Keith stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head. “You’re lying.”
“Believe whatever you want.”
“I will. And I’m going to Norma and the board on Monday. You both better be ready.”
“Are you doing that as my friend as well?”
He pushed past me, bumping my shoulder. “Good luck.
I spun around to ask what that meant and that’s when I saw her.
Her face was pale, her eyes wide, hurt and devastated.
Ina had heard everything.
Every lie I just spewed.
I started toward her. “Ina.”
She moved her hand off the door and let the doors close. I tried to reach out and stop them, but Keith stopped me.
“Ina, wait!”
“Don’t.” Her voice cracked. “Just don’t.”
The doors closed and she was gone.
I shoved Keith. “You fucking asshole! You knew she was there.”
He shrugged. “It was best she hear the truth straight from the horse’s ass, don’t you think?”
“This is your fault,” I said.
“I’ll give you until Monday morning. Report this to Norma yourself, or I will. And Dane?” He paused. “For what it’s worth, I actually liked her. She deserved better than whatever game you’re playing.”
I walked back into my apartment and slammed the door. I could chase her, but what would I say to make her believe me?
The data said we were perfect for each other. But I just destroyed any chance of that actually meaning anything.
She thought I’d been lying to her all along.
CHAPTER 31
INA
Imade it exactly one block from Dane’s building before the tears started, which was farther than I thought I would get. It wasn’t an achievement to brag about but I was mildly proud of myself.
By the time I reached the subway, I could barely see and any sense of pride had faded. Thankfully, I was able to find a seat and the usual crazies left me alone. I imagined I was the crazy lady on the subway today. Maybe it was a New York rite of passage and everyone had their moment as the hot mess on the train.
Maybe I was just desperately searching for any sort of silver lining to my storm cloud life. I closed my eyes, leaned my head back, and tried to process what I just heard.
Dane’s words kept replaying in my mind, each repetition driving the knife deeper.
I’d been so stupid. I’d thought that the grumpy billionaire CEO had actually fallen for his assistant? That our connection was real?
No.
I was just a warm body he could use to get his rocks off when the mood arose.
