Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Excuse me?” I snap. “It’s because of my father’s money that your first campaign was funded! It’s because of his money that you wore those expensive suits and traveled to places unknown and were able to network with all those politicians. If it weren’t for us, you’d be nothing, Dominic! Nothing!”
I’m so sick of this. It’s been like this between us for the last two years. We fight, I threaten to leave, he counters it with how much I have to lose. He’s right. I do have a lot to lose. If I walk away, Dominic will make the divorce a nasty one. He won’t relent and I refuse to walk out of this marriage without being financially secure.
I drive along the cobblestone driveway, fuming. When I park the car in front of our house, I slouch back in my seat and bring my hands to my face. And for the first time in what feels like weeks, I break out in a sob. The sob hurts my belly and everything inside me. I hate crying. I hate it even more so when it’s done in front of him.
“Oh, come on, Jo.” His hand is on my arm with gentle pressure. “Jo, look, I’m sorry. Okay? I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.” His words are empty. Useless. He’s only saying them so I won’t be upset.
Well fuck that. Those words won’t cut it this time. They don’t stop the tears and I’m still angry. I drop my hands and collect my purse and keys, pushing the car door open and rushing toward the house. When I’m inside, I slam the door behind me.
TEN
DOMINIC
Jo won’t let Dominic into the bedroom. It’s his bedroom too, God damn it. He rolls his eyes, turning away from the locked door. She’s acting like a baby, like the world revolves around her. He’s getting so tired of her bitching and whining all the time.
With a grimace, he marches to one of the guest rooms. He’s been spending a lot of time in the guest room lately. His marriage is in complete shambles, and he has no idea how to fix it.
“Do I even wanna fix it?” he mutters.
Truthfully, he can’t figure out why Jo puts up with him, but he knows why he puts up with her. She was right that her father’s money funded his career. Well, it was more so his death that fueled it. Her father had been stingy with his money, only giving her enough for college tuition and meals. He’d provided a car so she could get around on campus, of course, but Jolene had a job while in college, despite the trust fund he’d set up for her, one she couldn’t even access until she’d graduated. Her father wanted her to continue working, to be involved in the real world. When he died, she drowned in an enormous inheritance. He was partner in an oil company, so she’d practically struck gold.
Dominic retrieves a set of pajamas he keeps stored in the dresser of the guest bedroom. His emergency pajamas, used on the nights when Jo doesn’t want to see his face. Soft black pants, a white T-shirt. He takes a quick shower, changes into them, then sits on the edge of the bed.
When he’d met Jolene, she was different. She was bubblier, happier. He remembered seeing her coming out of the gym, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. The first thing he’d noticed was her ass in the yoga pants. He couldn’t help staring at her. How had he not noticed her before? He tagged along with her when she walked out of the gym, and he remembered her looking at him like he’d lost his mind. He’d never spoken to her, didn’t even introduce himself. To her, he was some random man taking up her space.
“I work out too, ya know?” he’d said, and he felt stupid for it. Many people worked out. That didn’t make him special.
But, oddly enough, it made Jolene laugh. Her head dropped, and she said, “Good for you, bud.”
He wasn’t sure what it was about her. Her body. Her smoky and enticing voice. The tinkle of her laugh. The softness of her smile. He wanted to get to know this new girl and soon enough he did. They studied together, worked out together, ate dinner together. Everything they did was together.
With a sigh, Dominic walks out of the guest room and down the stairs. One of the lights in the kitchen is on already and when he steps around the corner, Jolene is behind the oversized quartz island counter, pouring steaming water from the electric kettle into a mug. Her eyes flicker up to his—puffy, red, and swollen—and he feels awful. He remembers the Jolene from college, the one who loved him with her whole heart, who relied on him. Who trusted him.