I rush out of my apartment before Ashton gets home or someone calls. I don’t want anyone to know where I’m going. No one will think this is a great idea—maybe it’s not—however it’s what I truly think will stop this. It’s time to be done with Neil and I know him better than most. He’s a chickenshit. He’ll give up because he’s driven by money and I have the upper hand. Gretchen is a fantastic lawyer, but this can’t go to court. People can’t know that not only did the CEO of Raven Cosmetics beat up a man, but that man is also my ex. It’ll destroy us both.

The drive over takes no time. His car is outside his house, which surprises me—I thought I’d have to wait for him. I take a deep breath and ready myself for whatever might happen. Hopefully, we’ll both come out of this unscathed.

Ringing the doorbell, I suddenly start to consider this is a mistake. Shit.

The door opens and Neil holds on to the door with his eyes narrowed. “Catherine, this is a surprise.”

I place my hands in my pockets and hold on to the rings. “We have some things to settle and discuss,” I say sternly. Luckily my voice doesn’t give any of my fear away.

“Do we?” he asks, curling his upper lip.

“Why are you doing this? Why would you want to continue this? You’ve moved on, why am I not allowed the same luxury?” I say emotionless. I’m trying to keep myself in check and to not let my own anger take over.

He pushes the door open and leans against the frame. “I don’t care if you move on. You have my things and I need them back. All of this could’ve been handled easily. I told you I needed to talk but you were being a bitch.”

Shoving down the anger threatening to spill over, I remember I’m trying to get him to go away and getting into a fight with him will only make matters worse. “Listen, I’m here to talk and handle all of it, but if you’d rather act like an asshole then I’ll go.”

I start to turn but he speaks up. “Wait, how do you think we can settle this?”

“I have no idea. That’s why I’m here. I want you to leave me alone. So what caused you to come to my apartment and assault me?” I raise my brow and step forward. I need him to see I’m not afraid. He left bruises and I can easily prove it, but I won’t play that card until I have to.

He gives a short bark of a laugh. “You’re confused, love. Your boyfriend broke my nose. I didn’t assault anyone.”

“Don’t call me ‘love.’” I say acidly. “Jackson only kicked your ass after you grabbed me,” I remind him and smile. “I’m not here to debate with you. I want to know what I have to do to get rid of you completely. Why are you doing this shit? We broke up. You made it abundantly clear you didn’t want me, so why all the theatrics?”

This is the part that keeps confusing me. Things ended, I moved on, I didn’t continue to make his life miserable even though I wanted to. Did I destroy some of his things? Yes, and I’d do it again. But something doesn’t add up.

Neil shifts forward with his hand in his pocket. “I need my ring back and I need the money you took from me.”

“Money? This is what made you come after me?” I ask looking at him wondering how all of this is over money.

He sighs and runs his hands through his hair and grasps his neck. “I need the ring and the money. If you give me that, I promise you’ll never see me again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I clip, infuriated. “If you need money why didn’t you ask your new girlfriend?” I ask and then cut him off before he can answer. “You know what? I don’t care. I don’t want your rings. I don’t want your money or anything to do with you. I’ll give you the rings back and you can sell them, wear them, or hell—give them to Piper. I don’t give a shit. I want you gone. I never want you to call me, text me, show up at my job, or anything. You’ll never have existed except in some horrific memory that I’ll do my best to forget.” I grab the rings in my hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Neil steps forward and drops his hands at his side. I can’t read him but he seems calm. “You have them?”

“I asked if you’ll go away if I give them to you. That means you drop this bullshit about coming after me or Jackson. It means you take them and you cease to exist in my life. No more calls, no lawyers, no more money … nothing. I loved you once. You owe me this.” I step toward him daring him to push me. I’ll take the rings and walk the hell out of here.

“I just need the money, Cat. I don’t care about anything else,” he says and looks at his feet.

“What kind of trouble are you in?” I don’t know why I care but my curiosity wins out.

He looks up at me and shakes his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

There’s a small part of me that feels for him—an extremely small part.

“Fine, here.” I hand him the rings and he grips them in his hand. “I mean it. We’re done in every sense of the word.” I turn without looking at him and get in my car.

I start the car and when I pull out, I give one last glance at the man who was my world for five years. The first person to ask me to be his wife. Of course he turned out to be the worst mistake, but for a while, I loved him. He’s still standing on his stoop staring at me. I fight the urge to wave, so I drive away leaving my past behind me.

I look at my phone and see I have two missed calls from Jackson.

Great.

I grab my phone and quickly call him back.

“Hey, babe,” I say trying to act nonchalant as a car honks past me while I try to silence my music.

“Hi,” Jackson replies with a hint of confusion. “Are you driving?”

“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it when I get back to your place. I’m stopping off at my apartment to grab a few things and I should be there in about an hour,” I explain hoping it mollifies him for the time being.

“I can’t wait to hear it. I called the office and Taylor said you left early and I should see you soon. I was getting worried since it’s been two hours and not a word,” Jackson’s gruff voice radiates concern.

“I promise I’ll explain everything when I get there. I love you,” I say as sweetly as I can.

“I’ll see you then. I love you, too,” Jackson says and then disconnects the call.

No matter what I tell him, the fallout is going to be bad, so I might as well get it over with. He wanted me to stay away from Neil, but I simply needed to handle this. Part of my job is to protect him and Raven, and if he were to get pulled into some assault drama with his publicist’s ex-boyfriend, it would get ugly real quick. I have to look at this like I was doing my job.

Now I need to convince Jackson of the same thing.

I get back to my apartment to drop off the car, and of course with my luck I turn and see Ashton is walking in the building at the same time. Seriously, my timing sucks.

“Cat?” Ashton asks with narrowed eyes.

“Hey,” I say and walk over to her, wrapping my arms around her. I’ve missed her, no matter what tongue-lashing’s about to come. I’m happy to see her.