Wild For You: Forever Wild #5 Read Online Free PDF Page B

pictures and back to Max.
    Max pointed at one of the sheets of paper in the folder that sat underneath the pictures. “I approached Wes a few weeks ago and offered him a large sum of money if he would leave you. Here you will see my bank statement that shows how much money I gave him as well as the name for another attorney.”
    I shook my head, staring at the pictures. Wes wouldn’t do this to me. There was no way he would do that. But the evidence was there. The pictures did n’t look Photoshopped and I had worked with plenty of graphic designers to know Photo-shopping. There he was taking the money.
    “Why did you do this?” I asked, feeling tears prick my eyes , but I pushed them back.
    “Honestly, Valerie, I didn’t think he’d take the money. I thought he’d have some southern gentleman complex and refuse it, but he took it without hesitation. I thought maybe he might try to return it to me, but I hadn’t heard anything from him and he looked completely stunned to see me the other night.”
    I shook my head. “This can’t be true,” I whispered.
    Max sighed. “I wish it wasn’t. I w ish he could have been the man you needed and I’m sorry that he isn’t. I’m very sorry you had to hear this from me, but I felt I had to be honest with you and let you know what kind of man you were married to.”
    I stood up, dropping the pictures onto the table. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and all I wanted to do was run and cry. After saying that he loved me and sharing so many moments with me , he had betrayed me all for money. I couldn’t believe that the guy I’d given my heart to could hurt me so bad. “I ... I ... have to go.”
    “Wait, Valerie.” Max seized my arm and I gasped, turning toward him. “Please know that I offered him that money for us. And I hope that maybe things will work out for the better in the long run.”
    I pulled my arm from him. “Don’t think you’re saving me by showing me some pictures and your ledger of bribe money you gave to my husband. It doesn’t make you any better or make me want to date you anymore than when I walked in.”
    “But, Valerie ...”
    I put my hand up. “Don’t. Just stop right there. I’m sick of this shit. I’m not going to be anyone’s dirty little secret or someone that can be traded for money. I’m my own woman and I’ve done a damn good job of taking care of myself for the past twenty-two years, and if all you want me for is so you have someone else to own then sorry, but fuck you, Max Green, because Valerie Wilder cannot be bought.”
    I grabbed a cranberry scone off the table. “But I am taking this!” I shoved it in my purse and turned, walking out of the dining room toward the living room.
    “Valerie, wait!” he yelled after me.
    But I didn’t turn back. I could have just royally screwed up my career and possibly been broke, but I didn’t care because as soon as I got in the elevator by myself I let all the tears that I’d been holding in pour out.

An Hour Later
     
    I had to give myself a pep talk in the Starbucks bathroom before I could muster up the courage to hail a cab home. The person I thought I was in love with had accepted a bribe to leave me. What the hell? Our thirty days to sign the papers were almost up and I had planned on just shredding the papers and calling the lawyer to tell him the same thing, but I wondered if Wes had other plans. Maybe all along he was just going to leave me with the money and was just figuring out the best way to do it.
    Or maybe it was all a mistake. And that was the conversation I had with myself over and over until I got in the cab and finally took the ride back to my apartment. Once I stepped inside , the apartment was silent. Dexter was on the couch and growled at me as soon as I stepped near it.
    “Not now, cat, I’m looking for Wes,” I grumbled.
    I took a step toward the bathroom and heard the shower running. He must have had a personal training session that morning.