Something in Blair finally snapped.
She crossed the room in three strides and slammed both fists onto his desk. The sound echoed. Conversation outside the office stopped.
“Typical,” she said quietly. “You attack my character because you have nothing else left. That won’t work, Matthew.”
His mouth opened. She didn’t let him speak.
“I love him,” she said. “I hope that hurts. I hope it burns in that small, dark place you live in because you know exactly what you lost and what you settled for.”
The color drained from his face.
“You thought I was glass,” she continued. “Easy to chip. Easy to break. Common.” She straightened. “I was tempered. By loss. By pressure. By time. I lost a career and built another in spite of you.”
His hands shook.
“I was vulnerable,” she said. “You exploited that. Congratulations. You’re exactly where you belong.” She headed for the door.
“He’ll fuck you and discard you,” he spat. “He’ll see you for what you are.”
Blair turned slowly. “Kelly Gatlin will cherish me for the rest of his life,” she said evenly. “Because he sees me. He’s not intimidated by who I am. He loves me because of it.”
She stepped closer one last time. “I would explain what kind of man that makes him. But you wouldn’t understand. You never have.”
He lashed out. “You’ll come crawling back to me?—”
She laughed. A single, sharp sound. “You siphoned my ideas. Took credit for my work. Kept me buried so you could look competent. You blackmailed me over our affair, overworked me, denied my promotions, and punished me for seeing through you.”
Her gaze hardened. “After I leave here, you won’t even be a second thought.”
Silence.
Then applause.
Beef and Tyler stood in the doorway, clapping hard. Around them, the entire office watched.
And behind them?—
Chief Superintendent Desjardins.
Darrow went pale.
Blair turned and walked out without a backward glance. She spoke to Desjardins, and he nodded and murmured, “Good luck.”
Beef crushed her in a hug. “About damn time. You might not give him a second thought, but he’ll never forget you.”
She smiled, breathless. “How’s Talon?”
“He’s getting there, but I still miss Sundance. Thank you for what you did for him. I’ll be forever grateful.”
She nodded. “He’s in good hands.”
Tyler hugged her next. “That Tier 1 bastard better know what he’s got.”
“He’s about to,” Blair said, grinning.
Outside, she paused once. Looked back at the building that no longer owned her.
No regret.
