Chapter 28
Leah
“You’re late,” Lana says the minute she looks up from her laptop and sees me and Caleb coming in through the door. She is sitting cross–legged on a couch with her assistant while eyeing Caleb like he is her next meal.
Shit, does she still have feelings for him!
Suddenly, I don’t feel like giving Lana the coffee I picked for her. Caleb and I bought coffee for everyone but being nice to the ex–wife who is checking out the guy I’m currently sleeping with sucks. I know Caleb and I aren’t a public thing or even an official couple, but it still feels weird seeing his beautiful ex–wife appreciate his looks.
“Late?” Caleb glances up at the clock on the wall before smirking down at his ex–wife as he removes his jacket. “I believe we are five minutes Besides, you should be grateful that Leah and 1 stopped by a cafe to get you and your assistant coffee”
early.
Caleb kooks at me, and I smile before handing Lana her coffee. She takes it without looking at me, undoubtedly not respecting me enough to say thanks. Anna isn’t any better. She raises an eyebrow at me from her seat, clearly expecting me to serve her.
It passes me off. We are both assistants, yet she treats me as if my position is lower.
dulares down at her.
“I like those panis on you,
ana comments before reaching out and gripping Caleb’s ass. He yelps in surprise and glares
“Really? Do I have to fire you for sexual assaut? Because I fucking will if you keep treating me like I’m still your husband. Newsflash: I’m not
Lana, who usually looks confident, falters. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”
Caleb’s eyes narrow. “What kind of question is that?”
thing you in the pau
“Oh my god, you have,” Lana’s face pales. “You never commented on me touching you in
“That’s because I knew it would lead nowhere. You would still remain a sleazy old lady no matter what
“A–ha!” Lana exclaims. That means you’ve met someone since you suddenly card!”
Every single muscle in Caleb’s body turns tense. For a moment, it looks like he might murder his ex–wife, but then he takes a deep breath to calm himself down.
“Anna, Leah, why don’t you two have an early breakfast! Lana and I have some matters to discuss
I’m about to protest, but Anna leaves her seat on the couch and takes my
my hand to pull me out of the room. Once we are alone in the empty corridor, she turns to me with a sly grin on her mean–girl lips
“Well, well Looks like someone’s been getting cozy with the boss,” she teases.
feel my face I my
Blush “What? No, it’s not like that. We are just.. friends”
Anna rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. Caleb might see you as a friend, but I know that you’re in love with him. I mean, we both know your erotic story is a fantasy about him, isn’t it? The female lead is you and the male lead is him.”
She
isn’t
wrong. My characters have definitely taken inspiration from my relationship with Caleb. Though, I’m not concerned about that. Right now, I’m more pissed off than anything since I know Anna must be that shitty reader of mine called “Anna Wolf
“I knew it was your” i hiss, jabbing a finger at her. “How dare you leave those horrible personal amack comments under my stories? What is your problem?”
Arma just smirks, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me. “Oh honey. I was just being honest. You’re stupid, and your readers need to hear it. Also, your little crush on Calebs is pathetic. He is way out of your leagur”
Her condescending tone makes my blood boil. I take a step closer, getting right in her Esee. She is taller than me and probably able to beat me to a pulp if she wants to. Yet I don’t care. I’m too mad at her
“You don’t know anything about my relationship with Caleb. And my writing is none of your damn business. I don’t need your nasty commentary.”
“Relationship?” Anna laughs cruelly, her eyes glanting with malice. “You really think you have a relationship with Caleb? How naive can you be You’re nothing more than a summer fling, a plaything for him to amuse himself with until he gets bored and moves on
1/2
Jackalye Prote
Chapter 28
Her words cut deep voicing the very fears I’ve been trying to ignore. I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. “You’re wrong. What Caleb and I have is real. It means something”
“Oh please, spare me the romantic delusions,” Anna scoffs. “Caleb could have anyone he wanted. You’re
re just a temporary distraction, a pretty linke thing to pass the time with. But once this trip is over. Caleb will forget all about you and go back to his real life. A life that doesn’t include some starry–eyed assistant who fancies herself in love.”
“You don’t know-
“But you know what?” Anna interrupts. This little thing of yours will serve a purpose once we are back in the States. I’m going to tell my whole college about the nerd who daydreams about the billionaire whose the same age as her own dad. And since you probably can’t afford to study in another city, Thet you’re going to attend the same college after the summer is over.
Anna’s threat hangs in the air, her cruel words stabbing into my heart like shards of ice. 1 stand there frozen, my mind reeling, until I finally gain the courage to speak.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I manage to choke out” Caleb would never let you spread rumors
like that.
Anna lets out a harsh laugh. “Oh, sweetie, you really think Caleb is going to stick up for you once all this is over? He will be too busy moving on to his next conquest to care about the reputation of some summer fling”
I open my mouth to defend what Caleb and I have, but the words die in my throat. Because deep down, a small part of me wonders if maybe Anna is right. Maybe I am just fooling myself seeing meaning and depth where there is none. Perhaps Caleb and Lare just a daydream that was never meant to be anything else other than that.
But even if that may be the truth. I hold my head high. I refuse to cry and muster. “You have fun eating in the cafeteria alone,” before walking off since I need some time alone to think