Chapter 21
“Well done! Well done!” Mr. Wright even clapped. “Mr. Lloyd, I heard you really did a number on Renee. A few slaps? That was mercy.”
Finley nodded. “Yeah. I hurt her. I get it. I just hope she can forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” Renee sneered. “Jump off the roof, and I’ll forgive you on the way down.”
She wanted him to feel what she had-helpless, desperate, wrecked.
“Renee-”
“Shut up! I told you not to call me that!” Another slap. Then, grabbing a wine bottle from the table, she tilted it against his lips. “You want this deal? Drink.”
She poured, and Finley didn’t resist, letting the alcohol burn its way down. When she finally yanked the bottle away, she shoved him back.
He staggered, eyes unfocused, face burning. Then came the kick-vicious and full of spite. He hit the ground hard.
Still, he clung to his mission. “Renee… have you calmed down? Can you convince them to agree now?” His words slurred, but he still remembered why he was here.
Renee inhaled sharply, trying to rein in her fury. Maybe she’d had enough-maybe she was done.
Just as Mr. Wright began pleading on Finley’s behalf, Finley suddenly muttered, “Claire, I miss you. Come pick me up.”
Everything inside Renee snapped.
“Finley!” She grabbed a beer bottle from the table and smashed it over his head. “Dream on! Even if you throw yourself off this roof tonight, I won’t let Wright work with you! Your pathetic company is done!” 1
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She stormed out, heels clicking, leaving Finley sprawled on the floor. Blood dripped down
his forehead, warm and sticky. He touched it, dazed.
“Claire… I’m bleeding. Where are you? Bring the first aid kit…”
Kevin, waiting outside, rushed in as soon as the room cleared. He stopped short at the sight of Finley-drunk, bleeding, wrecked.
“Mr. Lloyd! What happened?”
Finley latched onto his sleeve, eyes glassy. “Where’s Claire? Call her! Tell her to come get
me!”
“Sir, Mrs. Lloyd… she’s not even in the country. She’s in the Maldives.”
“I don’t care! Call her! Tell her to come get me! She always picked me up when I was
wasted!” Finley spiraled into a full-blown tantrum, drunk and unraveling.
He buried his face in his hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. Regret clawed at his
heart.
He missed her. Missed the way she looked after him, the quiet way she cared. Why had he thrown it all away? Why had he hurt her—again and again—for Renee?
If he could turn back time, he’d trade everything just to have Claire back.
“Mr. Lloyd, you’re still bleeding. Let’s get you to the hospital first. I’ll call Mrs. Lloyd after,
okay?”
“You’re lying.” Finley shook his head, his whole body trembling. “She won’t come. She hates me. She’ll never forgive me. I want to see her. If she doesn’t come, I’m not going
anywhere.”
Kevin sighed and pulled out his phone. Good thing he’d saved Claire’s number when Finley asked him to find it.
***
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Chapter 21
Claire had just stepped off the boat when her phone rang. A staff member carried her luggage to her room, and exhaustion settled deep in her bones.
An unfamiliar number.
Her first thought? Finley.
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He just wouldn’t let her breathe. Annoyance flared as she picked up. “Finley, I’ve told you a hundred times-stop bothering me! Do you have any idea how much I despise you?”
A hesitant voice cut in. “Mrs. Lloyd, it’s me, Kevin.”
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