I walked toward the elevator, my vision blurring with tears I refused to let fall. Not in front of everyone.
I heard him following me. “Ina, please, just listen to me.”
The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside, finally turning to face him.
He looked wrecked. Hair disheveled. Dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept. Stubble covering his jaw. His expression desperate in a way I’d never seen before.
“I did listen to you,” I whispered as the doors started to close. “I listened to every word you said to Keith.”
The doors closed and I felt like a tether had been severed.
Good. That’s what I needed. I had to end all of it. I never wanted to see him again. I didn’t care what Norma’s investigation uncovered.
I was done.
It was over.
CHAPTER 32
DANE
Istood there frozen like I’d been zapped.
She was furious. And hurt.
I did that. I broke her. I had felt like an asshole before, but never the way I did now. I felt like a snake that just sank his fangs into an innocent child with zero provocation.
I knew I looked like shit after what had to be one of the worst weekends of my life, but she looked so put together. She looked good. Pissed but beautiful.
I hated that I was the one to ignite the painful fury in her gaze. I hated that she looked at me like I had betrayed her.
I did. But she wouldn’t let me explain why. It wasn’t betrayal. I was honestly trying to protect her. I had to shield her. In my eyes, I was falling on the grenade.
But she didn’t see it that way.
“Fuck!”
I reached up and tugged at my short hair. Everything was falling apart. I wanted to fucking beat the hell out of Keith. How dare he ruin the first chance at a real relationship for me? He was supposed to be my friend. He was trying to make me as miserable as his sorry ass.
“Dane.” Norma’s voice cut through my spiral. I turned to find her standing behind me, arms crossed, looking at me like a disappointed parent. “My office. Now.”
I was her boss. Everyone knew that, but Norma basically ran the people side of things. I was one of those people. At least, I would allow her to think that right now.
I followed her, aware of the eyes tracking us across the floor. Lucas looked concerned. Heidi looked curious. People pretended to be working but were clearly listening. I didn’t think anyone missed Ina’s outburst and me chasing after her like a puppy getting dumped on the side of the road.
Norma closed her office door and locked it, which was never a good sign. “Sit.”
I sat. I didn’t even bristle at being bossed around by the woman I paid to work for me.
She moved behind her desk but didn’t sit herself, just stood there looking at me with an expression that was equal parts frustration and sympathy. She reminded me of my mother in some ways. The ability to say a million words expressing disappointment in a single look was a talent.
“Why did you tell me you were actually together?” she asked.
“Because we are. Were.” I ran my hands through my hair. I knew I was a mess but I couldn’t bring myself to care. “I don’t know anymore.”
“When you came in this morning, you said you told me everything. You said you’d been seeing Ina, that it was real, that you wanted to figure out how to restructure things so there wouldn’t be a conflict of interest.” She leaned against her desk. “You put all the blame on yourself. Said you pursued her, that the power dynamic was unequal, that if anyone should face consequences it should be you.”
“Because it’s true.”
