As I walk onto the stage, the sea of faces looking up, expectant and curious, is overwhelming. Killian initiates with company news and sales forecasts, but the air of anticipation is undeniable. They’re all waiting for me. I can’t see Lucy among them—I don’t even know if she’s here.
My mind flashes back to her image, glaring out the window at me, rejecting me. Maybe I’ve lost faith in the prospect of her forgiveness, of her changing her mind about me. But at the very least, I need to prove to her that I’m serious about steering my life toward a new horizon.
“And now, JP would like to share a few thoughts,” Killian announces over the microphone. He turns to me, his face a mask of devastation.
I step forward, feeling the weight of every eye on me. “Afternoon. I’ll cut to the chase here. You’ve all caught that footage of my slip-up. I let you down. The man you saw isn’t the leader I’ve aimed to be. For over a decade, I’ve lived and breathed Vegas and our casinos, but in the process, I’ve hurt people I care about deeply. I’ve lost sight of the man I want to be. With that said, I’m stepping down from Quinn & Wolfe, effective immediately.”
A collective gasp ripples through the conference hall. Wide eyes, gaping mouths—the shock is palpable, sweeping over the room like a wave.
I force a smile, struggling for normalcy. But inside, the war rages on. Vegas has been my whole world for so long. The ambitious wolf in me howls in outrage at stepping aside.
But the man willing to change for Lucy stands resolute.
“Let me assure you, your jobs are secure, and our casinos will remain at the top. Tony Astion from Royal Casinos will take the reins of the casinos and clubs. As for me, I intend to focus on a new chapter in my life, one that hopefully brings about growth, understanding, and a commitment to becoming a better person. Someone that the people I love will deem worthy to take a leap of faith in. Someone deserving of trust, respect… and love.”
Never in my years in charge have the staff heard me bare my soul like this. I can see the shock, the disbelief, the bewilderment on their faces. It would be comical if my heart wasn’t pounding inside my chest.
The silence that follows is deafening. I offer up a silent plea.Lucy, wherever you are, hear me. Understand this is for you. Every word, every heartbeat, it’s all for you. I am ready to change, ready to evolve into the man you deserve.
All for you, Lucy. Just for you.
Deafening silence follows. Then a lone fool starts clapping before stopping abruptly, realizing no one is joining in.
I make my exit from the stage, leaving the stunned crowd in Connor’s capable hands.
Killian corners me in the deserted hallway, his eyes reflecting a medley of disappointment and reluctant acceptance.
“What now?” His voice is gravelly, matching the turmoil in his eyes.
I force a smile, attempting to inject some normalcy into the situation. “I’m heading to Phoenix, going to spend time with Maggie and the boys. I’ll spend some time at Bear Mountain after that.”
Killian nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “That sounds right. What’s all this worth if we can’t enjoy it with the people who matter?”
And lord knows, I have so few left of those.
I slap him on the back and tell him I’ll see him soon.
I leave him in the silent hallway, my mind swirling with mixed emotions. Heading back to my office, the usually buzzing HQ is eerily quiet, a ghost town—the fallout of my resignation still hanging heavy in the air.
It’s too late for regrets now. I’ve rolled the dice, gone all in… for her. Even if it’s all for nothing in the end.
FORTY-SIX
Lucy
He resigned… he actually resigned.
I walk back to the IT floor in a daze, the team trailing behind me. A hush has fallen over the office after that shocking mic-drop of a speech.
“Are you okay?” Taylor asks gently as we return to our desks. All eyes are on me, but no one speaks up, not even Matty.
I’m stunned. I’m in shock. My brain’s stopped working. Error 404: Cannot Process This Shit.
“I’m fine,” I reply with a weak smile.
He’s leaving for good. You’ll never see him again, a voice inside me wails.
That week he went to Vegas, he must have been handing over his duties, preparing for his departure. I thought it was because he’d moved on. I thought he’d gone back to business as usual, completely giving up on us after a saucepan of water was dunked over him outside Naughty Nonsense.
