Seven Years and a Lifetime of Lies Chapter 08

Seven Years and a Lifetime of Lies Chapter 08

Today, I got up from my desk without hesitation and walked over to him.

I pulled out the cake and milk tea he’d brought and handed them to my coworker.

“Here, sharing our celebration of love. Can you cover for me for ten minutes? If anyone asks where I am—”

My coworker winked. “I’ll cover for you and say you stepped out to use the restroom”

We shared a smile. I took Wyatt’s hand out of habit and led him up to the building rooftop patio, where we could sit in the breeze and enjoy the food he’d brought.

Wyatt asked, “Stella, you told me you were wrongfully accused of falsifying reimbursement paperwork at your previous job and planned to gather evidence to defend yourself. How has that process been going for you lately?”

I took a sip of my hazelnut latte and pulled out my phone to show him my progress.

“I’ve got most of the evidence together. I’ve already sent it all to the corporate internal compliance investigation panel.”

“I chose to resign, but I’m not going to let them pin that accusation on me without a fight.”

“In forty-eight to seventy-two hours, those who plotted against me will reap the consequences of their own schemes.”

Wyatt grabbed a napkin and gently wiped a bit of latte foam from the corner of my mouth.

His eyes were full of sympathy.

“You’re really something, Stella.”

My heart stirred at his gentle gesture. I closed my eyes and leaned in to kiss him.

When a voice cut through the air behind us, tight with anger.

“What do you two think you’re doing?!”

“Stella Owen, did you hire this guy just to make me jealous?”

“If that’s the case, congratulations—it worked. I’m jealous.”

Wyatt and I turned around to see Hank standing there with a huge bouquet of roses. I had no idea how he’d found me here, but my disgust for him hadn’t changed.

“How on earth did you track me down all the way here?” I asked flatly.

Wyatt looked at me cautiously. “Stella, who exactly is he, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Hank and I answered at the same time.

“He’s just my ex-boyfriend.”

“The woman I’ve been engaged to for seven years.”

Wyatt only listened to me, letting out a small breath of relief. He stepped forward to stand between Hank and me.

“Mr. Young, my name is Wyatt Hale, Stella’s current boyfriend. It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I ask what brings you here to see her today?”

His voice was calm, but firm.

Enraged by the sight of them, Hank threw his bouquet to the ground, scattering roses everywhere.

“Stella, are you really going to keep this act up?”

“I came here to make things right, and you’re letting this stranger come between us?”

“We were together for seven years. No one knows you better than I do. There’s no way you got over me that fast.”

“You’ve only thrown yourself at this man as a petty ploy to get even with me—to punish me for what happened with Cindy and make me feel the same pain you felt. Isn’t that it?”

He stepped forward, glaring daggers at Wyatt.

Just as Hank raised his fist, I stood up.

I gently patted Wyatt’s back to let him know I wanted to handle this myself.

Wyatt hesitated, then stepped aside and let me face Hank.

Seeing that, Hank’s face lit up, thinking he’d gotten through to me.

He stepped closer and opened his mouth.

And I landed a solid, sharp slap across his cheek.

“Hank, you were fully aware of how inappropriate and boundary-less your interactions with Cindy were.”

“You hurt me on purpose. This slap is for every version of me that had to put up with it.”

Hank was utterly stunned, left dumbfounded and speechless for a long moment.