I locked myself in my room, finishing my hair and makeup in record speed. I didn’t have time for this. I had to be to work in less than an hour and make arrangements for staying with Staci.
If I couldn’t, I was screwed.
I thought about how I could maybe crash with Brittainy or Ella, but Brittainy was getting married in two weeks, and I didn’t want to bring my drama into her life.
Nope, I’d find a way to get through this. I’d tell William tonight, pack my bag, and leave the Lancaster house for the last time. Apparently, both of them were fucking liars.
The thought of William lying to me stung, but part of me was relieved I found out now before it was too late. I still haven’t heard the whole story, but what I have heard was enough. He had covered his late wife’s death and had failed to tell me any of it.
“Mac!” I heard Alex pounding on the bedroom door. “Let me in! I can explain!”
I rolled my eyes. Isn’t that what every lying asshole says?
I grabbed my purse and took one last look in the mirror. I hardly recognized the person I saw in my reflection…how in the hell did I get here?
I shrugged it off and quickly came to terms with what I was now facing.
The truth.
I let Alex in. I let him in so far, I couldn’t see just how far until it was too late. I let myself get lost in him, lost in the reality of my life. A part of me ached with sadness, knowing how hard I was falling for him. The other part was pissed off and bitter that I even allowed myself to.
“Mac! Please! Just let me explain!” He pounded on the door once again.
I whipped the door open, ready to push past him, but his entire body blocked my way. “Move.”
“No.”
“Alex…I’m going to be late for work.
Move.
”
“You aren’t going anywhere until we talk. I swear it’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh,
puh-lease
, Alex…could you sound any more cliché? Just move.” I attempted to walk around him, but his arms were on both sides of the doorframe, blocking me in. “Move or I’ll make you move,” I threatened, my face heating up in irritation.
“I’d like to see you try, sweetheart.” He was pissing me off and my tolerance was down to nothing. My blood boiling and anger fuming, I stared him straight in the eyes and kneed him right between the legs. “Fuck!”
He went down before he could even take a breath. A victorious thrill rippled through me at the way he cupped his junk, cursing as he lay in a fetal position on the ground.
“Looks like I didn’t have to try very hard.” I smirked and stepped over him, walking past him.
“Mac…wait…” He strained to get the words out, but I ignored him. “Please…”
“Goodbye, Alex.”
I walked out the door without glancing back. I held back the tears threatening to pour out. I wouldn’t allow myself to cry. Not now. I had to stay strong, and the only way I would be able to be strong was if I let the anger fuel my emotions. I felt betrayed by him, but I knew I betrayed William so I couldn’t feel sorry for myself in that regard. I was only sorry I was going to hurt William in the process.
BY THE TIME
I arrived to work, cold and bitter were the only emotions I felt. It was the only way to turn off the tears, and I knew today was going to be a busy day since I called in yesterday.
Another reminder of it all. Great.
My phone blew up all morning with calls and texts from Alex. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I turned the damn thing off. As I typed out my email to Staci, giving her a quick run-down and explaining that I’d need a place to crash, my work phone rang, flashing William’s cell phone number.
I sucked in a breath, reminding myself to sound normal and calm.
“Hey!” I answered overly-cheerful, clenching my eyes closed as I braced myself to hear his voice.
“Mackenzie…” his tone was low, his voice deep with worry. “I need you home as soon as possible.”
I narrowed my brows and stopped typing. “What do you mean? I can’t just leave work…” Nerves were fluttering all through my stomach at the way his voice sounded. This couldn’t be good.
“I’m at a layover in Chicago right now. I’ll be there in a couple hours, and I need you to meet me at home. I need you out of the media.” My mind was spinning in a hundred directions…what was he talking about?
I clicked out of my email and straightened my desk. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“The press is running a story on page six…it’s about you and Alex.”
I nearly choked, catching the attention of my assistant. She mouthed, “Are you okay?” I patted my chest a couple times and nodded. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing…did William know?
“What do you mean a story on Alex and me? About what?”
“There were a few reporters at your charity event…” He continued talking, but I wasn’t listening. My mind went back to that night when Alex and I arrived together, when we sat and had dinner together, when he’d lean in and whisper in my ear…all things you don’t exactly do with your future stepson. But nothing happened there…I left with William, so their entire story is fabricated. “Mackenzie, are you listening?”
“Huh?” I blinked.
“Get home. Do not talk to anyone. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I’ll…um…leave right now.”
“I’ll get there as soon as I can, darling.” My heart clenched at the genuineness of his tone. “Don’t worry, okay?”
“Um, yeah. Sure,” I rambled. This was going to be worse than telling him the truth…now it would be broadcasted all over the city. And everyone would know our secret.
I HATED LYING
to my boss, but it was the only way she’d let me leave without notice. I played the sick card, pretending to throw up in the girl’s bathroom a good twenty minutes before I actually left. She hated being near sick people, saying she didn’t want me to infect her, and that if I was still sick tomorrow, not to come in.
I would probably take her up on that offer considering I was already feeling sick over what I knew was about to come.
I was glad to arrive home before William. I needed to talk to Alex, tell him he needed to stay out of it and that I was doing all the talking. It was bad enough I betrayed William; I wasn’t going to let Alex fabricate some stupid story on my behalf.
“Alex!” I screamed, walking down the hallway toward his room. “Alex, where are you?” I yelled again. Adrenaline and fear overpowered me, my face turning red when I finally came face to face with him.
“You came back?” I heard the hopefulness in his voice. I fought back a laugh. He thought I was back for him…
“What did you do?” I shouted, accusingly. “Why is the press running a story on us?”
He blinked and stepped closer, forcing me to take a step back. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Let me guess…you have absolutely no clue why the press decided to now run a story on us showing up at the charity event together?”
“No…Mac, I have no fucking idea…” His face tensed, shock written all over his face. Before overhearing his phone convo this morning, I would’ve believed him, but now…now it didn’t even matter.
“You’re a fucking liar…” I spat out. “Who else have you been talking to about me? About how you banged your dad’s fiancée and got me to sleep with you behind his back? Hm…I imagine a long list of frat brothers and some press reporters? Am I close?” I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, testing my limits.
“You have it all wrong, Mac…” He brought his arms out to me, slowly stepping toward me. “That guy I was talking to is a nobody. He’s an old friend and was supposed to meet me at the club that night and never showed. I didn’t mean what I said, and I swear, it’s not what you think.”
My heart ached at the desperateness of his voice, but I let the rage take over. I wouldn’t let my stupid emotions obscure my actions again. “It doesn’t matter, Alex. You lied to me. You’ve been lying to me. I can’t trust you…ever. You fucked with my mind, and I gave up everything. I was fine before you showed up!” I pushed against his chest as he took another step closer, trying to console me with his arms. “Stay back, Alex. I’m not joking.”
He looked down at me and grinned. “Are you done then?”
“Done?” I hissed. “No, I’m not done! Do you even realize what’s happening? The press is writing a story about
us
!”
“Yeah? What’s it going to say?” he challenged, raising one hand up and waving it in the air from left to right. “Alexander Lancaster steals Dad’s fiancée right from under his nose…he didn’t know a good thing when he had it. Alex and Mackenzie run away together, leaving William in the dust.” He dropped his hand and looked back at me, my foot tapping impatiently against the floor.
“You’re so childish,” I threw back. “They’re going to run a story on how we’ve been sleeping together behind his back. They’re going to make up things about the both of us that aren’t true.”
“Well….” He smirked. “Most of that’s true.”
“God…you’re so annoying. This could actually hurt my career, Alex. Aren’t you even a bit worried how it could affect your chances of getting a job? About how it’ll affect your relationship with your dad?”
He snorted. “What relationship?” He leaned down, getting much closer to my face than I could handle, but I couldn’t push him away as he began speaking, “See…that’s the difference between my dad and me. I don’t worry about the press, other people’s opinions, or how it might affect my ‘image.’ I don’t give a fuck, Mac. But clearly, my dad does. He wouldn’t be making you hide out here if he didn’t.”
I scowled, narrowing my brows at him in anger. “So what if he cares about his image, Alex? He runs a multi-million dollar business. He has a respectable reputation to uphold.”
“Yeah…you’re just part of the image, Mac. Don’t you see that?”
I was on the brink of tears, but I pushed them back. I hated him. I hated that he was pushing me. I shrugged and responded, “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” I was done anyway. I turned to walk away, but immediately halted as I noticed William standing in the doorway, his eyes staring blankly at me. I gasped in surprise, my body trembling. He heard everything.
This was so not how I wanted him to find out.
The three of us stayed silent, no one making the move to speak first. Finally, William swallowed and shrugged out of his suit coat, setting it on the entryway table. “Alexander, I’d like to speak with my fiancée alone.” He looked over me at Alex.
“What are you doing home already?” I blurted out. I was sure it hadn’t been two hours since he had called me.
His eyes blinked to mine, expressionless. “I was able to get an earlier flight.”
I swallowed in response. I was guilty. So fucking guilty.
“Alexander…” he prompted, but Alex made no attempt to move.
“No…” His tone was harsh, agitated. “I’m not leaving you alone with her.”
What the hell?
“Alexander…it’s not up for debate. You need to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I turned to scowl at him, but the death glare he was shooting at William stopped me. His buff arms were crossed against his chest and his legs spread apart. He looked ready for a fight.
I looked back at William, who was walking toward me. He grabbed my elbow and pulled me toward him. “We need to talk.” He guided me through the hallway, my nerves becoming almost unbearable. I could feel Alex behind us, following. I would’ve expected William to yell, be upset—anything. But he was chillingly calm as he walked us through the apartment.
“Wait…” I froze, his fingers losing their grip on me. I wasn’t sure I trusted him. I didn’t want to buy into his lies anymore. “Tell me out here.”
He looked down at me and then glanced back behind me where I knew Alex was standing. “It’s not something I’d like to talk about in the open.”
“Why?” I challenged.
“Because this is our business, Mackenzie, and with the media running off with their story, I can’t be too careful who I speak in front of.”
I heard Alex huff in an amused laugh. “In case you’re not getting it, Mac…he’s saying he doesn’t trust me, which is real fresh considering the man has built his life on lies.”
“Alexander…” William hissed, warning him with his eyes. “Get out.”
“No.” He stood his ground, and I could see William’s patience running thin. “I don’t trust you either. I’m not going to let you brainwash her, make me the bad guy, and run off into the sunset with
my
girl.”
“Excuse me?” He took a step forward.
“You haven’t even asked if the rumors were true…” he challenged. I looked between the both of them and then wondered the same thing myself.
“I don’t have to…it’s quite clear they are.” William looked back at me, shooting a look of disappointment. I swallowed in response, but then realized I didn’t care what he thought anymore. After learning the truth, and now seeing him this way, my decision was perfectly clear.
“I’m not
your
girl…” I snapped at Alex, and then turned my head to William. “Whatever it is you want to talk about, save it. Yes, the rumors are true. Believe me when I say I didn’t want you to find out this way, but whoever is running the story couldn’t have picked a better time.” I sighed, defeated. “But you’re both fucking liars. I’m grabbing my shit and leaving.”