The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 858

"I didn't bring it up earlier because I didn't think it was a big deal," Gavin said.

He wasn't clueless. If he couldn't figure out something this basic, he had no right to be in charge of a company. The truth was, he'd never given it much thought before.

Gavin had assumed Sherry might be mad for a day or two, but that would be the end of it. It never occurred to him that things would spiral out of control like this.

"Do you seriously think I'm stupid? Did you really believe I wouldn't catch on to what you've been up to?" Gavin demanded.

Yvette didn't respond. Gavin didn't have the patience to keep arguing. He climbed into his car and drove off without saying another word.

At the bar, he ordered a couple of bottles of liquor and then called Steven. "Are you free tonight? Come meet me. I'm in a bad spot."

Steven, who had just returned home hoping to spend time with his family, didn't hesitate. "I'll be there."

He turned to Jessica. "Gavin needs me. I've got to go."

Worn out from her own day, Jessica didn't have it in her to push back. "Fine."

"Alright."

…

When Steven stepped into the private room, the sharp smell of alcohol hit him right away. He took a seat next to Gavin.

"What's with the drinking? What's going on?" he asked.

"I even told myself Sherry wasn't Annalise. She loved me. She'd never walk away."

He offered a bitter smile. "When she ignored me for two days, I thought she was just angrier than usual. But she always caved first.

"I got used to making her give in. So I forced her hand—to apologize to Yvette or lose her job. I was certain she'd toe the line."

Gavin's eyes fixed on the ceiling as he continued, "Instead, she quit. She chose to lose me over sticking it out just to keep the peace."

Steven took in his broken expression, scrambling for something comforting to say. "Maybe it's not as bad as it seems."

"Yvette said the same thing at first," Gavin replied, shaking his head.