“I need some space,” he said, holding up his hands. She shrank back, lip trembling. Every part of him wanted to reach for her, to hold her in his arms, but he knew that if she thought he was angry with her, then maybe she wouldn’t do this.
He headed for the office door, barely looking at her. As he opened the door, he turned back, where she was standing completely still, watching him.
“I’m not going to speak to you until the meeting on Friday,” he said, voice stern. “I’ll see you there.”
With that, he stalked away.
He left the bookshop, the frigid evening air helping to cool some of his anger. He wouldn’t let Emmeline do this—he couldn’t.
But he knew she was stubborn, more stubborn than he was. If she really wanted to, she would still go through with it, hoping he would just forgive her, afterwards. And she was right; a part of him knew that he would forgive her anything, no matter how much it hurt him—but he hated what she was doing, and he would try to stop her if he could.
He didn’t want her selflessness. He wanted her to be selfish, to do whatever it took to guarantee her own happiness.Thatwould make him happy.
But she would never think of herself first. Maybe it was him who needed to.
He pulled out his phone, dialing Anh as he paced down the street.
“Did you speak with Emmeline?” Anh asked, picking up.
“Yes,” he said, out of breath. “And I agree that there’s no need for the meeting. The investment should go to her. She—”
Just as he was about to put forth his case, Anh released a short breath. “You’re both irritating me now,” she said, sounding the closest to irked that he’d ever heard her. “I’ll see the pair of you on Friday. We will discuss matters then.”
She hung up before he could argue.
Chapter 33
Emmeline couldn’t bear Luke being angry with her.
It had been an entire twenty-four hours since they’d spoken, and he’d held true to his word. Despite her messages and calls, he hadn’t replied, and she knew that he wouldn’t. Not until he saw her at the meeting with Anh tomorrow.
While she hated that he was angry with her, she knew she was doing the right thing. He needed this more than she did—why didn’t he understand that? It cost her nothing to make this sacrifice for him. She would do it gladly!
She walked down Main Street, holding a to-go cup from the Baby Dragon Cafe, but even the karak chai wasn’t enough to soften her mood. She was a tempest of emotions, the pressure building within her like clouds filling with water until they broke with rain.
She hadn’t meant to hurt Luke—of course she didn’t think he was selfish or self-centered. She was trying to do something for him, to do something for the man she loved.
What was so wrong with that?
She was determined for him to win. Which was why shedecided she would show up to the meeting, then leave out the key points of her proposal. She would make sure Luke’s was better.
The situation would need to be handled with finesse. She couldn’t be obvious about sabotaging herself or Luke would only be angrier; at the same time, she couldn’t do a phenomenal job with her proposal and risk winning.
Emmeline paced down Main Street, finishing off her chai. As she passed one of the side streets, she spotted a familiar figure and paused.
She would recognize Ginny and Fang anywhere—but who was that guy she was talking to?
Emmeline stepped closer, recognizing the scar on his neck. It was Flint.
“For fuck’s sake,” she muttered, livid. Fierce protectiveness came over her. What was wrong with this guy? Emmeline didn’t hesitate. She stalked over, rushing to Ginny’s side. Fang made a sound of warning, and Ginny turned towards Emmeline, brows furrowing.
“Emmy, what—” Ginny started, but Emmeline ignored her, instead glaring at Flint.
“Whatever the hell is going on here is done,” she said. “Stay away from my cousin.”
Flint rolled his dark eyes.
“What are you doing?” Ginny seethed at Emmeline, annoyed. Emmeline ignored her, instead focusing her glare on Flint.
