The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 23

Lark answered her phone knowing exactly who it would be as she stared at the unknown caller on the call display. He had changed his number too many times to count. She put it on speaker as she swung on the porch swing, one toe rocking on the deck boards.

“What do you want?”

“You. Come home. We can get a new place, Lark. We can start over. I’m not mad about the car or the condo. I deserved it. Please. Come home to Houston. Please.”

“Doug, it’s not happening. Stop calling me.”

“I won’t babe. Not until you agree to come home. I miss you so much.”

“Call your secretary.”

“I never called her before, and I haven’t answered a single call from her since the day you caught us. Come home. We will have dinner and talk. Really talk.”

“Has it not occurred to you there is nothing you will say I want to hear? Your excuses are worthless to me. I will never, ever trust you again.”

“Don’t say this, Lark. Please.”

“Doug, you cheated on me. With someone you didn’t even like. What happens when a woman you do like flirts with you? I can’t trust you won’t put your d**k in another woman.”

“You’re leaving me no choice, Lark.”

“What do you mean?” something in his tone made her stop the swing and listen attentively.

“I mean we were living together Lark. I can sue you for spousal support. Either come back to me or I’ll drag you through court.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Spousal support. We’ve been living together a year. Legally it makes us common law.”

She laughed loudly at his comments. “You’re an i***t,” she finally gasped out. “You studied corporate law, and you barely passed the bar. I know you have absolutely zero knowledge of family law, but you should know my grandmother was a family law lawyer for many years before she was a judge in family court. I actually considered following her footsteps before switching to corporate. Unlike you, I know in Texas unless you can prove we presented as married or identifying each other as spouses, then you’re out of luck. You always introduced me as your girlfriend. We filed separate taxes. We’re not on each other’s insurance plans. We never agreed to be considered married to one another. The condo was rented because I wasn’t ready to commit to home ownership with you, which is documented in writing at the condo rental agency because I completed a form when we rented it which stated we reserved the right to buy the condo in the event we married. We never did. It wouldn’t matter if we lived together a week or ten years if I never once considered myself your wife. You are s**t out of luck.”

“I lost everything, Lark. It’s only fair you support me.”

“You lost everything because you f****d a subordinate in the workplace. You violated so many HR policies it baffles me how you thought anything other than a termination was going to occur. The s****I harassment policy alone was violated by having s*x in your office, lewd and lascivious behavior with a subordinate. Not to mention inappropriate use of office equipment considering the way you used your desk, support your termination. Everything you did violated your employment contract. None of this is my fault. I don’t owe you anything.”

“I am living in my mother’s spare bedroom, Lark. I can’t get a job because someone keeps telling my prospective interviewers I was fired for s****I misconduct and coercion of a subordinate. They didn’t even give me a full severance package, Lark. I know you got one and you probably already have a new job lined up. We were together three years.?”

“We dated for two years and lived together one, as lovers, not a married couple, and” she took a breath, “I don’t give a s**t what your living or financial situation is. You cheated on me with your secretary who was for all intents of the workplace, your employee. You screwed up and this is not on me.”

“Well, what about the guy?”

“What guy?”

“The one who gave me this broken nose and cheekbone? My eyes are swollen almost shut, Lark. Who was he? Is he your lover?”

“Are you kidding me right now?” she scoffed at his accusation. “You mean Max? My childhood best friend?”

“Wait, he was Ollie’s brother, Max?”

“Yeah. Why do you think he came at you? You made me cry.”

“I thought you didn’t get along with him.”

“I didn’t. I don’t,” she shrugged as she stared straight ahead fighting her racing heart as she recalled the way they woke up earlier. “But I’ve known him since the day he was born. We shared a crib and playpens and grew up together. We’re family and he will always have my back.” As she said the words a strange calmness filled her. “It doesn’t matter how much we fight and hate on each other, we always protect each other. He hates when I cry and while he’ll tell me it’s good to let it all out and hug me while I do, he will he also won’t hold back on punishing whoever is responsible for my tears.”

“Well, I’ll sue him.”

“Go ahead,” she laughed. “Guess whose firm represents him? Dad recently hired a new lawyer. Let me give you a cluse who he hired, Doug? I’ll represent Max pro bono. I’ll even put all twelve family members on the stand who will all attest to the fact you tried to hit me first and Max defended me.”

“That never happened!” Douglas screamed at her.

“Really? It’s how I remember it. In fact, I remember you raising your hand to strike me, and being frightened, falling to my knees and Max seeing what was happening and defended me, the woman he considers his other sister.”