Promise Me Always by Kari March Read Free Book Online Page B

strong. I didn’t so much as get it out of my mouth and there was a knock at my door. God, he got up here fast!
    “Tessa, open the door. Even if you’re done with me, can I please just see you one last time so I can say goodbye? Please, babe,” he pleaded.
    I hesitated for a minute. I didn’t want to open the door but, somehow, he always could get me to do things I didn’t want to do.
    “Please, I’m begging you.”
    I sat there for a few moments, debating if letting him in was a good idea or not. I knew he wouldn’t give up if I didn’t. He would stay out there all damn day, trapping me inside my apartment and I had things I needed to do. I finally gave in, figuring this conversation had to take place sooner or later and it was best just to get it over with. Hopefully, it would be fast and painless, like ripping off a bandage. When I opened the door, he was sitting on his knees with his head down. In his arms were a dozen long stem pink roses.
    He looked like hell. His shaggy dark brown hair was all messed up, like he had been running his hands through it all night. His dark green eyes were blood shot and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. I silently stared at him as he looked everywhere but at me. The look on his face was despondent and, for a split second, I actually felt bad for running away last night and not speaking to him. Then images of him and Monica replayed in my mind and I had to close my eyes to keep from crying again. This man that I had loved, trusted, given my heart to, completely betrayed me. I had given up so much to be with him and I lost a piece of me along the way. I silently cursed myself for allowing him to control me for so long. I was always so scared to upset him in fear of what the backlashes would be—but not anymore. He caused me enough pain over the past six months and I was done.
    After what seemed like an eternity, he stood up and wrapped his arms around me. I pushed him away. “No, Jared. It isn’t going to work this time. You fucked your assistant and lied to me.” I walked back into my apartment, making my way over to the kitchen. I couldn’t let him near me—I had to stay strong. “How long have you been seeing her?”
    He followed me, closing the door behind him. He set the flowers on the counter, pushing his hand through his hair as he spoke. “It was only that one time, babe. Please believe me. I never would have done it but,” he paused for a moment, probably trying to come up with the perfect lie. “She black mailed me, Tess.”
    “Really, Jared?” I asked in disbelief. “You had all night to think about this and that is the best you could come up with?” I said, anger dripping from every word. “What could she possibly have to blackmail you with?”
    “I messed up at work—big time. I screwed up this huge multimillion dollar commercial account and my father would kill me if he found out. I have been trying to fix everything on my own. I left some paperwork on my desk and Monica must have seen it. She threatened to tell my father if I didn’t sleep with her. She has been trying to seduce me since the day I hired her,” he explained, his eyes pleading with me to believe him.
    “Why didn’t you just fire her a long time ago if she was trying to seduce you? Or at least turn her into HR?” I questioned him, not buying the story he was feeding me.
    “At first, I was flattered that she found me attractive. I never flirted back, but I still thought it was cute. Then it started to get out of control. I was going to fire her, but then I fucked up the account. I got so wrapped up in trying to fix it that I didn’t have time to worry about her. Yesterday morning, right before you called me, she threatened to tell my father everything that I had done if I didn’t take her home after work and fuck her.”
    “So—let me get this straight. You cheated on me to save your ass? How romantic,” I said, looking at him with disgust. “Why didn’t you just go