Page 19 of Total Abandon

“When will I see you next?” She pouts, sitting and pulling the silk sheets up over her body.

Here we go. “Listen, I’ve had fun. You’re a nice girl and I hope you find someone who can give you what you want. But you know that’s not me, and I won’t be around for a good while, so it’s best this comes to an end now.”

She bolts upright, her glossy, mussed hair falling around her shoulders. “What the fuck do you mean?”

“I mean this is over. But thank you.” I pocket my tie and slip on my shoes.

“But… How? Why?!” she screeches, angry blotches forming on her cheekbones.

“Well, sugar,” I say as I bend to tie my laces. “Because I’m about to go and buy the fattest engagement ring I can find and ask a fiery redhead to marry me.” I can’t help the grin that splits my face at the look of indignation on hers.

Am I an asshole for that one? Perhaps. But it’s going to come out soon anyway, may as well start now. I stand and leave the room, closing the door of her apartment behind me to the muted shrieks of, “My father will hear of this!”

***

“Chloe Devlin for you, Mr. Guerra.”

I smile as the intercom crackles, punching my finger down. “Send her in.” It’s been a long day and I’m eager to get to pinning down how this is going to work. The door cracks open and a flame of red hair appears. My chest tightens, and the rest of her comes into view. She’s in an all-black formal skirt suit today and it contrasts spectacularly with her pale, creamy skin. Blue eyes as clear as a summer's dawn meet mine and I smirk.

“Ah, my beloved fiancée.” I sigh as she closes the door behind her.

Those neat little brows knit together momentarily as she walks gracefully across the room like a gazelle across the prairie—sleek and regal. “Steady on, cowboy. We still have to iron out the particulars.” She raises one hazelnut brow and I hold my hands up in a placating manner as I shrug easily.

Instead of sitting on the opposite side of the desk as usual, she walks around and perches on the lip by my side. I turn my chair slightly to face her, propping one arm and running a palm across my jawline as I look up at her. Peaches and cream, that’s what she smells like. Fucking mouthwatering. The size difference between us means her steady gaze isn’t even that much higher than mine. She reaches into her fitted suit jacket and pulls out a folded sheet of paper, silently offering it to me. I reach across and pluck it from her fingers.

“My requirements,” she says softly as I unfold the paper and start to read.

A formal written agreement.

Separate bedrooms.

I bite back a smile when I see she’s underlined that one in red.

Method of break-up at my discretion.

I raise one eyebrow and glance up at her. She’s watching me closely as I read, her cheeks heated. “Any particular method of break-up in mind?” I’m curious what has her stipulating this one.

“Undecided, but it will have to be something where I can walk away with my pride intact. I won’t be known as the unwanted goods of thegreatZeke Guerra.”

The way she emphasizes that word makes it clear she thinks me anything but great. I run my tongue over my teeth contemplatively, smothering a smile. I can see her point though. “Perhaps I can do something unforgivable?”

She tilts her chin up, her eyes dancing with amusement in a way that has my dick thickening in my pants. “That’s agreeable, as long as you make a big public show of trying to win me back. Unsuccessfully.”

I chuckle and let out a low hum. “Noted.” I return to the list.