Scott's eyes narrowed, his hands balling into fists. He planted his feet shoulder width apart. “I don't really know much of anything right now. I mean, I thought I was just being paranoid wondering if my best friends were fucking each other behind my back.”
Rae scrambled to stand and wedged her way between them. Her hand covered Zach’s, and she nudged him back. “What did your attorney say?” Her words filtered through clenched teeth.
Scott didn’t look at her, still glaring at Zach. “Nothing significant. Just that we’re about to be held up in court indefinitely, wasting away our savings when we could be on an island somewhere instead.”
Rae planted a hand on each of their chests and shoved them farther apart. Her palms were hot, and a tremor ran through her arm.
How was Zach going to get her out of the way? “You were the one who didn't want to give up.” He didn't want to be having this argument here, but he wasn't going to walk away. This wasn’t the standard bullshit they’d been through since the takeover. His blood roared with an unfamiliar rage. “You blew a fuse when I even mentioned retirement. Accused me of abandoning a dream. You latched onto her idea the moment she brought it up, and you should have. It’s a fantastic fucking idea.”
Scott didn't defend himself. “Did I mention our lawyer is bailing on us because his firm is being retained by the company who's suing us? Maybe someone who was doing the paperwork might have caught that?” He glared at Rae.
“No.” Zach put as much emphasis on the word as he could. He rested a hand on Rae’s arm and gently tugged her out of the way. “Don't take this out on her. She spent a few days with our records. We've had them for years. I could have seen it coming better than her. Or maybe you might have noticed it.”
“Holy fuck, stop defending her. This is what we pay her for. Or maybe that's just an excuse to keep your piece of tail on payroll?” Scott glared at Rae. “Is that how you got him to go along with this?”
Zach wasn’t thinking anymore, and he was only vaguely aware of his own fist pulling back. It never got a chance to connect.
Rae punched Scott in the arm, the smack echoing through the entire shop. “Move.” The threat in her voice was distinct.
“I didn't mean it.” The corners of Scott's mouth pulled down.
“Get the fuck out of my way right now.” Steel lined her command. “Or I'll move you and grind your balls into the tile in the process.”
Scott stepped aside. “I'm sorry.”
“You're not.” She shouldered past him. “You wouldn't have said it if you didn't mean it. You're acting like a spoiled child. I think you've got more of your father in you than you like to admit.”
Zach smirked joylessly at the insult. It would hurt more than any fist, though he was still considering throwing a punch.
Scott's shoulders slumped. “Please?”
She held up a hand. “Don't. I did all of this for you.”
“You slept with my best friend for me?”
She stepped closer to him until they were toe to toe then looked up at him. “Tell you what. I have a solution for you. There's enough money in your budget for another employee since you're not renting office space. I hear your CFO is resigning. Maybe look into using it to hire an attorney—and consider yourself lucky said individual isn’t adding to the stack of lawsuits with sexual harassment.”
Zach processed the words. She couldn't quit. She hadn't even started yet.
“No, Rae…” Scott started, but nothing else came out.
“Don't worry about it.” The emotion was gone from her voice. “Zach was right. I'm just going to fuck everything up. You've got your numbers. You've used me for everything you needed to. Go get successful again. I'll leave you both alone.”
Had he just been dumped? Zach grabbed her wrist before she could walk away. “Wait.”
She directed her glare at him.
Zach let go. He should go after her, but he didn’t know if he could find the right things to say. He directed every ounce of fury and anger he could at Scott. For the first time in he didn’t know how long, he couldn’t find a single word for the flames raging inside.
Chapter Eighteen
Rae sat at her desk—correction, the desk in her sister’s guest bedroom. It had been three days since she walked out on Zach and Scott in the coffee shop. It was childish, but she’d ignored all their messages and calls. Scott’s words still echoed in her head every time she let her thoughts wander.
You're not his type. You'd need to be about six inches taller and ten pounds lighter.
The venom crawled through her veins until every inch of her ached. This was only supposed to be an extended vacation. A chance to hang out with her sister while Rae looked for a new job. A break from life.
I thought I was just being paranoid wondering if my best friends were fucking each other behind my back.