A loud beeping woke Walker, he had fallen asleep in his chair and his neck ached, he felt like he had aged ten years in the last seven days. Scratching his hands over his stubbled face and rubbing his eyes, for fuck’s sake he still had his tie on. Realizing it might be information about Waverly, he grabbed his phone. It was a message from Kate, he wasn’t even aware that Kate had his cell number but he was glad to get a text from anyone in the know about Waverly’s condition.
“Dumbfuck Asshole, Waverly is awake, asked to see you. You get five minutes with her. Hurt her I will cut your balls off. NOT KIDDING. Don’t tell Benn or you will be DEAD. Hospital cafeteria @ 9:00.”
For the first time in nine days Walker breathed deeply, he spun his chair around and tapped his computer to life. Yep, it was there, Walker Rike, vilified in the society news for all to see. Fan-fucking-tastic, The Times had the un-engagement Announcement front and center, his mother would be horrified. One colossal fuck up taken care of.
In the elevator, he prepped himself with the realization that this may not go the way he wanted. Waverly still had no idea that he had only gotten himself engaged to Cece to hurt her, the only person he had confessed his heinous deeds to was Anne. For all of her bluster and ball busting he knew that Anne had his back, she could be held at Gitmo and she wouldn’t confess.
At home in her apartment now, Waverly was being guarded by her two rapid watchdogs - Kate and Benn. Kate opened the door before he even had a chance to knock. Glaring at him for a few seconds, she finally swung the door open, stepping back as if he were patient zero of a highly contagious disease.
“Not kidding Dumbfuck. Do not hurt her. I tried to talk her out of this, but you know her, she’ll do things her way. I gave her a knife to protect herself, just so you know.”
Simply nodding he decided it would be best to let the poor girl think that she had intimidated him into his best behavior.
“She’s on the sofa. I’ll be waiting right outside the door.”
More glaring and then Kate stomped to the door and shut it softly behind her.
Walker moved into her great room, the scent of everything Waverly was swirling around him, her coconut flowery perfume, the vanilla candles she alway had lit. Everything Waverly surrounded him.
Waverly was awake, still pale but a bit of color back in her face. Her thick hair was pulled up into a messy lump on top of her head. She had a pair of pajamas on with a rope wrapped tightly around her, the pajamas were pretty, not the sexy kind she usually ran around in. He breathed a sigh of relief tapped lightly on the door frame so he wouldn’t startle her.
“Waverly?” He asked, stepping all of the way into her room.
“Yes, her voice soft, her answer cold and polite?”
Removing his jacket he draped it over the back of the chair then moved to stand in front of her, she was sitting almost straight up now and he thought that must be a good sign. He wanted her to meet his eyes, it had only been a number of days he realized since she looked at him, smiling, her clear gray eyes sparkling. He missed that, knew that he might not see that today, but he would fight to see it again.
“You look better, are you feeling better?”
She finally looked at him, just nodded her head.
“Congratulations on your engagement Walker. Is it on or off? I’ve heard conflicting stories and I do know how quickly you can change your mind.”
It was softly spoken, her voice flat, emotionless. The Waverly he knew fought hard when she wanted something. Not a good sign for him
“I deserve that.” He thought the admission might get her to look up and meet his eyes.
“I am very sorry that I hurt you.”
“You sorry? Why? You got what you wanted, fucked me over again. I don’t understand your sick game, but I sure that your wife will since you both come from the same world.”
There was a slight flicker of anger in her eyes, at least he saw a bit of the old Waverly.
“I’m not engaged anymore, Waverly. It’s over. There was never anything between her and I. You know that.”
That completely stopped her, her cheeks colored. God, she was beautiful.
“Super. I’ll cancel the wedding present,” she snapped at him.
The hostility was a good sign. Walker took a deep breath, knowing he was getting to her even if it was just slightly. He reached out and placed his hand on her arm, she shook it off with a wince at the pain the movement caused.
“Look at me Waverly, please. I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions about you and Benn. I was too angry to just call and ask you about what I saw. I’m sorry I got engaged just to hurt you. I was so upset with you. I thought you were sleeping with Benn, that you were just playing a game to get back at me. I saw him in your apartment in his fucking boxers, with condoms in his hand, I heard a voice and thought it was yours...and I just got so angry. So stupid. Fuck, I know I was wrong.”
“Got it. I asked Kate to get you here because I wanted closure, an end, a finish, to our re...anything between us. I know how busy you are, thanks for taking the time to meet with me.”
She was dismissing him and doing it oh so politely. This was not his Waverly, his Waverly was a thrower, a-five-minute-hot-tempered-then-totally-over-it woman. What had he done to his Waverly? He glared at her.
“Closure?”
He said it coldly, as if she were asking an irrational question, not stating a concrete fact.
“Wait, did you actually think there was anything left between us after this!? You hurt me, intentionally, as badly as you could possibly hurt me. I want you to leave, and don’t show up in my life again, not in five days or five months or five years!?”
It was too much for her, she wilted before his eyes, suddenly sobbing and shrieking at him. He rocked back on his heels as if she had sucker punched him.
Those tears were because of him, the pain and hurt was easy to see through the anger. He wanted to reach out to her - to hold her, make it all better but she didn’t want that. He had to make this right somehow.
“Waverly, tell me what I can do to fix what I’ve done, to fix you, to make it better,” he replied, balling his hands into fists to stop himself from touching her.
Looking up at him with a weak smile she had no words for him only shook her head slowly. Waverly took a deep shuddering breath and wiped a tissue under both eyes, her crying slowing down to little hiccupy breathing.
“Walker, you want to know why I call you a dumbfuck asshole?”
Waiting she finally looked up at him. Walker just stood there, hands shoved into his pockets to stop himself from grabbing her and shoving his tongue in her mouth to force her to remember. No, he was pretty certain that he didn’t want to know.
“You have everything in the world that you could ever want, but the only time I’ve ever seen you happy is when we were together...You were happy with me. I don’t even think that you get that. I had real feelings for you and you threw that away - with both hands.
He got it. Picking up his jacket he strode to the door, pausing as he hit the doorway he called out to her, “Goodbye Hippie Girl ”
She threw the tissue box at the door.
“Look at me, Waverly.”
He waited.
“You taught me, something Waverly? That crazy serendipity Zen karma bullshit you love so much? I didn’t come looking for you, not the first time and not when I walked into your office after five years. That’s your bullshit serendipity. That’s Zen. Someone, something keeps putting you in front of me and me in front of you. Do you know why, Hippie Girl? Because you’re mine. And you know I’m right, I know you don’t want to admit it, but it’s the fucking truth. I was completely fucking happy on my own - without you. Then you walked in with your crazy skirt, your tan skin - I put one hand on you and you were mine. So tell me to fuck off if you want to, I’ll wait, not long but I’ll wait. Then I’m coming after you.”
It was the most talking she had ever heard him do. He was not a frivolous man when he sp
oke it was with conviction and significance. He was not a man who gave up. It alarmed her. She couldn’t give him another chance, he would destroy her completely, she would shatter
CHAPTER FIVE
Waverly ran away, she knew that she was running away, but stubbornly referred to it as a sabbatical. It wasn’t the most opportune time to be away from the business, but Benn agreed, knowing that she needed some time to herself. Steve had come to see her in the hospital and had offered her his condo on the beach in South Carolina, promising her that it would be very secluded since it was Thanksgiving.
Steve was a man of his word, the cabin was so secluded that she had only seen a couple of people when they were running past her as she sat on the beach trying to read. Most days she really had the beach to herself. It was perfect. Her entertainment consisted of constant crying, wallowing in self-pity, gorging herself on Milano cookies and watching bad reality TV. Even she got sick of herself. Telling herself he wasn’t worth should have helped but part of her still believed that he might have been the best thing that had ever happened to her. And honestly, she just flat out missed him – to her he was just a really cool guy. Always friendly and outgoing herself, quiet, introverted people intrigued her. She itched to know what made them tick, she liked the challenge of breaking through to them, getting them to like her. Walker was a god of aloofness, and she liked that about him. He was very smart and could and did talk with her about almost any subject she brought up. Funny in a subtle, sarcastic way and a man always totally in control. As she had asked, he had completely left her alone it surprised and hurt her a little to know that he had honored her request. Fair or not she felt he could have at least tried.
“You still there?”
“Yep.”
Waverly snapped her attention back to the voice on the phone, it was now weekly check in call time with the happy couple, Benn, and Kate.
“Way, it’s time. Come home, please,” he pleaded. Frowning as she inspected her nails, she really needed a Mani-Pedi, her fingernails were a wreck and looking down at her feet propped up on the cabin railing - toes too.
“Benn, I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“Honey, do think you’re ever going to be ready?”
Kate gently chimed in.
“There are things you need to know, Way...about him.”
Waverly rolled her eyes. Benn was being such a bro. He had excused Walker, of course, he would, some latent bro code that must be hard wired into their DNA upon birth had risen up in him. Probably all the fucking he and Kate were doing. She felt a little jealous then immediately felt guilty for it, she wanted the best for them, even if she couldn’t have it, they both deserved it.
“You still thinking about him twenty-four seven?” Kate asked hesitantly.
“I told you two the last time, I don’t think about him. At. All.”
Jesus this was getting old. Maybe she would go back just to prove to them that she could stand in the same room with the guy and not feel one damn thing.
“Damn Way, that’s great, because I need you back for one week to handle a photo shoot. I know I said to take as long as you need but I’m really desperate for you on this one. Jenny has tried but the client’s just not happy, they want you. Sorry to play the business card. You can scamper right back to your hiding, uh, sabbatical as soon as it’s over.”
Benn waited patiently for her answer, that was the bad thing about working with someone who was more or less family. Benn knew how to work her to his advantage, there was no way she could say no, half of the business was hers after all.
Moaning dramatically, taking her feet down from the railing and shoving herself out of her front porch rocker.“
“Okayaaaayyyyy Bean. Jeez, what slave driver you are. Can’t a girl go off to pout for a week without having a bucket of guilt thrown at her.”
Having Benn and Kate laugh with her made her feel better than she had in quite a while. It probably would help her get over the dumbfuck asshole faster if she returned to her beloved office and buried herself in work.
“Okay lovebirds, I’ll be back on Monday then. Kate, Mani-Pedi’s together?”
Kate interrupted, squealing into her ear. Waverly grinned, holding her phone away from her ear, a genuine smile on her face for the first time in a while.
“Kate, Benn, I love you guys, thanks for giving me this time. I needed it, but I’m all good now and I’ll see you Monday.”
Pulling up the airline App, Waverly scheduled a flight to take her home. I have to do it, ready or not. The client needs me, my business needs me and Benn needs me, and I won’t let him down.
Monday was a fast and furious day for her, which helped heal her heartache . It seemed like everyone in the city had dropped by to welcome her back. All of her bruises were gone, her arm was totally healed, and it was good to be back - in certain ways. The Dumbfuck asshole - well, she just wasn’t going to think about him anymore, denial was a wonderful thing.
She and Benn had a two-hour meeting to get her caught up, Kate had stayed in her office for a while chatting even though they had spent hours together just the day before. It felt good being back and working again, but she still felt broken. Benn had explained cautiously that the upcoming photo shoot was for Walker’s company. Witnessing the shock on her face, he apologized profusely explaining apologetically that there was no way around it.
During her sabbatical, the Dumbfuck’s name hadn’t been mentioned, although Kate had confided that Walker had shown up demanding a meeting with Benn. After some shouting, some drinking, and even cigars, both men had come out looking like they had been in a bar fight. Benn’s black eye had been a huge turn on for Kate prompting Waverly to quickly shove her hand over Kate’s mouth and remind her again that any sex talk about Benn was off the table. Waverly drummed her fingernails on the table apprehensively, the photo shoot was set for the upcoming week, was that enough time to heal heart? She doubted it.
Walker was doing his damnedest to stay busy and not think about Waverly and for the most part, he was successful. Unless he walked past a blonde, or saw someone laughing, or passed a coffee house. Seated at a downtown cigar bar nursing Glenfiddich Single Malt while waiting for Steve he brooded. Yes, he knew where Waverly had been for the last three weeks, he had reached for his phone at least five fucking times to have the company jet fired up to take him directly to her. Benn’s caution that she needed time, time away from him was the only thing that stopped him was. Time to get over him. Fuck that. Steve listened patiently as Walker explained the entire situation, shaking his and muttering what a dumb ass Walker had been. Recounting the Cece engagement had been the worst, particularly when Steve smacked him on the back of the head, grumbling, “When you fuck up, you fuck up big, doncha?” Steve was without a doubt the only person he would ever allow to get away with anything like that, after a brief period of silent cigar puffing and another drink of their scotch Steve set about dispensing his words of wisdom.
“Hang in there Big Man. You tried talkin” to her yet?”
He asked clapping him warmly on the shoulder with his beefy paws. Walker nodded.
“At her apartment, right after she got out of the hospital. Not much I can do, Steve. She kicked me out, doesn’t want anything to do with me, told me to fuck off,” he replied shrugging stoically and taking another draw on the cigar.
“That’s it?”
“Well, she also screamed like hell and cried.”
“So you’re going to let that little slip of a girl run the show?”
Walker snorted.
“The fuck, Steve? I can’t kidnap her and force her to forgive me,” Walker stated, glaring down at the glass in his hand, thinking it was unfortunate that those exact actions came with jail time otherwise he would have tried it.
“Son, a man’s gotta do whatever it takes to hold onto a woman like that. Fight for her, wear her down,” Steve advised.
“Steve, I’m not sure the caveman approach would work with Waverly,” Walk
er chuckled wryly.
“It’s exactly what would work with her? The fiancée´ is gone right?”
Blowing a smoke ring up into the air and watching it dissipate, Walker nodded.
“Yes, dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever done.”
Walker paused taking a drink of his bourbon, then continued, “WestMat’s doing a big photo shoot for us this Friday. It’s out at my farm. I was thinking I might drop by.”
“You gotta have a damn good plan boy,” Steve chuckled puffing at his Montecristo.
“I’m working on it Steve, I’m working on it.”
“I’ll warn you now, hurt her again, and I will have your head.”
“Noted.” Was all Walker replied.
CHAPTER SIX
Waverly was in her glory running the photo shoot, but she had been stunned that Benn hadn’t confessed until that morning that the photo shoot was taking place at Walkers farm. Of course, it made sense to use that location, it was close and perfect for the commercial’s storyline. She couldn’t complain too much since it had all been set up while she was on her sabbatical and she couldn’t throw up her hands and run again, even though that was exactly what she wanted to do. To deliver Benn had trapped her in his ugly PT Cruiser for the drive out to deliver the bad news, knowing it prevented any escape she had already hated the damn car and this just exacerbated it
Going over the notes and schedule making sure that she was fully prepared kept her mind focused, with the added benefit of ignoring backstabbing Benn. Tapping her foot up and down nervously, Benn honored her silence, with the exception of occasionally reaching out a hand to still her constant leg bouncing.
Other than the videographers, and actors she and Benn and were the only people staying at the farm, any others were commuting back and forth. Waverly had already determined that staying in the main house was more than she could handle emotionally, even with Benn’s assurance that Walker would not be there for any shooting.
The Dumbf*ck - Part Two of The DumbFuck Series: A Billionaire Bad Boy Humorous New Adult Romance (The DumbF*ck Part Two Book 2) Page 2