Crack.
The glass shattered in my grip.
They stared at the shards in my hand, momentarily stunned.
"Who exactly do you think you're humiliating?"
I'd spent years outpacing Marcus. Not just in degrees and credentials. In athletics, too.
The woman hit the floor hard.
"You ungrateful little—"
I turned to leave.
A bottle smashed against the back of my skull.
My vision swam. But years of disciplined training kept my legs under me. I gritted my teeth, seized the woman who'd blindsided me by the throat, and slammed her head into the table.
"You want to ruin me?" I looked down at her. "You're not even close."
Slap.
A palm cracked across my face without warning.
I stumbled two steps and caught myself on the back of a sofa.
Eileen stood there, brow furrowed.
"All I did was accept Marcus's proposal. What is wrong with you?"
My parents came rushing out at the commotion. Mom took one look at the women groaning in pain and shoved me hard.
"What do you think you're doing? Just because your brother got engaged to Eileen today, you're going to trash the place?
"It's your grandfather's birthday! Can you act like an adult for once?"
The guests hadn't heard what those women said to me. They looked over with disapproving frowns.
"You're twenty-five years old. Grow up. She doesn't want you. Throwing punches and breaking things isn't going to change that."
Marcus's eyes went red.
"Russ, if you really can't handle it, here." He held up his hand, tugging at his ring. "Take it. Just please stop making this harder for us."
He actually started pulling the ring off his finger.
Eileen grabbed his hand and stopped him.
"Russ Farley, are you really this pathetic? I'm engaged and you're still causing a scene?" She tilted her chin up. "You want to be with me that badly?"
She pulled Marcus closer.
"Make Marcus happy first. Then I'll consider you."
"Eileen?" Marcus turned to look at her.
She gave a soft laugh. "He won't leave me alone, so we might as well use it. But if he wants me to accept him, he has to get through you first." She traced a finger along Marcus's jaw. "I'm sure you can find ways to keep him in line."
Something flickered behind Marcus's eyes. Delight.
Eileen looked at me. "There. Simple enough for you to understand?"
I touched the cheek she'd slapped.
Said nothing.
Just stepped forward.
Slap.
Gave it right back.
Mom grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?"
Marcus let out a strangled gasp. "Russ! If you want to hit someone, hit me! Don't touch her!"
"Hit you?" I laughed. "You're not worth the effort."
"You—"
"Eileen."
I looked her dead in the eye. "As CEO of Apex Group, I'm terminating your employment. Don't bother showing up."
"Apex?" She blinked.
Then a cold smile spread across her face. "A lovesick puppy who throws himself at women he can't have, working at Apex? Please."
Marcus gave me a pitying look. "Russ, are you okay? Did I push you over the edge? This is my fault. I should've kept the engagement quiet. I'm sorry I hurt you."
Mom glared at me. "Apex is a Fortune 500 company. If you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
The guests doubled over laughing.
"The second those words left his mouth, I knew he'd completely lost it."
"This is what happens when obsession goes too far. He's actually hallucinating that he works at the same company as her. Apex's hiring process is brutal. I applied three times and never got in."
Eileen's phone buzzed.
I saw the name on the screen. It was my business partner.
Eileen froze.
"You're nearby? Okay, I'll come get you."
She hung up and shot me a look, brows knitted together. "Get him out of here. Don't let him make a scene in front of the VP."
Hands grabbed me immediately.
Someone's eyes lit up. "The VP of Apex is actually coming? Oh my God, I might actually meet someone like that?"
"Thanks to Eileen, we get to meet a Fortune 500 executive!"
"Would you hurry up and drag this lunatic out of here? He's ruining everything!"
They urged the staff to move faster.
But the very next second, a voice cut through the room.
"Russ!"
Eileen thought she'd misheard.
"Ms. Fox, who are you calling?"
Paige walked right past her, straight toward me.
"Russ! This is all a huge misunderstanding!"
The staff member gripping my arm went rigid. She let go instantly.
