She, the Kingdom (She #1)(54)

“What about us?”

He hesitated, and then his eyes drifted behind me again. “Morgan,” he said, pained. “I’m married. There is no us.”

“You’re married,” I said, crossing my arms over my middle. “I saw your wife today. She told me why I was the best candidate.” I spat the word wife like it was poison in my mouth.

He paled.

“She said you looked through my medical records and knew I couldn’t have another baby, not that that was a threat because I was just unattractive enough that you assured Sophie she didn’t have to worry. I’m short, dumpy, with a mess of frizzy hair,” I quoted her, the words hurting all over again. “So don’t stand there and say this is over because you have feelings. Don’t stand there and pretend you give two shits about what will happen to me.”

He took a step forward. “I do. Very much.”

I felt tears burn my eyes for the second time that day, because of the Kingstons. Max noticed and reached out to me. “Morgan. You are none of those things. You’re smart, self-sufficient, kind.”

“Is this the part where you’re going to tell me I have a pretty face?”

Max seemed stunned. “Absolutely not. Every inch of you is stunning. You’re beautiful inside and out. I’ve always thought so.”

I turned my body and looked away, letting him know not to come closer. “You fired me to hire me for this. Now you’re firing me again. This has to be some kind of fraud, or harassment, or…”

His eyebrows pulled in, forming two deep lines. “You’ll be paid and won’t have to see me again. I thought you’d be relieved.”

I met his gaze. His eyes were so sad. He hated to see tears falling down my cheeks. He was doing this for me.

“I’ll find something on my own. You’ve been very generous, but I’m not taking anything else from you.”

“Morgan, you have to. I need to make sure you’ll be all right.”

I watched him, wary. He wasn’t here to sleep. He wasn’t here to fight. “First, you blame me for ruining everything, and now you insist on severance.”

“I’m sorry.”

I wrinkled my nose, disgusted at the embarrassment and failure weighing down his eyes. “Stop apologizing.”

“This isn’t your fault. I should’ve never involved you.”

My eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?” When he didn’t answer, I guessed. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

He sighed and looked down. “The contract amendment should be here in the morning. Please sign as quickly as possible.”

“You’re not staying,” I said, surprised.

“No. I’m not. I just needed to tell you face-to-face. I need to apologize. This isn’t what I meant to happen at all. I’m sorry, Morgan. I truly am.”

I wiped my cheek, now too angry for tears. I wasn’t even sure why I’d been crying. He was right. He was willing to pay me for nothing. Anyone else would have felt like they’d won the lottery, but something wasn’t right. The look on Sophie’s face earlier was burned into my brain. She had put some kind of plan in motion, and Max had played right into her hands. I could see the defeat on his face.

“Why don’t you be a man and say it?” I asked. It was a last resort, hoping for a glimmer of his old self. I wanted him to fight, for himself… and for me.

He frowned. “Say what?”

I spat the words after a second of hesitation. “That Sophie won.”

His shoulders fell, and he glared up at the corner of my bedroom. “Just sign the papers, Morgan.”

I turned around, staring at the spot on the ceiling where his gaze had drifted. There was a vent with a metal covering, painted white to match my walls. I looked at Max, and then back at the vent. “What are you…?” My mouth fell open. He’d been talking to me like he was being watched. Like we were being watched. “No. No, no, no, no…” I said, moving the chair beneath the metal rectangle. I stepped up, pulled the vent cover off, and stared at a small black camera attached to a small black wire. Without thinking, I yanked the camera out and stepped down with it in my hand. “What the f*ck is this?” When Max didn’t answer, I put it on the corner table, grabbed the closest shoe and pounded the heel onto the camera. It broke into a dozen pieces.

Max puffed out a breath of air like he’d been holding it since he’d arrived.

“She’s been watching us?” I asked. “Recording us. Gathering proof that you’re cheating.” The thought made me shudder, but then anger replaced the panic. “Is that why you’re here? To save yourself some alimony?”

“No!” he yelled. “I don’t give a damn about me, Morgan. I’m trying to protect you! That’s all I care about!”

I blinked, still trying to process his words.

He stumbled over to me, his eyes glossing over. Two day-old whiskers covered his jaw, his red-rimmed eyes were puffy. I half expected him to smell like bourbon, but he didn’t. Just of soap and shampoo. He grabbed my throat with one hand, barely putting any pressure against my skin. His thumb traced my jawline as he stared at my lips.

“You were right. She’s broke. Her family never had money. It was all bullshit.”