Chapter 43
-I think we need to talk,” Calen said the moment he saw Izzy walk out of the elevator.
“Do you need something?” she asked, frowning. She handed her bles to Anna. The presentation was today, and she had spent mights finalizing it. She had been out from the office while working on this project so she wasn’t surprised to see Calen already waiting for her.
“In my office,” Calen said.
Izzy followed behind him “What do you need?”
“You haven’t been in your office for days.
“I had to finish my presentation.”
“And you weren’t answering my calls,” Calen said as he opened the door.
Izzy walked inside. Calen closed the office door behind them, his expression tense as he turned to face her. She stood by the desk. setting her bag on the chair, clearly uninterested in whatever this impromptu meeting was about.
“Why have you been staying away?” Calen asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Izzy arched an eyebrow, her fingers tapping idly on the desk. “Staying away? You’re overthinking things.”
I’m not, Calen shot back. “You haven’t been in your office for days, you weren’t answering my calls, and like it’s no big deal.”
now!
you’re acting
“It isn’t,” Izzy said plainly. “I’ve been busy. You knew I had to finish my presentation. If you needed something important, you could have called Anna.”
Or you!
called back,” Calen pressed. “Or at least let me know you weren’t avoiding me.”
Izzy’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Avoiding you? What exactly makes you think I have time for that?”
Calen stepped closer, his gaze narrowing “Did you have a date with Liam Horvath?”
Izzy froze for a moment, then let out a disbelieving laugh. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the desk. “A date? Are you serious?”
“You were with him, weren’t you?” Calen continued, his voice low That’s why you didn’t return my calls. That’s why you’ve been so… distant.”
Izzy snorted, shaking her head as she looked at him. “You’re unbelievable. Out of all the things you could ask me, that’s what you’re stuck on? Liam Horvath?”
“I have every right to ask,” Calen insisted, his jaw tightening. “You’re my-”
“I’m your what, Calen? Izzy interrupted, her arms dropping to her sides. “Your employee? Your… what? Because you sure as hell aren’t acting like you care about me as a person right now.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Calen sald, taking a step back, his expression shifting. “I’m just-
“You’re just more worried about whether or not I was with Liam Horvath than how I’m actually doing. Izzy snapped. “Not once did you ask me how I’m feeling. Or if I’m okay after days of nonstop work.”
Calen ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the tension of his movements. “I’m trying to figure out why you’re
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Chapter 43
shutting me out, Izzy.”
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“Shutting you out?” Izzy repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. “I’m working. I have a life. Not everything revolves around you.”
“That’s not what this is about!” he countered, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “I know something’s going on between you and Liam.”
Izzy let out a short laugh, her expression almost pitying. “This is pathetic. Do you even hear yourself right now? Because you sound so wrapped up in your own insecurities that you’ve convinced yourself of some ridiculous story.”
“Ridiculous? You think I didn’t see the way he looked at you during the auction?” Calen asked, his voice rising slightly. “You think I don’t notice the way he’s always around you, like he’s waiting for something?”
Izzy’s eyes flashed with anger as she straightened. Was he jealous? Izzy wanted to laughed. “And you think that’s my That I’m somehow encouraging him?”
“I don’t know! Calen said, exasperated. “That’s why I’m asking!
“Well, here’s your answer,” Izzy snapped, stepping closer to him “Liam Horvath isn’t your problem, Calen. You are
fault?
Calen flinched slightly, her words hitting harder than he expected. He opened his mouth to respond but faltered, the weight of her glare silencing him.
“I don’t have time for your jealousy,” Izzy continued, her tone sharp. “If you want to know why I didn’t answer your calls, it’s because I’ve been working my ass off to fix things that shouldn’t even be my responsibility. And the last thing I need is you accusing me of whatever this is”
“Izzy, I didn’t mean-”
Izzy looked at her watch. “Presentation’s in twenty minutes.”
Calen let out a sigh. He knew how stubborn Izzy was “Then tell me what your problem is.”
“What?”
“You think I didn’t notice? You’ve been distant and acting like a spoiled brat since. since.. Calen paused, realization dawning on him. “Our anniversary. He’d actually forgotten about it
Izzy snorted. “You’re talking about anniversaries now? Can’t you” “Were you upset that I didn’t pick you up from the airport?”
Izzy was speechless. Is that the best thing that he could think of?
“Were you upset because that anniversary dinner never happened?”
Again, Izzy didn’t know what to say.
Calen added, “Izzy… were you upset because I forgot our anniversary?”
Izzy fought the urge to laugh. She didn’t think he could be this clueless–or perhaps stupid. She waited for him to ask her if she was upset that he’d been secretly screwing her cousin. But Calen didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he took a step toward her. She instinctively stepped back.
“Iwas busy. You know how Father is. The meetings are everywhere. I had to-
“I wasn’t asking. Calen, Izzy said. “And this conversation is pointless.” She straightened her clothes. “I have more important things to attend to. I’ll see you in the boardroom.”
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Izzy didn’t wait for Calen to say another word. She walked out of his office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The frustration bubbling inside her felt like it might explode at any moment. She clepched her fists as she strode toward her office.
How could someone like Calen even exist? The sheer audacity of him–accusing her of being distant, of avoiding him- while he’d been sneaking around behind her back. And now he was pulling the jealousy card? Liam Horvath! Really? He had the gall to act possessive when he couldn’t even keep his own promises.
The nerve of him calling her a spoiled brat. Izzy pressed a hand to the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off the headache threatening to ruin her morning. Spoiled brat? she thought bitterly. If anyone was spoiled, it was Calen.
The nerve of him, acting like the center of the universe. Forget the fact that she had spent weeks fixing problems he couldn’t
while be bothered to handle. Forget the endless hours she spent ensuring their shared professional obligations were met w he…. entertained Monica.
She scoffed under her breath. And to think, he had the audacity to act like missing their anniversary was the real issue. If it were just that, she might have been annoyed–but she would have forgiven him. No, this wasn’t about one missed dinner or canceled plan. It was about betrayal. His betrayal
Izzy slammed her office door behind her, leaning against it as she fought the rising tide of emotions. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to take a deep breath. Focus, Izzy. You have a presentation to deliver in fifteen minutes. You don’t have time for this nonsense.
Meanwhile, in Calen’s office, Monica hovered by the door, her arms crossed defensively.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she demanded, her voice barely above a hiss. “Why are you blaming me for forgetting your anniversary?
Calen’s gaze was sharp, his jaw tight. “Because you knew. You knew, and you didn’t remind me when it’s your fucking job to remind me! You wanted me to screw it up, didn’t you?”
Monica took a step closer, her expression incredulous. “You think this is my fault? You forgot your anniversary because you were too busy juggling whatever mess you’ve got going on. Don’t pin this on me?”
“Don’t play innocent,” Calen shot back. “You’ve been trying to drive a wedge between Izzy and me from the start.”
Monica laughed bitterly. “Oh, please. There’s no wedge to drive, Calen. You’ve been doing a fine job ruining things all by yourself.”
Calen opened his mouth to respond, but Monica cut him off, her voice dripping with venom.
“And don’t forget, you were the one who came to me. You were the one who wanted… distractions!”
