Erik grabs a box of tissues from his desk and hands one to me. “Sit,” he says.
I do, dabbing my eyes and trying to breathe. I can feel myself unravelling and I will it to hold back until I at least get home.
Erik leans back against the desk, his broad arms crossed, watching me like he’s studying a project. “People forget,” he says quietly, “that grief has teeth. It bites when you least fucking expect it.”
A breath shudders out of me. He gets it. And just like that, I don’t feel so alone.
WARREN
Nancy closes the office door behind us and immediately steps into my space. She’s all perfume, confidence and entitlement. I hate it. I take a small step back.
She folds her arms. “I’m done pretending we’re circling each other, Warren. I’m interested. You know that.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Nancy—”
“No. Let me finish.” She moves to the chair opposite mine and sits like she’s presenting to a boardroom. “Yourfather and my father are aligned. They trust each other. Our families have history. You and I—” She gestures between us with a manicured hand. “—make sense. We’re compatible. Strategically. Financially. And socially. And I’m tired of waiting for you to realise that.”Her voice is steady. Calculated. Like she’s reading from notes. I should be listening. But my eyes flick, involuntarily, to the glass wall.
Leoni’s desk is still empty. The tightness in my chest is immediate. Irritating. Unwelcome. I don’t have time for this. To care. To want her.Fuck. Where the hell did she go anyway?
Nancy keeps talking. “You need someone who understands this life. Someone who can handle the attention. The expectations. The pressure. Someone who doesn’t crumble.” Her lips curve. “Someone strong. Now I know your father has asked you to entertain the office girl. And I’m okay with that… for now. Once she’s served her purpose, things can go back to normal.”
My jaw shifts. “And what do you know exactly?” I snap.
Movement catches my eye, distracting me. Synthia, the office manager, walks past Leoni’s desk and sets down a stack of files. I stand abruptly. “Hold that thought.” I step out into the open office. “Synthia,” I call.
She turns, clutching a stapler to her chest like I’ve startled her. “Yes, Mr Baxter?”
“Where’s Leoni?”
She gestures vaguely down the hall. “Oh—uh—last I saw, she was heading into Erik’s office.” She laughs lightly. “Looked cosy too.”
Something hot and sharp flares in my chest. I keep my expression neutral. “Thank you.”
She scurries away.
I stand there for another beat, controlling the urge to march down the hall and drag Leoni out myself.
Not in front of Nancy and the rest of the office.
I go back into my office and close the door.
Nancy is still sitting exactly how I left her. “Done?” she asks with a tight smile.
“Continue,” I say flatly, sitting.
She resumes instantly, completely unaware she’s lost me. “I’m proposing we make this official. Appear together. Events. Dinners. My father will support the alignment. Yours already does. It strengthens the network, the reputation. Stability. Influence.”
Her voice fades in and out as I think about Erik’s hands on Leoni. Her red eyes. She was ready to break, and I let her leave. I let Nancy pull me away.
Fuck.
Silence falls and I realise she’s finished. She leans forward, expectant. “Well?”
I don’t trust my voice. So, I nod. Barely.
Her face lights up like she’s just won a prize. “Good,” she breathes, relief pouring out of her. “Finally.”
She stands and comes around the desk, leaning down to kiss my cheek before gliding out the door.
