Page 6 of Snow

Nova clenched her fists as she moved toward the bedroom. The door was closed, but the voices were clearer now. She recognized Rick’s smooth, smug tone and Piper’s breathy giggle. Piper was the firm’s receptionist and had a reputation for ending up in bed with just about every willing man who walked through the office doors.

Nova stood there, burning with betrayal, as Piper’s giggles and moans floated through the door.

“Are you sure Nova won’t find out?” Piper asked, low and playful.

“Relax, she thinks I’m out of town,” Rick answered. “Plus, she’s too naive to suspect anything.”

Hearing those words come out of Rick’s mouth made something inside Nova snap.

With shaky hands, she pulled out her phone and flipped it to video mode. If they wanted to betray her, fine. But they weren’t getting away with it.

She cracked open the door just enough to get a shot of them moaning and groaning as they screwed each other. Nova was disgusted knowing she had slept in that bed. Not that she and Rick had a very active, adventurous sex life.

She took a deep breath, then kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall and rattled the pictures.

“What the fuck—” Rick started to say, but his words died on his lips when he saw her standing there, phone raised, and capturing every moment.

Nova’s mouth twisted into a bitter smirk as she stared at the scene. Piper was straddling Rick, both of them stark naked, their bodies flushed.

“Well,” Nova said in a sharp tone, as she tilted her phone for a better angle. “Don’t mind me. Just catching the two of you in all your professional glory.”

Piper let out a shriek and dove off Rick, grabbing for the sheets to cover herself. Rick sat up fast. His face was white as a ghost as he tried to shield himself with a pillow.

“Shit! Nova! I swear it’s not what it looks like!” Rick blurted out, his voice sounding desperate.

Nova barked out a humorless laugh. “Oh, really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re screwing the firm’s receptionist.”

Rick stumbled to his feet, nearly tripping over his and Piper’s clothes on the floor.

Nova lowered her phone and stopped recording. She slipped it back into her bag.

“You know,” Nova said coldly, folding her arms across her chest, “I should have listened to people months ago and gotten rid of your sorry ass. But at least I saw the real you before I made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Rick paled even more as Nova took a step closer and jabbed her finger in his direction.

“Congratulations, you just flushed two and a half years down the toilet.”

“Nova, please, just listen,” Rick pleaded.

Nova shook her head in disgust. “I think I heard enough.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I’ve just been stressed.”

Nova’s eyes widened. “You were stressed? Damn. I usually eat a pint of ice cream or scream into a pillow when I’m stressed. Maybe next time I’m feeling stressed, I’ll just hop on the first dick I see.”

She wrinkled her nose up. “I can’t decide what smells worse in here, the sex or the bullshit.”

“Come on, Nova. You’re overreacting. It was just sex. It meant nothing.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you honestly think that makes a difference? You fucked another woman while in a committed relationship with me. Do you honestly think I’ll ever be able to trust you again?”

“Nova, please. Let’s just talk.”

Nova laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think so. The only thing left to talk about is making plans for you to get your shit out of my apartment.”

Nova’s gaze flicked to Piper, who stood on the other side of the bed, clutching the sheet to her chest, looking like a kicked puppy.

“And you,” Nova said with a hard stare. “Do you have any self-respect at all?”