Jack Thomas was the first person I officially hired as my personal assistant when I was just starting out. And over the years, he’s become more than that—a trusted friend. Hell, he’s even sat through the nights I drank too much and vented about how much I miss Anna, which, let’s be honest, has been almost every night.
“Well, it’s a PR strategy. And it’ll help clean up my image, soften the press. Show them I’m not just the cold billionaire with no heart,” I say, meeting his green eyes, even though what I really want to admit is that this has nothing to do with the press. It’s all abouther. And this is the only way I can think of to get her to talk to me, even if it’s through a fucking interview.
“Right. Because you really give a fuck about what people think,” he says, his voice laced with sarcasm. “And out of every journalist in the goddamn world, you just happened to pickher?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” I snap. “She knows me, and…”
“She knows you as an asshole,” Jack cuts in. “And she’s more likely to expose your shit than clean it up.”
I look dead in his eyes. “Well, she can write whatever the hell she wants. I still want her on this interview. End of discussion.”
“She’s going to hate you when she finds out you forced her into this,” Jack says after a beat as he leans forward. “And that sure as hell isn’t going to help with your plan to win her back.”
I feel my chest caving in at his words, not because he’s wrong, but because a part of me already knows it’s the truth. I know she’s not the same girl who used to steal my shirts and fall asleep on my chest. She isn’t the woman who once looked at me like I was her whole damn universe. Now she hates me, probably can’t even stand to be in the same room as me. And I can’t even blame her, not when I’m the reason for it.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not backing off,” I say with a shrug. I’ll be damned if I don’t try this time, damned if I let her hold that resentment for the rest of her life. I don’t care how deep the damage runs. I’m ready to face every bit of that hate and fight like hell to remind her of the love we once had.
“Jesus, Landon.Not backing off? Do you even hear yourself? What if she’s already with someone else? What if she’s not pining after you, not waiting around for you? What if she’s already moved on? Did you think about that possibility even once?” Jack fires back.
That one hits like a steel bat to the ribs.
I slam my hands against the desk and lean in, close enough for him to feel the heat behind my words. “She’s mine, Jack. I don’t give a damn who’s in her life right now. I don’t care if she’s moved on or convinced herself that I’m just a bad memory, that what we had is dead and buried. I’m going to change that. I left her once. That’s on me. But I’m not making the same mistake twice. I want her back, and I’ll do whatever the hell it takes to make that happen.”
“You loved her. And I know you still do,” Jack says, his voice quieter now. “But you hurt her, Landon. Badly. And she didn’t deserve that. You really think some Romeo interview is going to wipe away everything she went through? Trust me, man, that kind of pain doesn’t just disappear because you’ve suddenly decided you want her back again.”
I clench my jaw, the muscle ticking as I push off the desk and straighten myself. “I’m not expecting the damage to be erased with a snap of my fingers. I’m not that fucking naive. But I sure as hell am not going to sit back and let her think I don’t give a damn. Yes, I hurt her, and I fucking live with that every goddamn day. But I’m done hiding behind the guilt. If I have to fight through her anger, her silence, her fucking indifference, I will. I’ll do everything in my power to win her back.”
These aren’t just words, they’re a promise. Yeah, I may have fucked up my marriage vows once, but I won’t fail this one. Because nothing hurts more than waking up every damn day knowing she’s not mine.
Jack lets out a dry laugh. “You always did love a good chase.”
I smirk, unapologetic. “Damn right. But this time, I’m not chasing for the thrill. I’m chasing for what’s mine.”
Jack lets out a harsh breath and shakes his head. “Fuck, you really love her… in that obsessive, all-consuming, can’t-breathe-without-her way. And that’s what scares me. Because love like that… it sure as hell doesn’t come with limits.”
“I don’t give a damn about limits when it comes to winning her back.”
Jack drags a hand down his face. “Then fight, Landon. But fight forher, not for your guilt. Show up as the man she needed back then… the man who doesn’t run, but the man who stays. Because if you screw this up again, you won’t just lose her… you’ll destroy whatever little’s left of her belief in love.”
“Now spare me the goddamn lecture. I know what I have to do.”
“I see you’re done talking,” he mutters, pushing up from the chair. “Not that you need reminding, but here it is. Your interview’s set for tomorrow. Five in the evening.”
“I need you to do me a favor,” I say, glancing at the file again, her name staring back at me. “Make sure the interview’s set at my house, not the office. I want it private.”
Jack stares at me for a long moment, like I’ve lost my damn mind. But he doesn’t question my sanity or try to talk me down. He just nods.
“Alright, boss,” he says, before turning and walking to the door, pulling it shut behind him.
I stare at her name for a moment, then turn back to the window, sliding my hands into my pockets. She’s out there somewhere. We haven’t crossed paths once in the last three years, not even by accident. But tomorrow everything changes.
Tomorrow, I’ll look her in the eye and remind her of the one truth that’s never changed that I have never stopped loving her. Not for a damn second.
I know I can’t fix her pain, but I will make damn sure she sees that the man who shattered her isn’t the one standing in front of her now.
Chapter 3
Anna
