“His son, the new CEO and the man who might as well have left me at the altar.”
Cash slammed on his brakes, narrowly avoiding the car in front of us. “Wait. Gabe? The dick who left you pregnant two months before the wedding is the CEO and Icinda’s son? I’m so confused.”
“Join the club. Apparently, he didn’t use his real name for privacy reasons when he lived in Florida.”
He gnashed his teeth, something he did when he was thinking. “That’s actually really smart. He goes incognito, falls off everyone’s radar, and bides his time in financial firms to gain training and knowledge that ensures he succeeds when he takes over as CFO.”
I stared at him, trying not to gawk. Although I’d been the one to take the finance path, my brother was a finance nerd at heart.
“Still doesn’t mean I don’t hate the man,” he added.
“Yeah.” I stared out the window, my emotions and thoughts jumbled and confused.
“What are you thinking, Tor?”
“That I’m glad I have enough savings to live on while I look for another job.”
Chapter 20
Gabe
The city continued its motion below my office, people going through their days oblivious to the raw ache in my chest and the mess of emotion seeing Tori had stirred. For years I had planned for the day I could find her without the threatening shadow of my father. Waited for our takeover to come to fruition so I could find her again. I had known she would hate me, argued there was a strong possibility she had moved on. Still, hope had driven me. But of all the scenarios I had imagined, this had never been one.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around her accusations, and the idea that she’d thought I left her for another woman was one I’d never imagined. It scraped over that ache, gouging it so it was as unbearable as it had been when I’d first left her.
I glanced over at the folders on my desk. The second interview had been miserable, but after Tori, the man stood no chance. Her resume was impeccable, even if she had ten years less experience than he did. I also knew that despite our past, she would be the perfect fit for the company.
Scraping my hand through my hair, I grabbed her folder and headed to Liv’s office. She put her finger in the air as she finished up a call. Looking around her office, I realized how bland it was,just like mine. No family pictures, no special moments. Just a piece of expensive art and windows overlooking the city. Sterile and cold, just like we’d both become.
“How did the interviews go?” she asked when she finished the call.
“Spot on with the red flag guy.”
“See, I know how to pick them out.”
I dropped the folder on her desk. “I need you to meet with her.”
Eyes rolling, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I don’t do interviews by myself.”
“The hell you don’t. Put her on your schedule and meet with her. I want your opinion.”
“I gave you my opinion.”
“Damn it, Liv. Meet with her.”
Her hazel eyes flicked up from her desk, irritation reflected in them. “You’re awfully on edge today.”
I didn’t answer, crossing my arms and waiting for her to agree. Huffing, she flipped through her calendar. “Fine. I have time at three tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I’ll have Tina reach out to her.”
As I turned to leave, she said, “Is this about your run-in yesterday?”
My step halted long enough for her to read the answer.
“You need to move on, Gabe. Like I did.”
I peered over my shoulder at her. “Did you? Because I don’t think you did, just like I never will.”
