I offer him a grateful smile, then continue.
“They’ve offered me a position, Remi. A big one. A junior auctioneer post just opened up at Sotheby’s here in New York. They want me to take it.”
He blinks, stunned.
“My team in London’s already been consulted, they’re fine with it, since I’d still be with the company. It’s a major promotion. A permanent contract, a huge salary increase, future advancement… and perks. Housing, healthcare, even school support… for future kids, I mean.”
Atthatword,kids, Remi’s face shifts like he’s been struck.
“Mads… that’s amazing. I mean, truly. I’m… wow. I’m proud of you.”
I can tell he’s overwhelmed, maybe even a little blindsided. So I press gently.
“Come to New York with me, Remi.”
My heart pounds in my chest. The silence stretches.
“You don’t have to answer now. I know it’s sudden, and I know how much you love your work in London. But there are universities here, too, great ones. You’d have opportunities. We’d have a life. Together.”
Still, he doesn’t respond. And the unease in my stomach begins to twist.
“I haven’t accepted yet,” I add quickly. “If you were completely against it… I wouldn’t push.”
But then his voice cuts through, clear and certain.
“No, Maddie. Youhaveto take it. You can’t turn down something like this.”
His tone is firm. Absolute.
“But… I wouldn’t want to leave without you.”
“Youhaveto,” he says again. “You’d regret it if you didn’t.”
That’s when it hits me. What he’s really saying. My voice comes out small, almost foreign.
“You made up your mind already. You’re not coming.”
“Mads… I’ve spent these past weeks thinking. A lot. About us. About myself. And I’ve realized there are parts of me I never understood before. Parts I need time to explore. Alone.”
My breath catches.
“I care about you deeply, but I can’t be in this relationship anymore.”
No.
No. No. No.
My mind screams. My chest caves in. I want to throw the phone across the room.
“What are you talking about?What parts? When I left, everything was fine! Tell me what the hell is going on, Remi!”
He looks like he’s in pain. Real pain. I know that look, it’s the one he wore only when talking about his father. It breaks my heart all over again.
“Maddie… I never wanted to do this over the phone. But I owe you honesty. I owe it to what we had.”
His voice is low but unwavering.
“I do care about you. But pretending would be crueler.”
