I stride onto the stage and launch into my intro for the teams. Piece of cake compared to my day-to-day. Just spotlighting a bunch of eager twenty-one-year-olds.
“At Quinn and Wolfe, we empower young talent because you represent the future of this company,” I project with ease. “I’m eager to see the effort you’ve poured into these projects. So, let’s cut right to the chase . . .”
That’s when I catch sight of Lexi in the crowd, her eyes spearing me like missiles. I freeze, momentarily knocked off balance under that withering glare. Yeah, she fucking hates me.
I’ve dealt with my share of cold looks and judgment in presentations. Occupational hazard. But damn, this really stops me in my tracks.
I muster a cough and barrel through the sudden knot in my throat, my usual eagerness to command the stage replaced by a sudden rush to escape it.
“Let’s give a warm welcome to the future of Quinn and Wolfe.” My signature grin is strained at best by the time I wrap up my stint and pass the torch to the interns. Their eager applause offers me a brief reprieve as I make a strategic exit.
From the wings, I pretend to focus on the presentations, yet my attention is hijacked by Lexi. She doesn’t glance my way again, her attention seemingly riveted on the young hopefuls parading their dreams across the stage.
I find myself scanning her, taking in the sight of her dark hair as it flows over her shoulders and that tight red dress that accentuates her figure. She looks stunning—perhaps making a statement, showing me exactly what I’m missing out on.
Good for her. Good for standing her ground in my territory, looking like a million bucks.
This is my chance to apologize. Now that Grace has wrapped up her presentation, Lexi will probably want to leave as soon as possible, especially to get away from me. But I’m not going to act childish and ignore her in my own conference hall.
As I approach, her body language screams she’s acutely aware of me drawing near. Her spine straightens, shoulders bracing as if she’s gearing up for a confrontation.
“Lexi,” I interject through the buzz of conversation, pulling her focus away from Grace.
I turn to her sister, forcing a smile that feels more like a grimace. “Excellent work today, Grace. You should be proud. You really shone out there.”
Grace gives me this nod, like she’s not sure whether to thank me or slap me. “Thank you, Mr. Quinn,” she replies, her tone clipped.
I shift my focus to Lexi, taking a step back to avoid the sweet scent of her. “Got a minute?”
Her gaze hardens, annoyance crossing her face. But with Grace and her colleagues watching, she can’t exactly tell me to go to hell. “One minute,” she spits out.
I nod toward the hallway. “Follow me.”
I lead her away from prying eyes and curious ears, acutely aware of the tension radiating off her in waves. This isn’t a conversation for staff ears.
Once we’re alone in an empty office, I turn to face her.
“Everything good with you?” I ask, though her folded arms and rigid posture scream otherwise.
“Better than ever,” she fires back, tone icy. “What do you want, Connor?”
I clear my throat, the gritty sound loud in the tense quiet. Best get this over with. “Look, I regret how we left things. Asking you to leave that dinner was completely out of line. I’m not proud of it. I was a bad-tempered asshole and I owe you an apology. You deserve better than that.”
She stares at me, caught off guard. Then her chin quivers, just a fraction, before she locks it down. “I told you, the second I walked out that door was the last time we’d ever speak. I have no interest in ever seeing you again.”
A muscle in my jaw ticks, irritation flaring. I came here to make peace, dammit, but she’s clearly uninterested, and it pisses me off more than I’ll admit. “I’m trying to apologize here. I never should have taken things out on you like that. It was unfair and cruel, and I’m sorry. I’m not out to cause you more pain, I swear. Come on, Lexi. Can we please just be amicable?”
Her glare cuts through me, loaded with a venom I never thought her capable of. “Amicable? Are you fucking kidding me? You made me feel like crap by telling me to suck your cock in my own office for my freedom. Dangled my sister’s future like a carrot, dragged me through your damn power plays. You turned me into your emotional punching bag whenever your issues flared up. You only wanted me around when it suited you, then pushed me away the moment you felt like you might lose control.”
Her anger spills out, a torrent of emotions, a clear sign of how much she resents me. “So no, don’t ‘come on, Lexi’ me.”
My jaw clenches, molars grinding. “Seems you can’t find a single redeeming quality in me.”
“The little good there got buried by all the bad,” she fires back, pain flashing through the anger. “But I do appreciate you not taking it out on Grace. She’s happy here, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that. Just never speak to me again, please.”
I give her a short, jerky nod. “Understood. Take care of yourself, Lexi.”
She turns on her heel, heading back to the crowd in the conference hall.
