I catch up to Victoria just as she is about to climb into the limo.
“Please, just stay. Let’s talk. Tell me how I can make this better.”
“You can’t.”
“I’ll do anything.”
She shakes her head. “No, you won’t. You’re selfish and cruel and savage. You won’t do anything for me if it means having to give something up for yourself.”
I don’t have words. I can’t come up with anything to say that will make her stay. Nothing that will make this any better. I can’t fix this. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to fix this from the look on Victoria’s face. So, I let her go. I watch her climb into the limo and close the door. I watch the driver drive her away while I stand in the driveway, naked.
“You look like death,” Lily says to me when I walk into her office a week after Victoria ran out on me.
“I’ve been sick for a week. What do you expect me to look like?”
“Happy, cheerful, sexy, ready to work.”
I groan. “I don’t think I can be any of those things ever again.”
She laughs. “Oh, stop being so dramatic, Carter. You have a cold. You’ll survive.”
“No, I won’t.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’ll have to have my makeup team work on you, too, to make sure you look good for our appearance tonight.”
I wince from just thinking about it. “Lily, you know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Shh. You’re sick,” Lily says, sitting next to me at the table, stroking my hair. “You don’t need to worry about any of the plans. Victoria got everything covered before she had to leave.”
“What do you mean, she left? She quit?” I ask, annoyed that she isn’t even going to show up to work. I thought this was my best chance at seeing her since my best friend had decided to take sides after all—choosing Victoria’s, not mine. So, I haven’t been able to get into his apartment all week.
“She said she had family things that she had to deal with and, unfortunately, couldn’t continue. Don’t worry; she came up with an excellent plan for going forward, and I paid her well for her idea.”
I frown. I don’t like this at all.
I sit up, straighter, swiping Lily’s hand off my head. “What exactly is her plan?”
Lily grins. “I’m not going to tell you.”
My face turns bright red. “Why not? Shouldn’t I know the plan that I’m supposed to execute with you?”
“No, all you and Victoria did was fight. If I tell you her plan, then you will try to change it, and it’s perfect as it is.”
I narrow my eyes as I stare into Lily’s eyes, trying to figure out what the plan is, but I see no hint in her eyes other than seeing that she is happy.
“Don’t worry; I’ll pay you well, too,” she says, petting me again.
I grab her wrist, needing her to stop touching me.
She reluctantly pulls it away, getting the hint. I stand up and walk toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Lily asks.
“To get ready for tonight. Apparently, I’m only a hot body that needs to look good for our TV appearance tonight.”
She smiles. “Try to sleep. It will help with the circles under your eyes.”
I nod, giving her a fake smile before I leave.