And in that balance, I knew Aspen and I would hurt each other at times—but we would care enough to fight through it. In that balance, I knew she was the woman who could be my wife, not because she fit a fantasy, but because she fitme. In that balance, I could finally admit the truth.
I loved her.
But none of it mattered unless I could find a way to get her back.
“Lucian, what are you doing still sitting there?” Grace asked, her brows pinched. “If you’re going to stay, at least come in the room.”
I blinked her into focus, then peered out the window at the end of the hall, finding it dark. A quiet huff of laughter escaped me when I realized I’d been sitting there for hours.
Grace’s concern deepened as I stood, confusion joining it when she caught my smile. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I am. Better.” Then I shook my head. “But I have to go. I’ve got work to do—especially if you still want me to convince Aspen to go through with the wedding.”
I left before she could respond, intent on fixing the damage I’d caused before it was too late.
CHAPTER 22
ASPEN
“Hey, Shiloh,” I called, practically skipping down the hall.
After that day in Lucian’s office, I forced myself to get my shit together. I let myself be angry—hurt, devastated, furious—and everything in between. Shoving it all down was like sealing a pot of boiling water and pretending it wouldn’t eventually explode. So I acknowledged the feelings were there, even if it was easier to cling to anger than anything else.
And then I functioned.
I made plans. I showed up. I acted like the woman who intended to run this company one day.
I made choices, starting with Shiloh.
She turned, clutching a stack of papers. “What has you so happy?” she asked, returning my infectious smile before knowing why.
“Because I have the best news ever. Are you ready for it?”
“Ummm, hell yes.”
“Are you really ready for it?” I asked, teasing.
“Aspen Quinn,” she warned.
“You got the job as acting CEO,” I squealed.
“What?” she gasped, eyes wide. “Really? Are you really freaking serious?”
I nodded and gripped her arms as we jumped up and down.
I soaked her in, her sharp cheekbones more pronounced in her smile, with her long braids pulled back. The spark of excitement in her light blue eyes. The happiness illuminating her golden-brown skin. I wanted to remember everything because even if it wasn’t me, I couldn’t imagine anyone else running this company other than the woman who taught me almost everything I knew about it. Focusing on her happiness made accepting the past few weeks okay.
“Oh, my god. Thank you. Thank you so much. I mean, I knew you’d be in my corner, but also knew that Lucian had final say. Since he doesn’t know me well, I wasn’t sure. Of course, my interview went great, but you just never know.”
My smile strained at the corners.
I’d gone over Lucian’s head, straight to my father.
After his threat to hire that abominable woman, I had to do something. Then he canceled the rest of the interviews for the week without checking with me first, and I decided I didn’t need to run anything by him either.
“I thought you had more interviews left?” Shiloh asked.
“Well, Mr. Dark and Douchy canceled them all.” I rolled my eyes. “And frankly, I can’t sit in on another atrocious round of questions with the most absurd answers.”
