Argument

Chapter Eight

Eleanor's POV

I knew Stacy well enough to know exactly what she was going to do the moment Julian walked to where I was.

She would find a way to tell him everything, twisting the situation until I looked like the unreasonable one while conveniently leaving out every part she had played in it. She had always been good at that.

My jaw tightened at the thought.

This was the woman who had made my life a living hell, the woman whose lies had helped destroy my marriage and whose actions had pushed me into a situation that eventually cost me my baby.

Whether she had intended for things to go that far or not, I could never look at her without remembering everything I had lost.

I couldn't stand there and give her another opportunity to get into my head.

The moment I spotted Julian approaching, I turned and walked straight toward him, slipping my arm through his before he could even ask what I was doing.

"Let's go, Julian. The owner must have been waiting for us already." I gave his arm a gentle tug, putting on a light, almost playful tone that didn't match the tension sitting heavily in my chest. "See you later, Stacy."

I lifted my hand in a small wave and didn't wait for a response.

Even as Julian led me away, I could feel Stacy's eyes burning into my back. When I glanced over my shoulder, the scorn written all over her face told me that she hadn't bought my act for even a second.

I didn't care. As long as I was able to take away Julian from her for as long as I can.

The moment Julian drove out of the building, the silence inside the car became almost suffocating. I kept my eyes on the passing buildings, pretending to be interested in anything outside the window while Julian drove with one hand resting on the steering wheel.

Eventually, he broke the silence.

"What was that?"

I looked at him innocently. "What was what?"

"You know what I'm talking about." He glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to the road. "You practically dragged me away from her. I knew some was up when you told me to go make a call."

"I was avoiding her. That's all."

His eyebrows pulled together. "How do you know Stacy?"

There was genuine curiosity in his voice now, and for a moment, I regretted ever saying anything to him.

"You don't have to worry about her."

"That wasn't what I asked."

I sighed and sank further into my seat. "Just leave it alone, Julian."

He studied me for a second before looking back at the road.

"Fine."

The single word should have relieved me, but it didn't. Something about the way he said it made it obvious he wasn't actually satisfied.

I reached for my phone and frowned when the screen showed the battery warning.

"Shit."

Julian glanced at me. "What?"

"My phone is about to die, and I still need to send those pictures we took at the office to myself." I held it up before looking at him. "Can I use your phone for a minute? I'll just send them to my number."

He reached toward the console and handed it to me without another question.

"Thanks."

I unlocked the phone and opened the gallery, quickly selecting the pictures. I was about to send them when a notification slid across the top of the screen.

Sender - You threatening me in front of her was quite low, don't you think?

My thumb stopped moving.

I stared at the message for a few seconds, feeling an uncomfortable curiosity settle in my stomach. I knew I shouldn't look.

This wasn't my phone, and whatever Julian had going on with whoever sent that message was none of my business.

But then the profile picture caught my attention, it looked like the secretary we had seen from earlier..

They knew each other?

Another message appeared whole I was still trying to wrap my head around what I had just seen.

- Who was the bitch who came with you earlier? What do you think you're doing by bringing her here, especially after what we had?

My lips parted slightly. I read it again, hoping I had somehow misunderstood.

Then I saw Julian's response, "What we had? It was just a fling, for goodness' sake. You should move on."

A quiet scoff escaped me.

Somehow, I shouldn't have been surprised. Julian had always been that kind of man, even back in high school. Girls came and went, and he never seemed bothered by the feelings he left behind.

Apparently, he hadn't changed much.

"What the hell are you checking on my phone?"

Julian's voice startled me.

Before I could explain myself, he reached over and took the phone from my hand. His eyes fell on the screen, and whatever he saw immediately made his expression darken.

He locked the phone and placed it back on the console.

"Why are you going through my chats, for goodness' sake?"

"I saw the message, and that was what made me click on it."

"You still had no right to open it."

I folded my arms, irritation replacing the guilt that had briefly settled in my chest.

"You threatened her even after sleeping with her?"

His jaw clenched.

"You really are something."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You could have handled it differently. Whatever happened between you two, she obviously wasn't expecting you to treat her like that."

"I don't mix business with pleasure."

His response was so calm that it somehow made me even more annoyed.

"Whatever happened between us is over."

I looked away, shaking my head. "You didn't have to make her feel worthless."

"I didn't."

"You basically told her that she meant nothing."

He gave a humourless laugh. "Because she didn't mean anything to me. Oh my God! Are you the moral police?"

The words settled between us.

I turned toward him slowly, watching the side of his face as he continued driving as though the conversation meant nothing.

"At least tell her my real identity," I said quietly. "I don't want her thinking there is something going on between us."

"I don't give a fuck what she thinks."

His tone remained cold, almost careless.

"Whatever level of intimacy we had was just for fun. If she caught feelings, that's her problem."

Something inside me went strangely still.

The traffic light changed, and Julian continued driving, completely unaware of the way his words had struck something deep inside me.

I turned toward the window.

The city outside blurred behind the glass as my eyes filled with tears I hadn't expected.

If she caught feelings, that's her problem. Why did that sound so familiar? It sounded like Adrian. It felt as if I was listening to Adrian talking to me and saying those harsh words within feeling any remorse.

It reminded me of who Adrian later become.

I swallowed hard and blinked, hoping the tears would disappear before they had embarrassed me but it didn't.

I had spent so much time convincing myself that Adrian no longer had any hold over me. I had walked away from him, signed the divorce papers, and promised myself that whatever happened between us belonged to the past.

So why was I crying now?

Why could a few careless words from another man make an old wound ache as though it had never healed?

I pressed my forehead against the cool window and quietly wiped the tear that slipped down my cheek.