“That’s not true!”
“Yes, it is. I let you get away with it because I understand where your overprotective instincts are coming from.” She took a breath, and another thought occurred to her. “Why are you telling me now?”
Davis walked over to the bar. He poured himself a drink. Her eyes followed his every move. He felt her angry gaze burn into his body. Davis turned his glass up and downed it before answering. He needed the fiery liquid to calm him. His sigh could be heard from across the room. “This entire clusterfuck will probably hit the media in the next few hours. My attorney and the PR company I hired will be here any minute to discuss our strategy.”
Disappointed, Nicole shook her head. “So, you still didn’t tell me because you value me as your partner. You’re telling me because I need to be informed on how to play my part as the dutiful Stepford housewife.”
“Nicole! That’s not true, and you know it!”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Do I? How would I know that? What major decisions have you included me in since we’ve been together?”
“Are we really doing this right now? Do you understand I don’t know who is behind all of this? You and the kids could be in danger if someone wants revenge for me bringing down that cell five years ago. I could go to prison and lose everything that I’ve worked my ass off for the past thirteen years!”
Nicole turned away. She didn’t want Davis to see her cry. How was she supposed to argue with the laundry list of things he had just said? He was right. But he was also so wrong for not valuing her. This was a big problem and not one she was sure their marriage could survive, but how was she ever going to make him see that? The pain in her chest ached so badly it was as if she’d been physically assaulted. For now, she needed to put her own emotions to the side. This was a crisis and Davis didn’t need her piling on. She whispered, “Excuse me. I’ve got to go to the bathroom.” Nicole stormed out and went into the nearest bathroom down the hall. She ignored his calls as she went inside and closed the door.
Nicole’s heart was racing. She stood in front of the sink looking at her reflection, then turned on the cool water. She splashed some over her hot face and yanked a towel from off the wall to dry it.
She rolled her shoulders hoping to relieve some of the tension. How the hell am I supposed to help Davis get through this if he doesn’t value me or my opinions? What else is he keeping from me? Nicole’s nerves were shot. She needed to calm down. Then she remembered—the pills. They were not only good for pain, but they numbed a lot of shit. Just one or two would take the edge off. She had been holding on to her purse ever since she walked through the front door. Without a second thought, Nicole pulled them out, opened the bottle, and shook out two of them. Her hands were shaky, but she put them in her mouth and washed them down with a handful of water from the sink. Again, she stared at her reflection, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. When she opened them, Nicole felt as if she could face whatever else was coming.
Chapter 13
Nicole heard voices. She walked down the hallway, and was about to walk into a living room full of strangers, when Davis spotted her coming. He met her before she stepped into the lion’s den. The tension was written all over her face. However, Nicole’s primary concern was for her children. She was doing her best to constrain her warring emotions. “Where’s Rayna?”
At least on this front, Davis could set her mind at ease. “She's home from school. I sent her outside to play with Teena and DJ. Nicole, are we okay?”
“If you are asking me “will I behave for this meeting,” yes. I will deserve an Oscar for the performance I’m about to put on.”
He was frustrated too. “Don’t do this.”
Nicole remained silent.
He sighed. They would have to continue this argument later. Davis looked over his shoulder. “It’s an all hands on deck kind of meeting.”
“Seems like it. Do you really need all of those people?”
He attempted a smile something of a peace offering.
Her face remained set like stone.
Davis raked his hands through his hair. “According to them, I do. They are supposed to be the best of the best. Let’s go inside, and I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
It’s well past time that you did that. And, as angry as she was with Davis, she loved the man. Nicole did her best to shelve her anger for now. She nodded. “Let’s meet your dream team.”
Davis spent a few moments introducing her. She plastered on a tight smile and shook too many hands to count. It wasn’t as if Nicole hadn’t done this very thing at dinner parties
