This might be the only chance I get.
But that wasn’t who I was. I wasn’t affectionate in public, especially in sensitive situations.
He knew that and he was using it.
“I’m sorry. Whether it was at Elaine’s chair or waiting for the cab outside the venue, or the next morning at the cafe... I should have told you. But it kept getting harder…” when my voice cracked, I knew it was time to get the hell out of there and fast.
He turned back to face me, the hurt plain on his face. “So it was easier to break up with me?”
I folded my arms in an effort to keep myself from reaching for him. “Please, let’s just go somewhere to—”
“Answer the question.”
I looked down and answered in a low voice. “No, that part was nearly impossible.”
He breathed out an unamused laugh, which hurt me to the core. “And now I find you here. Living your true life...”
This life hadn’t felt true to me for a while now. But he probably wouldn’t have remembered me sharing this sad reality with him weeks ago. I fought the tears that threatened to escape. “If we’re done here, I’m going to go.”
“We most certainly are,” he confirmed.
I turned to start the short walk to the door.
“I can get you your job back,” he muttered, facing the window.
“I appreciate that. But maybe you haven’t been listening. I’m more than this. I have been for a while and maybe this is the push I needed.”
His head fell to his side as if he wanted to turn back to me but caught himself.
“Goodbye, Scott.”
SCOTT
I took a seat at the narrow end of the conference table well after she walked out. I buried my head in my hands for only a short moment before running a hand over my face and urging myself to pull it together. Since my staff was no doubt still peering into the room from a distance.
I snickered at the consideration of my own interest. More than I’d afforded Elle. I was keenly aware of her dislike of public displays of anything.
But I didn’t let it stop me, in fact I basked in it for a moment there. But all it did was drive her out of here as quickly as possible.
The door opened slowly. I didn’t have to turn to know it was Dean. No one else on this floor would dare walk through it right now.
Dean closed the door behind him, cautiously. “Everything alright?”
I glanced in his direction but didn’t respond to the stupid question.
Dean nodded slowly, then turned to push a button by the door, near the light switch. A humming noise sounded and silver shades gradually rolled down each glass wall. In a few seconds, we were in complete privacy from the rest of the floor.
I sighed and shook my head, wondering how much more I would have gotten out of Elle if I knewthatwas an option.
Dean crossed the room to sit. After a long silence, he finally leaned back. “So, how do you know her?”
I rubbed my temples and looked up. “The party,” I replied miserably.
“This weekend?”
“Hayes”
“Hayes?” Dean pushed off the back of his chair in surprise.
