You are.
You absolutely are.
I’ve been doing it my entire career. Scanning every claim for motive. Keeping people at a distance. Choosing to leave rather than fight.
“Okay,” I admit quietly. “Maybe I do that. But Jess, I’m not even sure he wants me anymore. I mean, he seems to, but every time we get close he seems to pull away. And I don’t want to stay and make a fool of myself if he’s just being polite.”
There’s a beat of silence. Then Jess asks: “Did he have to hire you that first day?”
“Well, no,” I say. “I mean, I was the closest lawyer probably.”
“Not the answer I was looking for,” Jess continues. “My point is, he could’ve hired anyone. He’s a billionaire.”
I frown. “I suppose, but—”
“Does he do nice things for you?” Jess interrupts.
I blink. “What?”
“Nice things. Small things. Does he notice stuff about you?”
“I mean... well, he brings me coffee every morning. Black, no sugar. Without asking.”
“Uh huh.”
“And he adjusts the louver windows so the sun doesn’t shine directly on me when we’re working.”
“Go on.”
“And he sometimes checks the UV index and suggests earlier start times on high-exposure days because my skin burns easily—” I stop. “Jess. You’re reading too much into it.”
“And you’re not readingenoughinto it,” Jess says simply. “Hewantsyou. Trust me. Men who don’t care don’t memorize your coffee order or track solar patterns to protect your skin. That’s not polite boss behavior. That’s someone who’sobsessedwith you.”
Well when you put it like that.
My throat feels tight.
“What if I mess it up again?” I ask quietly.
“Then you mess it up. But at least you tried.” Jess pauses. “Amara, you’re one of the bravest people I know in a courtroom. You demolish arguments. You protect people who can’t protect themselves. But when it comes to your own heart? You’re a coward.”
Guilty as charged.
I change the subject before I start crying in my villa like some kind of emotionally unstable mess.
Which I am.
Occupational hazard.
“How’s Marco?” I ask.
Jess laughs, and I can hear the warmth in it. “Amazing, actually. Like, embarrassingly amazing. Marco’s opened two new restaurants this year, Ben adores her new school, and let’s just say the honeymoon phase is still very much alive.” She pauses, and I can practically hear her grinning. “We’re having so much sex, Amara. Like, an obscene amount.”
“Ew,” I say, but I’m smiling. “I’m happy for you. Really.”
“There is one tiny thing,” Jess adds, her tone shifting slightly. “He’s a bit overprotective sometimes. Like, texts me every few hours to check in, gets a little anxious if I’m running late. Buthonestly? After everything we’ve been through, I kind of love it. It’s sweet.”
After everything they’ve been through.
