“Oh, I don’t mean to pry.” She clutched her portfolio. “I’m rooting for you both, truly. It’s just when she didn’t move forward, and knowing you, I was surprised you didn’t—” she cleared her throat. “I just wondered if maybe...” She trailed off delicately.
There it was. The fishing expedition. She thought we’d broken up.
“We’re fine,” I said evenly.
“Oh good!” Her relief seemed genuine. “It’s just, you know how this town talks. Some people were quite surprised when you two got together. People still can’t quite believe Julian Wade got caught.” She laughed. “Beautiful woman, bit of a rough financial patch, ends up with one of the richest men in town… people do talk. I defend you both, of course, but?—”
“Cheryl.”
“Yes?”
“You just revealed confidential client information. Her credit situation. Details of a failed transaction.”
The color left her face. “I thought you knew?—”
“Even if I did, you don’t discuss it. Withanyone.” I buttoned my jacket. “Makes me wonder what you’ve said about my transactions over the years.”
“Julian! I wouldnever?—”
“You just did. To me. About her.” I buttoned my jacket with deliberate calm. “If I hear a whisper of this conversation anywhere in this town, I’ll know where it came from. We clear?”
“Crystal.” She swallowed.
“Good. Now do something for me. Pull up every available office space in the area. Preferably within walking distance of the courthouse. For purchase not lease. And the full numbers on the building she was looking at. My office, end of day.”
“The office suite? That’s a lease though, Julian.”
“Thebuildingthe suite is in.”
“She told me she wasn’t looking anymore.”
“She is.”
I left her in the doorway with her mouth open and texted Alyssa.
I’ll be home in thirty. Come up to my place.
ALYSSA
What’s wrong?
Just come.
I pressed my foot to the gas. My blood was boiling the entire way home. She’d given up her practice over what I was sure would be pocket change to me. Not because she didn’t have access to it through me. But because she’d rather sacrifice her dreams than risk owing me something. Asking me for something. The worst part was she hadn’t even told me it happened. Just swallowed the loss, adding it to the pile of things she’d go through alone. I was sick of this.
It ended today.
She cameup ten minutes after I got in, in one of my shirts, and for half a second when I opened the door I almost forgot the whole reason I’d called her over.
She stepped in and shut the door, looking apprehensive. “What’s wrong, Julian? If this is about last night I’m so?—”
“Why am I hearing from a realtor that you lost your office space?”
Her face changed. Guilt, shame, then her shoulders squared. Defense mode. “Because it wasn’t a big deal.”
“The hell it wasn’t. You’ve been talking about that practice for months. You found a space, you lost it, and don’t say a word? Instead I get blindsided at a meeting?”
She looked anywhere but at me. “Julian...”
