I sit up, knowing this argument is going to be like everyother. Neither of us ever gives in. I can’t just keep screwing him andpretending as though I don’t have feelings for him. My heart will get mangledby the end of this.
“Hadley, get back in bed,” Cayden urges.
If I do, I’ll end up being talked into some agreement that Iknow is a mistake. I’ve already made enough of those where he’s concerned.
“I have to go to work.”
“You mean you have to run away.”
I pull my shirt on, then my pants before addressing him. Ineed whatever armor I can gather. “You can call it what you want. You can putforth your argument just the same as I have. The bottom line is, in the end,someone will get hurt, and let’s be honest, it’ll be me. I have a career I’mbuilding and I refuse to let you derail it.”
“Who said I want to derail it?”
“No one, but that’s how it goes, and I would rather walkaway now without any complications.”
Which isn’t true, I’m already emotionally involved.
“If that’s what you want,” Cayden says, throwing his legsover the side of the bed, clearly pissed.
It’s not what I want, but look how easily and quickly hegave in. Not even an attempt to fight harder. And if there’s one thing Caydenis really good at, it’s arguing his point. That’s not happening here.
So, I straighten my spine as he sits with his back to me andfortify the walls around my heart so I can walk out of here.
“Goodbye, Cayden.”
“Bye.”
All right then.
I walk out of the room, head held high, and make my way downthe elevator, to the street, and away from him, with tears streaming down myface each step of the way.
I’m such a fool.
ChapterTwelve
CAYDEN
God she’s beautiful.
Seven days have done nothing to diminish my feelings. I’vetried—and failed. Hadley is under my skin and I am either going to win her or Ihave to leave this city. I can’t live in this limbo and the fact that I am thisfucked in the head over her seems insane.
But it’s how I feel.
For seven days I have done nothing other than think of her.I lay on the pillow she slept on, clinging to the disappearing scent.
She walked out and while it fucking killed me to let her go,I’m aware the only way to win her over, is to show her. I have poured myselfinto doing anything that doesn’t remind me of her.
Except, somehow, I have found a way to conjure her into thatmoment. Not even going to Logan’s game got me out of it and I love baseball.
It didn’t help that they were playing the Red Sox so Iwondered the entire time if Hadley was happy when they scored a run or if shewas sad at the end when they lost.
This is the pathetic man I have become.
“Do your clients agree, Mr. Hennington?” Hadley asks, hereyes fixed on mine.
“I’m sorry, what was it you proposed?” Great. Now I looklike a damn idiot in front of my colleague and hers.
She sighs. “I offered that you would increase the money bysixteen million dollars and my clients are willing to remove one of the requestedseats. It would allow them to still have a voice in the plans as well ascompensate them for the removal of the majority seat holdings.”
