Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [113]
“Actually, I think it might be my opinion. Ten weeks. Almost all of it difficult.”
“We have had our difficulties.”
I laughed, and it sounded amazingly convincing. “Difficulties? Well, let’s see about that. Yeah, there are difficulties. You being overbearing and unemotional. That’s a couple of them. There’s also you being judgmental, possessive, and jealous.”
He stood up, his brow deeply furrowed. “And this little outburst was inspired by your chat with Veronique, was it?”
I put a hand on my hip. “Yeah. Your wife, Veronique. She made it very clear that’s how she was staying, too. Seriously, what’s in it for me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. What’s in it for me? I’m just supposed to stand by and be your mistress? For what? The next thousand years? Sorry, Thierry, but I need more commitment than that in a relationship. I thought I could ignore it, because there were a hell of a lot of other perks, but at the end of the day, there are way too many strikes against us.”
“Such as?”
Dammit. “Veronique told me about your little financial difficulties.”
His eyes widened a fraction. “Did she?”
“Yeah. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I thought you were rich.”
“And this was a prerequisite for our relationship? The fact that I had money?”
“I didn’t think it was, but now that I think about it…” I paused and tried not to cry. Oh, my God, I didn’t want to say these things. None of it was the truth. I didn’t care if Thierry only had two cents to rub together, it didn’t change how I felt about him. “I guess it does. What am I supposed to do? Eat Kraft Dinners for the rest of my life?”
“You don’t eat.”
“Figuratively.”
“I must say I’m disappointed to hear this from you.” But he didn’t sound all that disappointed. He sounded bland and emotionless. His expression was now completely unreadable.
“I’d be surprised,” Gideon had said to me earlier, “if Thierry raises one finger to help salvage your love affair or tries to talk you out of your decision. If Thierry actually puts up a fight, if he really loves you as much as you think he does, then maybe I’ll reconsider.”
“I’m sorry to have disappointed you,” I said.
“Barry did warn me that he suspected you were after my money, being one of very little personal means.”
I shrugged. “A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”
“Veronique had no right to tell you any of my personal affairs.”
“She’s funny like that.”
“I’m sorry this evening has not gone as well as I’d planned.”
“We’ve had worse evenings.”
“Oh?”
Nail in the coffin alert. My heart ached so badly with every word I spoke to him, but I forced myself to hold it together. “Yeah, remember that crazy night you nearly tore out my throat and then left me for dead? That was memorable.”
His expression went from bland to icy. “I do remember. It is one of my greatest regrets.”
“I told somebody a while ago that I was involved with a married man who had a serious drinking problem. Sounds like a huge mistake, doesn’t it?”
His gaze remained as cold as ice. “It does indeed.”
I gave him a small shrug. “I think tonight is a really good night for us to… I don’t know. Start fresh.”
“I agree,” he said slowly. “Perhaps we should spend a little time apart and meet tomorrow to discuss this further. I’m sure we can come to an understanding. I know that your words tonight are spoken out of frustration with Veronique and stress from dealing with the curse. I will choose not to take what you have said personally.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant.” I felt like crying, but I held it inside. If I let one tear fall—if I let Thierry think for one moment that I didn’t mean what I was saying—then I had no doubt that Gideon would find out and he would kill everyone I loved. Including Thierry. It was all up to me.
I willed my hands not to shake, and I pulled off the eternity band and placed it on Thierry’s desk. He eyed it before his gaze returned to me.
“I’m starting new,” I said. “I haven’t been happy for a very long time and I’m realizing that