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"We dated briefly when I came back to New York."
I close my eyes to absorb the information. "Are you dating now? Is that why she took on a business partner?"
"It's more complicated than that." He takes a drink from the bottle of water. "This isn't coming out the way I wanted it to."
"What way?" I can feel my chest burning. "That you flirted with me at the gallery knowing you were my boss? That you and your lover practically own my jewelry line? Or that you tossed me aside like an old shoe when I needed to catch my breath the other night?"
"Ivy, please." His voice is pleading now. "You have to let me explain."
"Why?" I can feel my eyes flooding with
tears. "You're playing games with me. I don't want to play anymore."
"I'm not. I'm not playing any games." He takes two large steps towards me. "I want you."
I push him away, my hands resting on his chest. "No. Leave."
"I don't want to go."
"You blindsided me today." I look directly into his eyes. "You let me walk in there knowing you'd be there. You rejected me the other night and then knew I'd have to face you today. It's so cruel."
"I should have told you," he says quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't."
"It doesn't matter anymore." I walk swiftly to the door, holding it wide open. "As I told Maddie, I'll have the rest of the collection to the two of you next week."
He turns as he reaches the threshold. "I care about you. You have no idea how much."
I silently close the door behind him.
***
"Heavens." Liz's voice startles me as she exits the elevator. "What on earth is that?"
"An unwelcomed gift," I say smugly turning back to the delivery men standing at my door. "Mr. Walker at Veray Jewellers. I wrote the address here." I point to my messy handwriting on the front of the brown packaging I clumsily pulled together with tape.
"Will do," the older of the two says as he directs the other to pick up the edge of the painting before they carry it out of my apartment and life for good.
"Mr. Walker at Veray?" Liz walks back into the foyer after helping herself to a glass of wine in the kitchen.
"It's not even noon." I motion to the half-full glass.
"It's been a bad week." She takes a small sip. "Which Mr. Walker at Veray?"
I had hoped to explain all of this to Liz next week, or maybe next month, or perhaps never. "Jax. He's the new co-owner."
"What?" Liz's southern drawl is all too apparent when she raises her voice.
I shrug my shoulders. "I had no idea."
She moves to sit in the living room. "Was that what the meeting with Julia was about yesterday?"
"Yep." I sit on the arm of the chair. "Julia is out and Jax is in."
"But you and he...you almost...you know." She finishes the glass of wine in one gulp.
"I know." I lean closer to where Liz is sitting on the couch. "And he...you...you know with Madeline."
"Madeline Veray!" Liz shrieks.
