We got out of the car and walked to her building in silence. I wanted to explain but didn’t know how. Wanted to pull her back and finish what we’d started but knew I couldn’t.
At her door she turned to face me.
“Goodnight, Archie.”
“Goodnight, Gianna.”
She went inside and I stood in the hallway for a long moment, listening to her footsteps fade, hating myself for being a coward twice in one night.
I drove home and went straight to my laptop.
The words came easily:I am writing to tender my resignation as CEO of Devlin Holdings, effective immediately. My judgment has been compromised and the company would be better served by leadership without my particular conflicts of interest.
I read it. Then deleted it.
Resigning solved nothing. Just handed the company to Richard or Margaret or someone else who definitely wouldn’t implement any of the reforms I’d been fighting for. Made everything I’d learned meaningless.
But staying meant lying to Gianna. Meant letting her get closer while keeping this massive secret. Meant eventually watching her face change from warmth to horror when she learned the truth.
I opened a new document and started drafting something else. Not a resignation letter. A plan. Ways I could quietly help her case without it being obvious. Internal documents I could make accessible through discovery. Board members I could pressure to settle.
Maybe if I fixed things quietly, I could earn the right to tell her the truth without it destroying us both.
I knew this was cowardice dressed up as strategy. Knew I was just delaying the inevitable. But the thought of losing her, of seeing that smile disappear when she realized who I really was?—
I couldn’t do it. Not yet.
My doorbell rang at midnight.
I opened it to find Jake swaying in the hallway, clearly drunk, looking miserable.
“She kicked me out,” he announced.
“Who?”
“The girl. Woman. Whatever.” He waved a hand vaguely. “Can’t remember her name. Does that make me an asshole?”
“Yes.” I stepped aside to let him in. “Come on.”
He collapsed on my couch and stared at the ceiling. “Why are women so complicated?”
“They’re not. You’re just terrible at relationships.”
“Fair point.” He turned his head to look at my laptop still open on the coffee table. “Why are you working? You’re the CEO of a huge company. Delegate that shit.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Everything’s complicated with you lately.” He closed his eyes. “You need a woman in your life, man. Someone to make you less… whatever this is.”
“I have enough problems without adding that to the list.”
“Everyone has problems. Doesn’t mean you have to be lonely.” He cracked one eye open. “Want me to set you up? I know people.”
“You know terrible people who make terrible choices. Like you.”
“Ouch. True, but ouch.” He closed his eyes again. “You should still try. Being alone sucks.”
“Take your own advice.”
