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Decimated.
“I thought,” Nova speaks to the view of the city, “that being with you would make the noose go away.” She slides a hand over her neck. Her fingers are slender. They move smoothly over her throat. “But it hasn’t, Adam. It’s only gotten tighter.”
“Nova.” I launch forward.
She holds up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. Her words are slow and measured. “You don’t just consume me. Yousmotherme. You make it worse. I don’t want someone who’s always looking at me, who’s always there.”
My chest rises and falls in a panic. I suck in more and more breaths of air, but none of them seem to be hitting my lungs. It’s like the room is devoid of all oxygen and what little I have is running out.
“I want freedom. From Vision Tech.” Her eyes wander over to mine. “And from you.”
It hurts, but I keep fighting because that’s the only thing I know how to do. “Whatever you’re doing, whatever you’re trying to achieve with this stunt, it won’t work. I won’t let you go.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Every choice I’ve ever made has been you. Only you, Nova. That’s not going to change because you’ve suddenly decided—”
“This wasn’t sudden, Adam. I gave you my resignation letter a long time ago.”
“Fine.” I shake my head, grasping at straws, struggling like a fish out of water but desperate to keep her close. “Fine. You don’t have to work at Vision Tech. You can… take a break. You deserve it. I’ll work with the directors. I’ve been training and studying to take more of the load anyway.”
Nova sashays behind the desk, her hips swaying lightly. Expression, calm. Voice, calm. Cold as an ice queen. “Didn’t you hear me, Adam? When I leave Vision Tech,” her eyes pierce mine, “I’m leaving you too.”
It feels like a punch to the gut.
“I hope you don’t make this difficult. We’re both adults and we’ve worked together for a very long time. I don’t want either our personal relationship or our business one to end on a sour note.”
I wince at her clinical evaluation.
“I’ve agreed to stay here for my full month, and that time is drawing to a close. However, now that we’ve found the replacements, I’m willing to stay a little longer to hand over my duties properly.”
“Nova—”
She lifts a hand, her voice sharp. “I couldeasilyuse my vacation time and leave early. Without any other systems in place. But if you agree to stay away from the main Vision Tech office while I’m still here, I’ll prepare the staff well.”
The silence is stiffer than dried mud on jeans.
My phone rings, shattering the tension.
It’s the hospital.
“Go ahead and take that,” Nova says. Moving smoothly behind her desk, she taps on her computer. “I have work to do anyway.”
Backing away from Nova feels like I’m ripping my skin off with cheap razors, but I leave Vision Tech, get into my truck and drive to the hospital.
I have no idea how I avoid getting into an accident because I’m barely paying attention to the road. By the time I stumble through the hospital doors, my head is reeling and I think I’ll be the one needing emergency care.
Alexa’s doctor is standing outside her room. He greets me somberly.
“How is she?” I ask, not as focused as I’d like to be.
“I’m afraid she’s not doing well. Even in the most optimistic case, she has less than a month left.”
I swallow hard. All I can think about is Rowan and how devastated he’ll be to hear this.
“Is there nothing you can do?”
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
