I square my shoulders.
I will not cave. I will not cave.
“You got into trouble and blew up my phone on the one and only night I wasn’t supposed to be on call in the last year,” Igrowl. “You interrupted my sister’s graduation, and I left her party to help you. Again.”
“Em,I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re sorry.” I wave my hands. “But it’s not enough. You remember nothing about me. And I get it—it’s my job to make your life easier. It’s my job to solve all your problems in the background. But I have a life of my own. Or at least, I want one. And it’s become painfully clear I won’t get that life, not while I work for you.”
He lets out a sharp exhale.
My chest squeezes painfully. “It’s always going to be what you want or what I want.” I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And for once, I choose me.”
“Just let her go, Sebastian. You can replace her in a heartbeat,” Allegra says with a yawn.
He turns his head. His eyes are pale and cold. Ice is warmer.
“We need privacy, Allegra,” he bites out.
Her mouth opens, probably to argue. But something in Sebastian’s expression makes her change her mind. “Fine. I’ll be in your bedroom.” She turns and makes her way to his suite.
He turns back to me. “I’ll pay you more. Double.”
I shake my head, even as I do mental math at just how big that amount would be. It would be a lot.
“Triple,” he says.
“I-it’s not about the money.”
“You can have more days off. Longer vacations. Hell, go now. You can come back in a few weeks when you’re refreshed.”
“I already have months that I haven’t taken,” I snap in exasperation.
“That will change. I’ll change.”
“I’ll hire and train my replacement.” My voice hardens. “This won’t impact your life.” It’s what I’ve been doing the last seven years, smoothing out every rough spot in his world.
“The fuck it won’t. The assistant won’t beyou.” His eyes fill with an emotion I don’t recognize.
And then, just as fast, his face changes, and the cool, care-for-nothing Hollywood prince reemerges. “Has it been that bad? Working for me?” he asks lightly. But there’s a tight edge to those careless words. “You’ve traveled on private planes. Stayed in five-star hotels in the best cities in the world. Eaten at the best restaurants. Met the biggest stars.”
I bark out a laugh. “All those planes and hotels and restaurants you talk about—I’mthe one who arranges them, makes sure they’re effortless for you. Along with the million details that go into running your career. It’s never-ending. I’m not sitting back and enjoying the luxury travel. I work the entire flight, organizing logistics for your trip or running lines with you. Yes, we stay in five-star hotels, but I never actually see the city. Unless you’re doing a photo shoot on location, I only see the insides of fancy rooms, and they all look alike after a while.You’rethe one who eats at the restaurants, not me,” I say, my voice rising. “I usually get interrupted by a call before my meal even arrives.”
“But I thought—”
“I can’t even have a damn night off without you calling me multiple times about some crisis, made-up or real… orjail.” I huff out a breath. “I want to build something real. Maybe I want to date. Have hobbies. I want stability. That’s not something I can ever have in this job.” I pause. “Sadie and I have been talking about starting our own business.”
When he looks at me as if I’ve been beamed down from another planet, speaking an unfamiliar language, my insecurity and pride kick in. Maybe he thinks I can’t make something of myself on my own.
That’s my fear as well. But he doesn’t need to know that.
I lift my chin. “Sadie and Iarestarting a business,” I say, more firmly this time. “My degree is in entrepreneurial studies. And I have a lot of contacts in this town.”
His eyes are flat now, shuttered. And for the first time maybe ever, I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.
“I’ll give you two weeks’ notice.”
He still doesn’t say anything.
