"Theresa?" I blinked a couple times as I heard someone calling my name and turned my attention to the group that had walked in and stood behind Howie.
"Yes, sorry. Mr. Dorough, please meet the group I emailed about." With that, the receptionist handed Howie a folder and he beckoned us to the follow him to a small conference area.
I felt way too on edge to take a seat, but hell if I could pace. My heart had fallen to the pit of my stomach and I felt beyond sick. Of course, I couldn't do a fucking thing about it. I walked to the furthest spot away from Howie, trying to determine how long I had to be here. This wasn't my meeting; I was only here to introduce them, which I had. The rest came down to them and their manager.
"Ms. Lambe, are you going to have a seat?" I looked up at him, at those brown eyes that I loved and finally looked around at all the other faces that were watching me.
"Actually, no. My job was to introduce you, but as I'm not their manager, I can go." I offered the guys a smile and gathered my courage, feeling everyone staring at me. It was unlike me to leave. Sure, it wasn't my job to stay, but when people were meeting with my artists for the first time, I tried to stick around to make everything run smooth and everyone was comfortable. I waved as I walked to the door and was about to open it when I felt Howie walked up behind me.
"Theresa?" I turned around and offered a smile.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for the business." I narrowed my eyes at him. What a dick. He had nothing to say? At all?! Fine; see if I talked to that asshole anymore.
"Always a pleasure doing business, Mr. Dorough." I flung my hair over my shoulder and walked out, my heart once more getting shattered. How much can one person take? Where did the man I see and talk to on the boat go? This man was harder, more…more…fuck I didn't know. But I knew I didn't like it. And to think I wanted to give him my heart; which he clearly didn't deserve. Fuck him. I had enough bull shit in my life and I didn't need his. He can keep making the same mistakes and I would stop feeling sorry for him.
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I looked over the contract that was on my desk four days later, trying to find any flaw I could. Mike had not let up, and though I had stopped wasting my tears in the morning on Howie, and only the morning tears, I was not going back to that man, to Mike. And he was really not taking no for an answer. So, here I was, going over very line of their contract to see if they had any breaches so that I could get rid of them.
I hadn't thought Mike would be this much of a jerk but he must be pretty dense. He reminded me of a little kid; denying him his treat turned him into a huge baby. And he had thrown the lack of Howie and I in my face. Which means he was keeping tabs on me outside of the office, enough to know anyways, that I was going straight home; not a good thing. Although how, was the amazing part, seeing as he should be home with his wife; thought she would have been back by now.
And yet, another fucked up lesson to learn; never, EVER, mix business and pleasure. Although, I did know that, I just refused to apply it here, thought I knew better. But look, so much for my thinking, when here I was, trying to let them go so my ass didn't get in trouble.
I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes, really trying to think. All incidents of him finding out anything really had been luck of the draw; just in the right place at the right time. So, since he wasn't hanging out in my office, I couldn't do that. Which means, I had to think outside the box on this one; just great! I walked out of my office, needing a break and walked into the lobby, intending to pass through it on my way to Kris's office. But seeing two men glaring at each other brought me up short. I stared at one and then other before walking over to them.
"What the fuck are you two doing here?" I hissed, not wanting to make a scene. I looked first at Mike and then at Howie, but neither were talking. "Oh my God, fine, Mike, go talk to Kris."
"Why, so you can fuck him now that he wants you? I saw all the pictures of you two." I pushed my way between them and pushed Mike's chest.
"What I do, don't do, or better yet, WHO I do, doesn't matter to you anymore. You need to remember that Mike. You need to go talk to Kris."
"Better than some prick being a douche with flowers and trying to win back her affections. Oh, wait, guess you already did. Did you fuck her in her office? Should I worry about what shit you might have released there?" I quickly glared back at Howie, wondering how the hell he thought I would get back with Mike. For fucks sake, I was trying to get rid of him!
"What the hell are you talking about Howie? Win what affections?"
"Oh don't you play dumb! You were gushing over those flowers. And I saw the texts the day we left. You were practically waiting to fly back to him."
"That's right asshole, me, not you! She wanted me!"
"Shut the fuck up Mike! No, I don't want you!" I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked at Howie. "I never went back to Mike, what the hell makes you think I did?"
"You lied to me! I told you I was over people doing that."
"That's why you went back to your ex, right? So she can hound you for more fucking money?"
"I'd rather take that then a liar. At least I know where I stand with her and what she wants."
"Oh my god, when did I lie? I gave you fucking everything, my heart included. You were the one who walked away from it. So, I asked you again, when did I lie?!"
"When you walked off the God damn plane, straight into his arms and right onto his piece of shit lips!" I stood there, just started at him, unable to wrap my mind around the fact that he would give up everything we had shared for something that was not of my own doing. This could not be for real, no way.
"I never kissed him, Howie. I was ambushed by him. I pulled out my phone to talk to you and ran smack into him. Who, like always, seemed to be getting information about me from eavesdropping. I would never kiss him and I would not go back." I took a step away from the both of them, shaking my head in disbelief. Could this day get any worse?
"Ah, Resa, I thought I heard your voice. I found the legal way to get rid of Mike and the…" she trailed off as she walked onto the scene. I closed my eyes; the day just got worse.