My mind shut down the moment I laid eyes on them. All I could think about was why? I couldn’t understand why he would do that, why I ever doubted his reputation, why he would play the games he did; and least of all, why I ever fell for him at all. When the sound of the blonde woman’s ridiculing laugh hit my ears, I started to shake. I wanted to hurl the heavy grocery bag at them and run out only to never see him again. I felt the anger and humiliation hotly flooding over my body.

 

But what got to me the most was that I had fallen for Remi’s play yet again.

 

I shook again, not caring that the groceries were spread out over the floor. The shattered jar of sauce that splattered on my shoes and ankles didn’t matter.

 

“You had the nerve to try and say that you’re different,” I said. My voice sounded hollow and cracked.

 

Remi looked at me. He was astonished and worried. I didn’t care. I knew he was only concerned about losing at whatever sick game he was playing. “Evelyn, you have to listen to me,” he said in a pleading voice.

 

“I don’t have to do anything,” I spat back.

 

“I know, I just need to tell you what happened. Evelyn, please listen. That’s all I… Look, I had no idea Stacy wa–”

 

“Stacy?!” I shrieked, losing complete and total composure. I felt rage and surge through my veins.

 

But the moment was interrupted by my phone ringing. I took a deep breath before looking at who was calling. My stomach dropped; it was the realtor. I gulped and answered the call with shaking hands as I stared at Remi in anger.

 

“Hello,” I croaked.

 

“Ms. Page, I’m glad to be able to reach you even if it is with unfortunate news,” Mrs. Danson’s voice came in. My heart sank into my churning stomach. “I’m very sorry, Ms. Page, but the property has been bought by another buyer.”

 

My entire body shook. I felt white-hot tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I choked them back. I didn’t want to cry in front of Remi over this. There was no way I’d allow him that glimpse of vulnerability. I would never give him the satisfaction of seeing me break because I lost the bid to the perfect piece of property for my dream restaurant. I shook harder thinking of the satisfied look on his face were he to find out. I could practically hear his taunting. This was the last thing I needed on top of the little scene I had just walked in on.

 

In spite of myself, there was a question I absolutely had to ask before ending the call. And even though I knew the answer already before the question left my lips, I still opened my mouth and asked anyway, “Who?”

 

Mrs. Danson hesitated for a brief moment before answering, “Mr. Parker.”

 

I felt my knees buckle under my shaking body and I struggled to keep from collapsing. Remi stepped forward to catch me, but stopped when I shot him a look of warning. My hands clenched into a fist, fingernails digging deep into the palms of my hands. I finally understood what it meant to ‘see red.’ Only it was so much more than that. It felt like a betrayal. Just like my father had warned at the fundraising dinner, someone with the last name Parker really was a snake waiting to screw me over.

 

“Well, thank you for letting me know,” I finally managed to say to the realtor with a quivering voice.

 

I ended the call and dropped my hand, staring straight ahead in a daze. I had been staring at Remi the entire conversation, but now it was more like I was looking through him. I shut my eyes and took a long breath, hand clutched over my chest. I needed to calm down. Being in such a worked up state wouldn’t do me any good. When I finally opened my eyes Remi was still staring at me. There was pain in his eyes; it was unmistakable. I knew there was pain in my eyes as well. I had no idea why he was in pain, nor did I care. 

 

I walked over to him and gave him the dirtiest look I could. “I thought you were just some playboy asshole that liked to fuck a lot of women and then pretend like they didn’t exist. Now I know the truth. You’re much, much worse than the man I thought you were. Cook your own damn food, Remi Parker. I quit.”

 

With that I stormed into my room, grabbed what little belongings I had there, and walked straight past him on my way out to the elevator.