I’ve tasted defeat a few times in my career, but never anything that has sent me spiraling like this—lost in a labyrinth of my own making.
‘I want to get away from you.’
‘Please, just leave me alone now.’
Whenever I’ve gone after something, it’s been with a single-minded focus. I’ve never let anything or anyone get in my way. This situation was not supposed to be any different. I wanted Natalie. I had been certain I could convince her to come back to me. After all, who could be a better partner than me? I had expected some resistance, but she took me aback at every turn.
Did I push her too hard? Did I overplay my hand?
Was it seeing Elizabeth that changed her mind?
I want to blame Roland, but I can’t imagine him saying anything that would convince her to walk away from this job and me. No, it was something else entirely.
I know she’s waiting for me to call her in to demand the penalty fees payment. Knowing what I know of her, she fully expects it. But I’ve not even opened the letter.
I can’t.
‘I want to get away from you.’
Away from me.
In the end, she could never forgive me for what I did.
The file slips from my hand, and I blink, getting up to pick up the scattered papers. As I do, the door to my office swings open.
“Jesus.”
I recognize my twin’s voice and glance up. I’ve not seen him in over a month now. Ever since our fight, he’s been working from the law firm, sulking most likely.
He storms over, roughly gathering up the papers and tossing them on the desk. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I straighten up. “What?”
He glares at me. “Clarice told me something was wrong, but what the hell—? When was the last time you shaved?”
I shrug, running a hand over my stubbled jaw. “I’ve been working.”
“You’re always working, Ethan!” He scowls. “But you still manage to make time to fix that mug of yours. What happened now?”
“Nothing,” I snap irritably. “What do you want?”
“From you, nothing.” Jake sits down across from my desk, staring at me, the bridge between his brows furrowed into deep lines. “You look like death warmed over.”
“Why are you here, Jake? I’m not in the mood.”
“So I heard.” My brother stretches his legs before him, settling in to make himself comfortable, his expensive leather shoes gleaming under the office lights. “I also heard you got a new head of HR.”
I’m silent, my jaw clenched tight.
At my lack of response, Jake's expression darkens. “What happened? Because, according to Megan, the two of you were getting along just fine in Chicago.”
“Megan needs to mind her own business, as do you,” I say coldly. “And this is just a temporary situation.”
“Temporary, huh?” Jake leans forward, and before I can stop him, he plucks out the envelope sticking out from under the papers. “Resignation letter. How much should I bet that this belongs to Natalie Thorne?”
I slowly get to my feet, my fingers pressing into the polished wood of my desk. “If you don’t want me knocking you out again, put that down, and get out of my office.”
Jake studies me, a smirk playing at his lips even as worry shadows his eyes. His voice is light and nonchalant. “Do you really think this is the time to be throwing a tantrum? If I was in your shoes, I’d be focused on getting my girl back.”
