“I’m not saying a word about my reasons for the fight,” he says grimly. But he doesn’t deny being jealous. His sharp jaw clenches, and he looks away.
My stomach, already upset from the stale police station coffee, rolls.
I can’t keep doing this. My time is never my own. Not even for one night.
He stares at me. Then his eyes go wide. “Wait a minute, you said I ruined your night.Fuck.Tonight was Sadie’s graduation,wasn’t it?” His voice is raw, full of remorse. “I’m so damn sorry, Em. I didn’t…”
The sound of heels on marble halts our conversation.
I turn in surprise to see Allegra striding into the living room, looking gorgeous in a bright-blue bandage dress that matches her eyes and stilettos.
“I came straight from the airport to make sure you’re okay, darling,” she says.
“How did you get in?” I ask. The front door was locked. It always is. Because, stalkers. Marie is in bed, and no guards buzzed the intercom announcing her.
“The passcode, of course.”
“You know the passcode?” I ask, tightness in my voice.
I turn to my boss. His lips are in a flat line, but he doesn’t say anything.
Sebastian is careful. He does not give the passcode to his house to anyone.
I know it. And so does Marie. That’s it, besides a carefully vetted security detail.
And now, apparently, so does she.
Before her, it was rare for a woman to even sleep over. And now she has free entry to the mansion.
She throws her arms around Sebastian, stroking his back. “Poor boy. I’m here to make it all better.”
Painful knowledge, swift and certain, shoots through me. It’s the unequivocal knowing that if I don’t get out now, I’ll be stuck in this life, following after him—purely professionally, of course—forever. I’ll be smoothing out the wrinkles in Sebastian and Allegra’s bed and following them into their perfect future. Or whatever girl he eventually settles down with.
I’ve been telling myself for years that I need to leave, but I’ve been putting it off.
Suddenly, I see the hours, days, and years stacking up ahead of me. I won’t be building a life of my own. I’ll still be in this undefinable, boundaryless role in his life, not quite assistant, not quite manager, not quite friend. With the only certainty being that he will call. And I will drop everything to answer.
If I don’t quit now, while I have white-hot urgency on my side, I’m afraid I never will.
If I don’t quit now, Sebastian will do something unexpectedly thoughtful. Or charming. Or he’ll make me laugh. Or his absent parents will call him, and I’ll see the hurt in his eyes and remember that he’s made of flesh and blood with feelings like the rest of us. And I’ll decide to wait for a better time. And wait.
“I quit.” At first, I think I just say it in my head.
But his blue eyes widen. His mouth pops open.
It’s Allegra’s victorious smile that makes me realize for sure that I said it out loud.
“W-what?” Sebastian stutters. He jolts to standing, almost upending the model.
I take a deep breath. Fuck being practical. Fuck getting my ducks in a row. Fuck making a pro-con list and a plan. I’ll figure it out.
“I quit.” I say it louder. More sure. More certain.
“You can’t quit.” Sebastian’s in front of me in three long strides.
“I can. And I am,” I snap.
“If this is about my being arrested… I know this makes your job harder. I fucked up and ruined your night. It won’t happen again. I promise.” He sounds sincere. His handsome face is contrite. Pleading, even.
