His shoulders sagged. Logic told him to walk away because he’d lost.
“I understand.” Blaise wasn’t sure what he would say if he were standing in her shoes. “I won’t stop trying to save Matched by Lowell.”
Her face tightened, the lines around her mouth deepening. “Thank you.”
He hated how cold her voice sounded when she was so warm, caring, and emotional. But he’d hurt her and now she was afraid to show that side of herself.
“So I guess this is it.” Blaise spoke the words as much for his benefit as hers.
His heart was breaking because he’d imagined her in Portland with him. Not for a weekend or a week but for the rest of their lives. The three words “I love you” sat on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say those words. He fought off every instinct telling him to stay and fight. He hated to lose, but he saw no way to win this one.
“Goodbye, Hadley.” He turned and left her office.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Goodbye Hadley.
Hadley held her breath. She sat frozen, waiting, each second passing as slow as a year. The click of the door closing sounded.
Silence.
Blaise was gone.
A jagged pain sliced through her. Her heart had been ripped from her chest, and each drop of blood squeezed out.
She couldn’t believe he’d done an interview, let alone with the reporter who’d caused him so much trouble. That must have been difficult for him and to get his two friends involved…
The office line rang again. She waited for the call to go to voice mail, but the ringing continued. Unable to take hearing the sound any longer, she snatched the receiver. “Hadley Lowell.”
“Hadley, it’s Simone Winterhaven.” The socialite’s voice was syrupy sweet. “You refunded my retainer earlier today, but there’s been a miscommunication. Perhaps your assistant misunderstood because I want to continue your services.”
No mistake. No misunderstanding. Hadley had heard Simone’s horrible message. The woman had threatened to condemn Matched by Lowell’s services publicly if she wasn’t refunded her money immediately.
What made Simone change her mind?
It made no sense.
And then the reason hit Hadley. “You saw Blaise’s interview.”
A beat passed. “I… Yes, I did.”
Anger flared but so did relief. As emotions piled on top of each other, Hadley’s control slipped. “I need to go. I’ll be in touch.”
She hung up before Simone could reply.
A sob welled deep inside Hadley. Blaise’s interview might have worked, but…
Hearing him out had been a mistake. Hadley wanted to believe Blaise. She wanted him the same way he said he wanted her, but she was afraid.
A part of her had wanted to tell him to stay, but she hadn’t. She couldn’t believe things would get better between them because they never had for her in the past. That wasn’t his fault or hers. It was just how her relationships turned out.
Letting him go this time hurt—oh, how it hurt—but the pain would be worse if they tried and then he left her again. And he would leave eventually because her other boyfriends had left after they’d gotten what they wanted.
Hot tears burned in her eyes.
She blinked once, twice, and then allowed the warm drops to fall down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands and cried.
Yes, Hadley appreciated Blaise’s efforts to help her business. She hadn’t expected that, but…
