Chase looked surprised, but he didn’t look guilty. “Quinn,” he quickly glanced over at Aud, “what are you doing here?”
I tore my eyes away from him and looked over at Olivia. “I didn’t realize you had accounts with SMA, Olivia.”
Her gaze darted over to Chase and then back to me. “I…I do…don’t. We weren’t…this isn’t a…” She seemed to finally get her shit under control. “We weren’t talking business.”
This wasn’t a business dinner.
Who would think one stuttered sentence could cause so much destruction?
Chase threw his hands up in a slowdown motion. “Hold on, Quinn. What Olivia means is-”
I finished for him. “What Olivia means is that this,” I swung my arm between the two of them, “isn’t a business dinner. Clearly.” I hated that I was feeling jealous. I hated that I was feeling insecure. But what I really hated was that I was feeling those things in connection with Olivia Candor. I disliked Olivia on a distinct singular level, and while Chase may not know how much I dislike her, he knew enough to know that I didn’t care for her.
And here he was having dinner with her.
I wanted to rant, rave and destroy, but I had more pride than that. I would not let Olivia know that I was falling apart. And I was not going to give her anything to take back to the office on Monday. Unbeknownst to her, she gifted me with more time to compose myself when she looked over at my sister. I stepped back letting Audrey come into view. “Oh, I’m sorry. This is my sister Audrey.” I turned to my sister. “This is my co-worker, Olivia, and our boss, Chase Alexander.”
Audrey spared them the briefest of looks and a tight smile before trying to come to my rescue. “Let’s go, Quinn.”
I nodded and turned back towards Chase and Olivia. “I guess that nasty business with Valerie was more than just better than you expected if you’re able to finish off the night with a nice dinner and drinks with Olivia.”
Chase stood at my words. “Q, this isn’t what it looks like. Olivia was just-”
The second Chase said ‘this isn’t what it looks like’, Olivia knew what this was and jumped in with both feet. “Chase, here, was just being my knight in shining armor.” She stared up at me, batting her eyelashes. “How lucky am I that I have a boss who cares enough to take a personal interest in me?”
This bitch.
There was no way she hadn’t heard about the scene in the elevator. She knew Chase was supposed to be my boyfriend.
“Very,” I agreed.
Chase grabbed my upper arm and focused his baby blues at me. “Quinn, just listen for a-”
The next thing I knew a little, light brown haired brunette with eyes like mine muscled her way in between me and Chase, forcing him to have to let go of my arm or cause a commotion. She threw the full blast of her fury at Chase. “My sister and I are leaving. It’s quite obvious that we are interrupting your evening with your…well, all of this is quite obvious and it’s cutting to our sisterly quality time.” Aud grabbed my other arm. “So, yeah…”
I smiled. Inappropriate under the conditions, I know, but I loved my sister and my broken heart swelled at her efforts to help me.
It made me feel stronger.
She made me feel stronger.
I looked up and Chase and then smirked down at Olivia. “Have a nice night you two.”
I took only one step before Chase grabbed my arm again; his eyes boring into mine. “We’ll talk about this later tonight.”
I yanked my arm out of his hold and my voice was so devoid of emotion, I didn’t even recognize it as mine. “Sure thing, Chase.”
I followed Audrey out of the restaurant proud of myself that I never looked back once.
Chase~
I should have followed Quinn out of the restaurant.
I should have forced my explanation on her.
The only reason I was still sitting here across from Olivia was because I knew I had fucked up and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t know how to proceed.
I was man enough to admit it.
I pulled out my wallet and threw some bills on the table. “I’m sorry, Olivia, but I have to go. Are you feeling better now? Does…is there someone you can call to come get you…or…??”
“You’re leaving?”
I nodded. “Yes, I have to go. I had plans after my meeting with Valerie Stratton and the only reason-”
Her face fell, but then she rallied back. “Maybe you could give me a ride home?”
I almost let out a snort. I wasn’t stupid. Better women than her have tried to trap me and I wasn’t ignorant of those games. “I’ll make sure the restaurant calls a ride for you, Olivia, but I can’t be the one who drives you home.”
She played ignorant. “I don’t understand.”
I leaned in. “It’s simple, really. I would lose my mind if Quinn got in a car with a man-any man-so he could drive her home. I don’t care the reason. The only man who will be walking her to her door, from here on out, is me. That being said, I’d never drive a random woman home at night giving Quinn any reason to doubt me and how much I love her.” Olivia’s eyes grew at the mention of my love for Quinn. “I’ll do many things in this life to piss that woman off, but being with another woman will never be one of them.” I stood up and grabbed for my suit jacket. “I hope everything works out for you and I’m sorry for your evening, but I have to go.
I walked out of the restaurant and dialed Quinn as I waited for the valet to bring around my car. I knew this was bad. My entire body was riddled with the feeling of dread. That feeling turned to panic when I pulled up my phone and saw the text from Quinn. She had sent it minutes before she walked over to the table. It read ‘how’s dinner going’ implying that I was still having dinner with Valerie and I didn’t correct her.
It looked like I was lying to her.
She wasn’t answering her phone, so I sent off another text.
Answer ur phone, Q
I waited and waited, but nothing was coming back. Without so much as a glance at the valet, I grabbed my keys as he held them out to me. I jumped into my car and headed over to Quinn’s.
I broke whatever traffic laws got in my way.
I kept dialing her the entire way, and each call led to her voicemail until the calls didn’t even ring anymore, and then went straight to voicemail.
Fuck!
Answer ur goddamn phone, Q!
With a prayer and The Good Lord on my side, I finally made it to her apartment without killing myself or anyone else. I took the steps two at a time and started pounding on her door the minute I was close enough. “Quinn!”
I waited for what seemed like an eternity-but probably was only ten seconds-for her to answer her door. When she didn’t answer I knocked again…
And again…
And again…
And again…
“Quinn, goddamn it!”
I waited some more and when I realized she wasn’t home or wasn’t going to come to the door, I got desperate. I fired off a group text to the girls.
Is Quinn with either of u?
I got immediate replies from Avery first and then Izzy.
No
She’s with her sister.
Fuck. I had never met her sister before so I didn’t know much about her. If Quinn went to stay with her sister, I wouldn’t know how to find her. I knew the girls’ allegiance aligned with Q, but I had to try.
I need her sister’s address.
Ace responded first again.
Is she okay? It’s everything fine?
She safe. Just a misunderstanding.
Isabella joined in next.
If she’s safe then ur on ur own.
Izzy please!!
Can’t Chase. She’s my friend.
Same here. Sorry Chase.
I almost threw my phone across the hallway of the apartments. Quinn wasn’t like other women. If you paid attention to a woman long enough, you could predict how she
’d behave in certain situations. The problem with Quinn was that she was anything but predictable.
She had a hair trigger temper, and when she didn’t lose her shit at seeing me with Olivia, that had made the hairs on the back on my neck stand up. Most of the time Quinn was all fire, but her cool tone when she told me and Olivia to have a good night had sent chills up my spine.
I leaned back up against her front door and slid my ass down until I was sitting down with my knees drawn up and open. I called Nick.
“What’s going on, man?”
“I fucked up, Sav.”
He laughed. “You always fu-”
“No,” I stopped him. “I really fucked up, Nick. Quinn is wherever she is right now thinking I’m cheating or am going to cheat or whatever with Olivia Candor.”
There was a heartbeat of silence. “Why would she think that?”
“Her and her sister went to Valentino’s for dinner and saw me sitting with Olivia…”
“Why in the fuck were you having dinner with Olivia Candor?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I wasn’t having dinner with her, I swear, Nick.”
“What were you doing with her, Chase?”
“I had just finished my meeting with Valerie and was waiting for the waiter to bring the check when Olivia was passing by my table. She was crying and a tearful mess. What the fuck was I supposed to do? Act like I didn’t know her?”
Nick mumbled, “Fuck.”
Fuck is right. “I stopped her and asked if she was okay. She took it as an invitation to sit down and spill her entire story.” I let out a sigh. “Apparently she had been stood up by a guy she started seeing, and the only reason she found out she was being stood up, was because she was scrolling through her social media while she was waiting for him and she saw that he had posted some pictures of him on a date with a woman that wasn’t her.”
“Wow, what a fucking asshole.”
“Nick! Can you focus, man? While I’m in complete agreement that the guy is a fuckall of the worse order, I’m having a goddamn meltdown in case you didn’t notice!”
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“Anyways, I was just trying to give her the proverbial ‘there, there’ and pat on the back when Quinn texted me asking how dinner was going. I told her it was fine that I’d tell her more later, but little did I know she sent the text as she was watching me sitting with Olivia. She thinks I lied to her, Sav. Then she came over to the table to let me know it.”
“Jesus Christ, Chase. This is bad, dude.”
“I know. I know and that’s why I need you to sex up or pay Avery to tell you where Quinn is right now. The longer she goes thinking I’m a cheating scumbag, the worse it’s going to be,” I begged.
I. Was. Not. Above. Begging.
“Chase, Avery is not going to give Quinn up no matter how much dick or money I give her.”
I knew he was right, but it was worth a shot. “What do I do, Nick?”
“I don’t know. Quinn’s unpredictable. She might be buying a tarp and shovel as we speak, or she might be on her phone calling a replacement.”
“Seriously?? How the fuck are you going to say some shit like that to me right now?!” The very thought of her with someone else had the edges of my vision seeing red.
“Sorry, man, I was just saying.”
“I gotta go, but thanks, man.” I hung up before Nick could say anything more.
Fuck. Shit was not looking good for the home team.
The home team being me.
I just wish I could make her see. Even if I wasn’t stupid in love with her, I would never cheat on a woman. I loathed the person my father was-is. I would never put someone through what my father put my mother through.
I stayed seated next to her front door until my gut told me she wasn’t coming home tonight. I just prayed she was staying with her sister or one of the girls and there was no merit to what Nick had said about her possibly searching for my replacement.
The thought alone made me want to throw up.
I knew the possibility would mean my sanity.
Chapter 17
Wrath: Because I believed you, you sonofabitch!!
Quinn~
I stumbled into my apartment contemplating buying some Legos. Maybe if I scattered them about my apartment, the pain from stepping on them would distract me from the pounding in my brain. I’ve had hangovers before, but this one was bordering on epic proportions.
After leaving the restaurant, Audrey and I hit the farthest bar from the city as we could reach, and I drank enough that my liver deserved flowers and a thank you card.
I heard the door shut behind me and the thud of a body falling on the couch. “Im in nd st vnt n nl.” I looked to see Audrey face planted in my couch.
I dropped on the armchair and threw my head back, closing my eyes. “What was that?”
I could hear her moving about on the couch. “I said, I’m dying and I still haven’t done anal.”
“Well, when you recover from this and go on to live a healthy, happy life. Tell Michael he owes me a huge thank you for helping making all his dirty fantasies come true.”
I could hear moving around more. “I don’t think he’s into that.”
“Puhlease, all guys are into that. If he hasn’t brought it up it’s because he’s scare that you’ll say no and then he’ll be stuck living out his future anal sex-less. If he doesn’t ask, he can still delude himself into thinking that one day, like for his birthday or something, you’ll bend over and beg him for it.”
“That makes complete sense, somehow.”
“It’s wise wisdom I’m imparting on you oh, Young One.” I wondered what the odds where that a stealthy ninja would break into my apartment and sever my head with a samurai sword. I couldn’t say I’d be opposed to it right now, especially with my heart shattered as it was.
I knew Chase was a player, but I never thought all this was an actual game to him. It felt like I was hit biggest challenge and as soon as he got me to say those three little words, the game was won.
“Quinn Tamara, I think I am actually dying. Will you take in Pete once I’m gone?”
“I think we’re going to be laid to rest side by side, Aud. Your parakeet is going to have to fend for himself.”
“I don’t think Aunt Shellie will take him in, Q. Text Isabella and Avery and ask them if they’ll take him.”
“That would involve me making an attempt at movement to reach for my phone and I just can’t, Aud. I just can’t.” I heard the front door opening, and thank God, I was saved from having to honor my sister’s last dying request by looking for my phone. “Iz, Ace whichever one you are, we’re dying and Audrey needs someone to take in her parakeet, Pete, after we’re gone and buried. Say yes so I can die in peace, please.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t hurt any worse, the masculine voice that reached my ears caused a deep searing pain down my being. “I’ll be sure to pass on your request to the girls.”
I didn’t bother opening my eyes. “Get out of my apartment, Chase.”
I could hear the stomps of his footsteps and each step was like a sledgehammer to my skull. “No. You’re going to let me explain and we’re going to work this out.”
I cracked one eye open and saw that he was standing over me. My other eye quickly followed and I braced my hands on the sides of the chair to push myself up. “Not interested, Chase.”
Audrey rolled herself up off the couch as well. “How about I just head on into the bedroom and let you guys…uh…yeah…”
I looked down at my sister, mainly to give me a second to gather some strength. “That’s not necessary, Aud.” I jerked my head towards Chase. “He’s leaving.”
“The fuck I am, Quinn.”
I looked back up at Chase and his face was still as beautiful as it was every other time I’ve looked into it, and resentment filled my veins. “I’m not doing this with you right now, Chase. I have a motherfucker of a hangover. I’m tired. I�
��m hurting and I need a goddamn shower.”
His expression was so full of tenderness I wanted to crack his face open with whatever I could get my hands on. “Let me take care o-”
I put my hand up. “Don’t. Just don’t. I don’t need you or want you to take care of me.” I noticed my sister slinking her way to the bedroom. I appreciated everything she was doing for me so much.
“Qui-”
I winced when my voice came out. “Get out of my fucking apartment, Chase! I am not fucking doing this with you!”
He stared at my silently. He was probably trying to calculate his next move. I wasn’t stupid enough to think he was here because he ‘loved’ me. He was here because of Nicholas and Julian. He was here to make sure I wasn’t going to bring the girls aboard this disaster, therefore causing issues between them and the guys. I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. That was another sure sign that we really didn’t know each other. If he did, he’d know I didn’t need Ace and Iz to help me fight my battles. Nick and Julian were safe.
“Where did you stay last night?”
I shook my head to try to grasp what he was saying, but immediately regretted it. I slapped my hands to either side of my head hoping to keep my brains inside my skull. “Fuck!”
“I asked you a question, Q,” he asked again.
I closed my eyes against the pain of everything. “None of your goddamn business,” I responded through the pain. “As long as I was out of your way with Olivia, who the fuck cares?”
He snatched my arm up and the shake of it made me nauseous. “I get that you’re hung over and pissed, but I was not out on a date or having dinner with Olivia. I’m not a fucking cheater and you’re just going to have to believe me on that.”
Chasing Quinn Page 20