinks you’ve been corrupted. By your new husband p>
Jocelyn didn’t correct her. Not yet.
“He thinks I’m a damsel in distress p>
“He thinks you’re a fallen angel,” Bella said, rolling her eyes. “He has a savior complex. But Aspen is making it worse p>
“What is she doing p>
“She’s feeding the fire,” Bella said. “She’s telling him things — lies — to make him hate you. But it’s backfiring. It’s just making him crazier p>
Jocelyn looked out the window. “Let him be crazy. I don’t care p>
“You should,” Bella said. “A crazy Kieran is a dangerous Kieran. Watch your back, Jos p>
Across town, in the glass-walled offices of Douglas Tech, the air conditioning was set to arctic.
Kieran sat behind his desk, staring at his phone. No calls. No texts. Three days since the blacklist went into effect. She should be desperate by now. She should be calling.
The door opened. Aspen walked in carrying a bento box.
“Lunch, baby?” she asked, her voice soft and cloying.
“Not hungry,” Kieran muttered, not looking up.
Aspen’s smile faltered. She hated this. She hated that even with Jocelyn gone, she was the only thing Kieran thought about. She had to end this. She had to make Jocelyn so repulsive to him that he would never want her back.