Madame touched the boxes piled up next to the sofa. “No.”
Amaya cleared her throat. Something about Madame Alexa’s quiet sophistication and her tiny space didn’t match. “I’m moving soon. I’m thankful for what you did, Madame Alexa. My family will be better off for it.”
“Excellent. I always like to talk to my virgins after, well, they aren’t virgins anymore. I’d be disappointed if the auction didn’t leave you better off as a result,” she said, her eyes searching hers.
Amaya touched her neck, feeling her pulse throb. She looked away. Shit. She was better off financially, for sure. Emotionally? Not so much.
“Amaya, is something wrong?” Madame Alexa inched closer.
“No. I mean, yes.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Look, it was great, more than great. Mr. Rhodes—Theo is amazing. I’m probably the least successful virgin in the keep-it-professional requisite because I fell for him. Hard.”
Madame Alexa crossed her arms.
“It sucks.”
She tapped Amaya’s forearm. “It does. But you’ll get over it. You’ll see.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to get over it. She preferred a do-over, in an alternative universe where Theo loved her and hadn’t betrayed her. “You’re not going to ask me how it happened? And why I think he’s amazing even though he broke my heart?”
Madame Alexa angled her head, as if she needed to see if there was more to Amaya. “No, honey. Love stories always start with hope and end up with reality. There’s not much more to it.”
“I hope you’re wrong.”
Madame Alexa tilted her head to one side. “Well, you’re back and all in one piece. I’m transferring the rest of the funds to you today. Don’t spend it all in one place.” She gave her the slightest wink and sashayed to the door.
…
“Theo Rhodes. I’m here to meet Talia,” he said to the receptionist at Talia’s office. The woman promptly stood.
“Of course, Mr. Rhodes. Please come with me,” she said, and led him through the hallway leading to the elevator. When it stopped on the sixth floor, he made his way out.
He’d been trying to get a hold of Talia for days, but she’d been away on a business trip. Today was her first day back, and he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to talk to her. He owed it to her to say in person that he could no longer marry her.
“Talia, Mr. Rhodes has arrived,” her assistant said, announcing his entry.
When he walked into the modern, medium-sized office, Talia smoothed her hands over her pencil skirt. Tall and elegant, she had all the attributes to make any man swoon. Any man who hadn’t already fallen for the charms of a much different woman.
“Talia, thanks for seeing me.”
She sat in front of him, and he chose the oversize leather chair to sit. Apprehension kicked up his heart rate. He inhaled, willing himself to say what needed to be said.
She drummed her fingers on the desk, apparently uneasy herself. “I’m glad you came. I wanted to talk to you too.”
“Excellent.”
She rolled her eyes. “I hear our parents have been talking. After your father was in the hospital, mine began pestering me to set a date for the wedding.”
He fixed his tie. Did she want to schedule a date to get it over with? He’d let her finish talking, then ax the idea of a marriage as soon as possible. “Yes. I can imagine.”
“This must come as news for you, but I don’t want this marriage.”
Relief unlocked his shoulders. He’d always suspected she didn’t want it, which didn’t mean she wouldn’t go through with it—for the sake of her family company and her own. “You don’t.”
She ran her fingers down her shoulder-length blonde hair. “No. To be honest, I’m not even sure…I’m the marrying kind. Which is why my father insisted so much on the idea, the perfect excuse for him to marry me off.”
“I understand.” He didn’t, not really, but bashing her father wouldn’t get them anywhere.
Challenge sparked in her forest green eyes. “So, I have a proposition for you. Why don’t we merge the companies without the marriage?”
