A Billionaire's Revenge

Ch. 24: Balmain

Carmen

Following my heated and tense conversation with Corden, I agreed to meet Archer for dinner at a popular Indian restaurant on the Upper East Side. I've been busy and distant for the past few weeks, and I'd like to say I haven't made time to see Archer because I've been working so much, but the truth is, I could have made the time to see him if I wanted to, I just...haven't. Corden has been on my mind constantly, and every time I think about our moments at The Harbor together, I feel more guilty about my relationship with Archer.

The sun is just starting to set when I enter the packed restaurant. Curry and turmeric have my stomach growling while I pull out my phone to check to see if Archer has arrived yet, but I catch him in my peripheral vision sitting in one of the booths. He's got bags under his eyes that aren't usually there, and his shirt is unbuttoned and wrinkled. The way his jaw sets when he locks eyes with me has anxiety instantly replace the growling that worked its way into my stomach.

"Hi," I say cautiously as I slide into the booth. I would have hugged him, but it doesn't seem like he's in the mood. "Are you okay?"

"No." He flicks his eyes down to the table where I see a manilla folder lying between us. "We've hardly seen each other the past few weeks Carmen, and it's been bothering the hell out of me. I couldn't help wondering if there was someone else, or why you never wanted to spend the night at my place..." He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me you're a stripper?"

I flinch at the aggressive tone in his voice before the anger settles deep in my gut. "You followed me?"

"I didn't know what the hell was going on with you! It's my fucking job to get to the bottom of things, Carmen."

"No." I push the manilla folder towards him, completely uninterested in seeing whatever he compiled. "Your job is to track criminals. Your job is to track down the bad guys. Not your girlfriend."

"Oh, so I was just supposed to remain naive this whole time to your other life? We slept together for fucks sake! I'm lucky I didn't catch an STD."

Thank God it's packed in here. The loud noises from the kitchen and numerous people around us drown out our conversation, giving us some semblance of privacy.

"Is that what you think I do? Fuck people for money?"

"You might as well. You're showing off everything that should be kept private for me to enjoy. Not countless other guys. It's...It's not appropriate for a woman in a relationship."

Is he fucking serious right now? This is exactly why I don't get into relationships in the first place. Men like Archer are so insecure that they'll never be able to accept a woman who knows who she is. They'll never be able to have a beautiful woman on their arm when they're always worried about men checking their girlfriends out rather than appreciating her themselves.

"Do you have any self-respect?" He continues. "At all?"

I told myself I wouldn't cry if this ever happened again, yet here I am with blurred vision at his accusations. Granted, it wasn't right that I didn't tell him. He deserved to know. But it's not fair to me to say that my one passion means I have no self-respect. That's the furthest thing from the truth.

Swiping away a tear, I say, "Whatever is in that folder, you can keep it. I don't need to see it. We're done here."

He narrows his eyes. "You have nothing to say? Not even a sorry?"

"The only thing I'm sorry about is not telling you sooner because then I'd have figured out you were a judgmental dick months ago and saved myself some time. We're over, Archer. This is done." Sliding out of the booth, he snaps his mouth closed. I owe him no explanations when he's treating me like dirt beneath his shoe. It'd be a waste of my breath to tell him dancing is my passion when he's got his mind made up about strippers.