Page 113 of Open To Negotiation

“You what?” His voice hit a higher octave.

I stopped at the doors to look at him. “You heard me. Give me a call in a few weeks and we can go for drinks.”

I couldn’t explain this to him right now, mostly because I couldn’t explain it to myself. I smiled as he nodded and I left this place behind.

I went straight home because I was exhausted and didn’t want to go enjoy unemployment. I changed into sweats and a hoodie, resisting the temptation to wear the sweater Theo left here.

It seemed like only minutes after my head hit the pillow on my couch, where I’d been sleeping the last two nights, that someone started banging at my door.

I heaved myself up and closed my eyes thinking whoever it was decided to leave. But nope. The banging started up again and got more insistent. I didn’t even bother to look through the peephole as I opened the door.

“For fuck’s sake, Quinn,” Asher grumbled as he pushed his way into my apartment. “You turned off your bloody phone.” He stood in my living room with his arms crossed over his chest looking extremely pissed off.

“Usually when someone turns off their phone it’s because they want to be alone,” I said as I closed my door and moved back to the couch, stepping around the angry man.

I needed to wash my bed to get his scent off my sheets, but I was worried about losing the smell of him as much as I was worried about smelling him. Hence the couch.

“How did you know where I was?”

“I called your office, someone said you went home but they sounded odd and wouldn’t tell me anything more. What the hell are you doing home?” He squinted at me, looking me up and down. His eyes locked on my face, I was sure he could see how terrible I looked, it had been a rough few days.

“I quit my job.”

He stood there, blinking, as I waited for him to say something.

“Why?” he asked gently as he sat down.

“Because he fucking left me. He’s just gone.” My voice cracked and I pushed the tears back. “And he isn’t coming back.”

“So you blew up your life?”

“I blew up nothing. I hated that job. It was well past time for me to leave anyway, this just gave me some clarity.”

“I know, but what are you going to do?”

I managed a smile, Asher was pissed because he was concerned about me, that was something at least.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, I have a little while to figure it out. You know Edward Hale?”

“The man who runs the Maria Knight Memorial Fund? Of course, what does he have—”

“When I met him, we got to talking while Knight was busy. He gave me his card after I shared some ideas. He told me that he wants to work on having a headquarters here to be more accessible for people on this continent. He told me to call him if I ever wanted to change my job and he would find me something.”

I hadn’t told anyone about Edward’s offer. Mostly because while I was extremely excited about working with the foundation at the time, I didn’t want to leave Knight Enterprises in the lurch.

Well, that was no longer a factor and I actually really loved what they did. I could make a difference and the idea of that had me excited.

“Have you called him?”

“No, but Elevate is paying me a good package.” I’d gotten the confirmation email from HR before I’d even gotten home. “I can get by on that for a while until I figure it out.”

The silence fell between us while I rested my head on the back of the couch and looked at the ceiling. I decided this morning that I was going to move, I didn’t want this place anymore. I needed a change.

Maybe Asher was right, maybe I was blowing up my life. But right now I couldn’t find it in me to care.

“I’m sorry, Q,” Asher finally said. I looked up at him to see him shake his head. “He’s a—”

“I don’t want to talk about him and I don’t need your apology. This isn’t your fault.”