“Where is Mr. Astor right now?” I struggled to keep my expression from crumpling.
“He went to meet with Claire Mons at the restaurant next door.”
What? I blinked quickly, as if I could process faster by doing it.
He had a meeting with her? No way, he wouldn’t do that, not after last night, he knew how difficult it was to see her at his home. He wouldn’t do that after seeing me like that. And he would have told me, right?
Hopping to my feet, I rushed past Ray who carried two coffees. The elevators were too congested on this level, so I took the stairs to the floor below this one, going as fast as possible. Fortunately, I’d worn flats again. I finally came out on the next floor and rushed to the less impacted elevator, panting and sweaty. The elevator made a direct trip to the lobby and everything blurred as I ran.
The cool air washed over me, and I made it to the restaurant in record time. Entering the marbled entrance, the host intercepted me.
“How many in your party?”
I stuttered to a stop, nervously squeezing the documents.
“Can I go through really fast; I thought I saw my friend come in?” I murmured low. She frowned, and I could see the denial forming on her lips. I hugged the documents to my chest. “That wasn’t true. Honestly . . . I think my husband’s cheating on me.”
Her gaze flared. “What does he look like?”
“He’s tall and blonde, wide shoulders, wearing a suit. The woman is blonde, brown eyes.” I wrung my hands together. She nibbled on her lips, looked over her shoulder, then back at me. I must have looked as devastated as I felt because she gave me a sympathetic look.
“I sat him in the booth near a window. If you follow the tile, you can hide behind the column behind the booth.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
“Make it quick.”
I moved around her stealthily and followed her directions. This was a bad, bad idea, but I needed to see it with my own eyes that he’d come to eat with her after I’d made my unhappiness clear yesterday. If he still came with her after lying to me . . . I pressed my hand to my nauseous stomach. Careening to a stop, I slinked behind the column the hostess mentioned, digging my fingertips into the divots. The entire restaurant hosted dark furnishings. They sat across from each other on booth cushions, a low hanging chandelier intimately lighting up their table. Claire leaned forward, her breasts pushing forward, across from her was the familiar head of hair and wide shoulders. He leaned back while her lips moved. She paused and his deep voice rumbled.
“ . . . fucking . . . secretary?” Only some words were loud enough that the words floated to me. His palm slammed on the surface in front of her. She lunged for it, gripping it with both hands.
I whipped my head to the side. Her touching him . . . broke something in my chest. My vision blurred and I stumbled away, not able to see any more. I staggered, swallowing down the nausea threatening to rise.
“Hey, are you okay?” The hostess took hold of my arm, peeking over my shoulder while helping me walk out. Fresh air hit my face and I sucked in breaths.
“Thanks,” I said choked, extricating myself from her hold. I bumped into a passerby and mumbled my apologies, trying to get to the side of the pathway. People walking the sidewalk blurred. Usually, I did well weaving through the crowd, but I couldn’t make sense from up or down right now. Another body slammed into me, and I toppled to the side. My thigh hit the ground, my entire leg rasping against the concrete.
I cried out. Not so much from my stinging leg, but from the utter devastation ripping my chest in two. I clutched the NDA tight to my chest, my tears dripping onto it. The acknowledgment that he lied to me from the very beginning, about everything, and from here on out, I wouldn’t be able to trust him . . . which meant I would not have a relationship with him. I couldn’t function without trust.
No one stopped to help me, and then and there I realized it was foolish of me to wait for someone to pick me up. I could only rely on myself, and onlyIwouldn’t let myself down. Gathering strength I didn’t know I possessed, I pushed off the ground on unsteady legs. The looming building of Astor Industries mocked me as I neared it. My heartbeat echoed with the sound of his name. Astor.
I struggled to suck in a breath, and I clutched the envelope to my chest. I just needed a moment. Entering the glass doors and passing the security stand threatened to collapse my chest. Instead of taking the elevator to the top floor where my desk was, I trudged forward, toward the opposite end that led to a courtyard. Upon exiting, the bubbling fountain smack in the middle echoed. Finding a small alcove within the rose bushes, I plopped on a sanded stone. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing in and out, but as my heart rate dropped, tears leaked from the corner of my eyes. They fell without care, dripping off my chin.
I was spiraling. Great. I’d gotten myself into such a mess. How could I continue working here while delivering flowers after he slept with someone? Tobacco singed my nose and Judy came into my line of sight with my next blink. A long cigarette dangled between her fingers. A puff of smoke left her lips.
“Hey, are you okay?” It seemed to be the only thing she could ask me.
Judy clasped my shoulder, concern bringing her eyebrows down. Emotion swelled in my throat and I shook my head. Her frown became more intense.
I tried speaking but only opened my mouth to end up closing it again. On my third attempt, I articulated part of what I needed to.
“I’m resigning.” The crack in my voice sent a flush down my face.
“Why? Are you okay?” She blinked down at me.
“Personal reasons.”
“Oh,” she straightened, nodding pensively. “Can you draft up your resignation and give me a few days to find your replacement?”
