Chapter 24: Chapter 24

CHRISTIAN

I feel robbed.

Robbed of two weeks with Francesca.

Betrayed by my best friend.

The ride back to the apartment is quiet. Francesca is in my arms, but we don’t speak as Toby navigates the bustling New York streets.

There are moments when I feel Francesca tense up, taking a deep breath as if she’s about to say something, but then she seems to change her mind.

“Christian, I’m so sorry,” Beth finally breaks the silence. “If I had known their plan, I would have—”

“Beth, you don’t need to apologize.”

“But they ruined so much for you.” Beth glances at Francesca before turning back to me. “For both of you.”

“It was two weeks of uncertainty, Beth, not two years. Evelyn is a manipulative bitch, and Leo is the biggest asshole on the planet.”

I hold Francesca tighter as she speaks.

“The Leo Chambers that was my best friend, my QB, he’s gone.”

“Are they still staying with you?” Beth asks, and I nod.

“Then we can’t act like anything has changed. I have a room waiting for me at the Astoria, and, Chris, you should go straight to your apartment, act as though nothing is wrong.”

I frown at Beth’s words.

~That’s the last thing I want to do.~

“Sir?” Toby asks for direction, and Beth looks at me expectantly.

“Astoria.”

“Of course, Mr. De Luca.”

Once Beth is out of the limo, Francesca and I sit in silence. She slips out of my hold and takes the seat Beth just left.

“Ask me what you’re thinking,” I say after a few moments of staring at the side of her head as she avoids my gaze.

Francesca sighs, her shoulders drooping slightly.

“Did you sleep with her?”

“Evelyn?” I ask for clarification, and she finally looks at me, only to roll her eyes.

“No, she planted doubt in my mind. Honestly, I don’t remember much of my trip because I spent most of it drunk.

“It was how I dealt with missing you. Evelyn took advantage of that. I do remember the night she came to my room, but I quickly shut the door in her face.”

“I don’t want to believe that QB could do this. Manipulate the situation like he has.”

“I’m sorry, kitten.”

“He was supposed to be my best friend. Hell, he was supposed to be yours.” Francesca rests her head against the window. “You should let me out here. They shouldn’t see us arrive together.”

“Kitten?”

“Toby, can you pull over?”

Toby does as Francesca asks without question. As soon as the limo stops, she moves. I grab her wrist, stopping her.

“Wait.”

Francesca looks back at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“Francesca, this isn’t your fault. God, I wish I could stay with you tonight.”

“I’m having a hard time trusting you again,” Francesca admits, and I nod sadly.

“And for that, I am truly sorry. I’ll earn it back, kitten.”

“I should go.” Francesca pulls her hand free.

“Are we okay?”

“Right now, let’s just focus on getting Beth divorced and her sister to admit who the actual father of her child is,” Francesca says, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

It takes several deep breaths before I’m calm enough to leave the limo. Toby doesn’t question me, simply waiting on the curb until I’m ready to go inside.

“Where have you been?” Evelyn’s whiny voice greets me as I open the door.

“Out,” I snap at her. Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t question my behavior, considering I’ve been less than welcoming.

“Did you go for a drink without me?” Leo walks out of the kitchen, nursing a glass of what I’m guessing is my most expensive scotch.

“You clearly don’t need a drink,” I say, nodding toward the glass.

“So you were out drinking?” Evelyn rolls her eyes with a huff.

“I was checking on one of my investments. The manager called me with an issue.”

“Surely that’s what you have an assistant for.”

I ignore Evelyn and head into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Just like the past two weeks, Francesca is on my mind, but now I know we’re going to be okay. Now I know we have a future.

Leo is scrolling through his phone as I slump down on the couch next to him.

“You’re thinking about ~her~ again, aren’t you?” Evelyn asks with a look of disgust.

“Cheer?” Leo clarifies, glancing up from his phone.

“I passed her in the hallway. She’s been ignoring me,” I admit, not entirely lying.

“She’s not worth your thoughts, Chris,” Evelyn says with a smirk.

It takes everything not to snap at her. I find myself clenching my fists.

“She’s fine,” Leo mutters to himself. That gets both Evelyn’s and my attention as we stare at him, eyebrows raised.

“What?” we ask in unison.

“What?” Leo looks up from his phone, confused.

“What did you just say?” I ask, and he smirks.

“I went over there the other night. I should have sampled her back in high school. Fuck, I’ll regret that forever.”

“The two of you…?” I trail off, and he gets the gist.

“Fuck, yeah.” Leo smirks, and I see red. Without thinking, and without a second thought for Beth’s plan, I grab Leo by the collar.

I barely hear Evelyn screeching at me as I drag Leo out into the hall. My fist collides with Leo’s jaw as I throw him out into the hall.

My mind is a whirlwind of red, blocking out all the noise around me.

I see Leo’s lips moving, questioning my attack, but his words don’t penetrate the fog until Francesca steps in front of me.

She obstructs my view of Leo, her fingertips brushing my cheek with a soft touch.

“Christian?” She questions, her eyes probing mine.

Then, the memories come rushing back.

I envision Leo’s hands on her.

I recall her confession about her feelings for Leo when we were in London.

I jerk away from her touch, stepping back, and I force myself to ignore the hurt that flashes across Francesca’s face.

“You slept with him.” I state it as a fact, my gaze fixed on Francesca as I nod towards Leo.

Leo lets out a laugh while Francesca’s face twists in disgust.

“So that’s why you’re beating him up in the hallway?” Francesca seeks confirmation.

“You slept with him.” I repeat myself, and for a moment, I think Francesca might slap me. But then her fingers curl into a fist, and she whirls around to face Leo.

Her fist connects with the bridge of Leo’s nose, and blood starts to flow.

“You crazy bitch!” Evelyn shrieks at her, but Francesca pays her no mind.

“What the hell, Cheer?”

“You told him we slept together?” Francesca’s strength surprises me as she yanks Leo up by his collar. “We’re over, QB.”

“Cheer?” Leo tries to pull off a puppy dog look, despite his swollen left eye slowly closing.

I miss what Francesca says next, but she leans in, her lips dangerously close to Leo’s ear.

I watch as Leo’s swollen face twists in shock.

Francesca practically tosses Leo aside before stepping over him and heading towards her apartment door.

“Francesca?” I call out to her. Her stride falters, but she doesn’t turn around.

“It’s about trust, Christian,” she murmurs before her apartment door slams shut.

I turn and walk past Evelyn back into my apartment.

“Christian, you can’t just leave him,” Evelyn implores.

“If you want to help him, be my guest.”

“What can I do? I’m pregnant!” Evelyn’s whining almost gets to me.

“He’ll be fine, Evelyn.”

“At least bring him back inside.”

“No.” I retreat further into my apartment, thinking I can’t hear Leo and Evelyn start to discuss the situation.

“Why ~her~?” Evelyn snarls.

“I was curious. Christian acts like she’s some sort of goddess. After all, Cheer is the reason he’s not paying ~you~ any attention.”

“But—”

“Look, I have bigger problems. Frankie said Beth contacted her; she’s filing for divorce.”

“She told you that?”

“I’m screwed, Evie!”

“We have to stick to our plan with Christian.”

A growl slips out before I can stop it.

“If I lose QB to Beth in the divorce, the plan with Christian will be pointless.”

“You said he has his own money. His dad’s company, right? What was the name again?”

“De Luca Corp.”

I step back into view, and the look of genuine shock on Leo’s and Evelyn’s faces almost makes me laugh.

“Chris. Bro…”

Leo looks at me as if I’m a wild animal that might bolt if he moves too quickly. He pulls himself up to standing, blood still trickling from his nose.

“I could act hurt. I could say that we were supposed to be best friends, but if anything, I’m disappointed.

“Disappointed in myself, for not seeing the signs earlier and disappointed for your parents, who are the least selfish people I’ve ever met.”

Both Leo and Evelyn stand frozen.

“I know the baby isn’t mine. I think I’ve known all along, but you both had me doubting myself. I’m just glad Beth made it to New York in time.”

Leo’s eyes widen.

“I hope she takes you for everything. I’d invite Francesca to say her piece, but I think she did well earlier. We’re done, Chambers.”

“What does that mean?” Leo looks at me with disgust.

“It means I quit. I’m selling my shares in QB New York. Maybe Beth would be interested…”