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Sophie reeled. She hadn’t even realized how much she’d thought the night after the company picnic had changed things between them. But here he was telling her otherwise, in what was probably the longest speech of his life.
And it told her everything she needed to know.
“Gray?” she said sweetly.
“What?”
“I quit.”
“What? Now? I didn’t mean you had to quit effective immediately. We’ll need time to find a replacement, and for you to train them…”
The fact that his first thought was business solidified her decision even as it broke her heart.
But she knew what she had to do. “That’s not my problem, Gray. If you insist on me coming in for the next two weeks, I will because it’s standard business protocol, but I should warn you that they’ll likely be very awkward for both of us.”
“Why’s that?”
She smiled thinly. “Because I’m not just quitting Brayburn Luxuries.”
His eyes went cold and flat, and she saw that he understood.
“I’m also quitting you,” she said softly.
She hadn’t been expecting a reaction, and she didn’t get one. He stood there staring at her, his expression unreadable.
“You know the worst part of all this?” she said, making her way toward the door.
He said nothing, but steadily returned her gaze as she continued to speak. “I’ve been spending the past several months hating Jessica. Hating her for what she did to you. The cheating thing…well…that was still wrong of her. But her assessment of you as lacking was dead-on. There’s nothing beneath that suit but ice.”
Something stark and hopeless flashed across his features and almost had Sophie wanting to take back her words. Almost.
But she was done letting people spit all over her existence like she was some vapid butterfly who wouldn’t care. Everything was becoming clear to her now. That moment in the Las Vegas elevator had felt like rock bottom only because she’d let other people make her feel that way.
No more.
She was done living for other people. They could take the stingy, withheld respect that she’d been so desperate to earn and shove it up their ass.
Without a backward glance, Sophie opened Gray’s office door, and stopped only long enough to grab her purse. She didn’t bother to look back and see if he was watching her. It didn’t matter.
Sophie Dalton was taking her life back. Even if it meant walking away from the man she loved.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sophie clung to her anger like a security blanket. It was the only way to stave off the soul-sucking pain that lurked beneath the rage.
And by Sunday night, that anger hadn’t abated. In fact, it had expanded. And it was no longer just Gray who was in its crosshairs.
“Mom, Dad, I’m here!” Sophie called, wiping her feet on the mat to remove the mud.
Seattle residents loved to brag about how great their summers were, but the truth was there was still plent
y of rain. Even in June. And tonight’s storm was a doozy. Perfect for her mood.
“Sophie, dear, you’re late,” her mother said, coming into the foyer and putting a spatula-holding hand on her hip. “And you know I hate those jeans. I was so relieved when that ‘worn’ look went out of style, but you still insist on—”
“Mom,” Sophie said. “My jeans are just fine for a family dinner. And I’m not even ten minutes late. Brynn and Dad show up late all the time and you don’t so much as blink at them.
Marnie blinked rapidly, clearly surprised at having her lecture interrupted. “Well, honey, they do run late from time to time, but it’s different. They have very…”
