And I try to convince myself that it’s true. The lie burns in my throat, but what choice did I have?
My phone buzzes. I pull it out, half-hoping, half-dreading it’s him.
Breck:I’m not giving up on you. When you’re ready, I’ll be here. Probably with coffee. Maybe flowers. I’m predictable like that.
And that is precisely what I want. I want someone to bring me coffee. I want someone to bring me flowers. But I also want him. I want Breck.
I stare at the message until my vision blurs. Then I start the car and drive home through empty streets, leaving him behind even though every cell in my body is screaming at me to turn around.
Because there’s another truth I can’t admit out loud: it’s not just Breck I’m falling for. It’s all three of them.
CHAPTER 13
Breck
It’s been seven days since I had Remy pressed against a server rack, her breath catching as she fell apart in my arms. She’s gone back to professional distance, and I’m stuck replaying the best sex of my life in my mind like an idiot.
I don’t regret it. Not for a second. But I hide that truth behind smiles and casual conversation, because that’s what she needs. And I’ve perfected the art of being what people need.
Remy thinks I’ll lose interest, but she doesn’t understand that every woman before her was practice for someone I’d never actually found.
Until her.
I give her space. I keep things light. I make her laugh during meetings and bring her coffee exactly how she likes it. I don’t mention how I can still taste her or hear the sounds she made when she came.
I’m patient. I can wait, even if it’s killing me.
The executive conference room is full for our Monday morning meeting. Ansel sits at the head of the table, and Enzo sprawls in his usual chair, leaning back, which is annoying Ansel as usual.
Remy sits three seats down, reviewing notes on her laptop. And Damon sits across from her, radiating hostility that’s becoming harder to ignore.
I take my seat and pull up the agenda on my tablet. Standard stuff—project updates, resource allocation, upcoming client deliverables.
Ansel starts the meeting. “Let’s begin with the Geneva account. Damon, you were handling their contract renewal. Where are we?”
But Ansel knows exactly where we are on the account. Geneva renewed their contract yesterday, but only after Remy and Ansel quietly fixed everything Damon broke.
I didn’t know Ansel was planning to confront Damon this morning
Damon straightens in his chair. “Actually, we have a problem. The renewal fell through. Geneva pulled out last week.”
Ansel’s fingers stop drumming. He knows exactly what happened, but he wants to hear Damon’s version. “Explain.”
“The security assessment Remy conducted last month flagged issues that made them nervous. They decided to go with a competitor who promised a cleaner audit.” Damon looks directly at Remy. “If the assessment had been more… diplomatic, we might have retained them.”
Remy’s face goes carefully blank, but I catch the slight tightening around her eyes.
Enzo sits up straighter. “Go on.”
Damon seems oblivious to the trap he’s walking into.
“I’m sure she meant well.” Damon’s tone drips with false sympathy. “But sometimes being too honest costs us clients. Geneva specifically mentioned her report as the reason they’re walking.”
Remy opens her mouth, but Ansel raises a hand.
“Let me pull up the file.” His fingers fly across his laptop keyboard. “Geneva account, security assessment, dated three weeks ago.”
We wait in silence as he scans the document, looking for what he needs to prove Damon right or wrong. I watch Remy, noting how her hands have clenched in her lap, knuckles white.
