A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

She averts her eyes for a few seconds. “Because I see him. I know him. I’ve known him for a long time. And he’s never, ever fallen in love.” She cocks her head. “Except with you.”

My whole body tingles. It’s as though I’m suspended in a timeless void where the word love repeats over and over until my mind goes numb.

“I know you’re mad at him,” she says. “For taking you here again.”

“It was my own choice,” I reply.

“I know,” she says, gazing at me with intent. “But you two seem to be at odds much of the time …”

I frown. Is she alluding to the fight we had in the bathtub?

“You must hear everything that goes on in this house,” I say.

She blushes a little. “Well … yes, the walls are quite thin.” She chuckles, but it dies off quickly. “I don’t mean to intrude because it’s not my business what you guys do or discuss. But I want you to know you’re not alone.” She smiles, but it’s not a smile of happiness … it’s a smile marred by pain. “I know how he can be.”

I nod as I’m sure she knows him better than I do. She’s been his assistant far longer than I’ve been his wife.

She parts her lips. “If you can ever find it in your heart to forgive him, I beg you …” She grabs my hand and squeezes. “He doesn’t want to see you suffer, but it’s in his nature to always want to win.”

I take it all in without saying a word. I don’t want to ruin this moment even though it’s shrouded by Easton’s unrelenting gaze. Though he isn’t here, he always finds a way to be in the spotlight even if it’s through his assistant.

He should’ve married her instead of me.

They would’ve made the perfect couple.

“Well, anyway, eat your stew before it gets cold.” She giggles and lets go of my hand to return to the kitchen, whistling a tune.

Always smiling like the kind, self-sacrificing girl she is.

As if the world didn’t deal her the worst hand of them all.

I feel guilty for even sitting here, knowing I’m the one he chose … when she wishes it was her instead. But nothing either of us does or says will ever change his choice, his needs, or his heart. And he’s dead set on winning me over.

Chapter 18

Easton

A few hours later

When I’m done filling out paperwork for the business and making some calls, I sit down on my living room couch and take a minute for myself. I haven’t thought about what I’m going to do with Charlotte yet, and maybe I’ve been working so hard to keep my mind off it. I used to enjoy making her suffer, but now all it does is make me want to punch myself. God, how a woman can change a man.

I sigh out loud and rub my forehead.

Suddenly, my phone rings, and I pick it up.

“Hello.”

“Davis here. I received your message … and its contents.”

A smirk forms on my lips. I shouldn’t be so damn satisfied because I hurt my princess, but his shrill, shaky voice makes me so goddamn happy. “I’m glad you received them.”

“I’m tired of your games, Van Buren,” he growls. “You didn’t need to send those.”

“I didn’t need to, but I did anyway,” I reply.

It’s too late to take them back anyway, so I might as well enjoy the show.

“How long will you keep this up? How much more do you need to punish me for God knows what reason?” he snaps.

I clench the phone tight. “As long as it takes to get the message across.”

“Oh, I got the message … loud and clear.”

“Good,” I retort. “Then you know I won’t stop until you’re miserable.”

“I already am!” he yells, and the sheer admission is like an orgasm to my soul. “My business hangs by a thread because of what you did, and you continue to humiliate me with my daughter. What else do you want from me?”

A vicious smirk spreads on my lips. “Everything.”

“I have nothing more to give,” he says with a stoic voice. “Why can’t you leave me alone? You have Charlotte; you got what you wanted.”

“Yes, I do, but not thanks to you,” I hiss. “I almost lost her permanently because of you threatening that little girl!”

“If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have found out her address,” he spits back.

“Fuck you. Why are you even calling?” I growl even as I’m tempted to hang up on him.

“Because I need to know if this will ever end. You have Charlotte, but she’ll never like you.”

“What did you just say?” The phone practically cracks from my grip.

“You know she only plays pretend.” He snorts. “She’s a captive, and you know it.”

“You don’t know anything about her,” I quip.

“I’m her father. I know her better than any man ever will. That girl can’t be contained. She will always run away from any man who attempts to tame her.”