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“You’ve been very helpful,” he says. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you, Amelia.”
I watch in horror as he leaves the room and I feel my heart sink. Did I get it all wrong? Did I misread this situation entirely? Just when I thought he was gravitating toward me, it now feels like he’s even further from my reach.
If he wanted me, then he wouldn’t have left the room. Now, he’s probably gone to chase down the woman of his dreams. I bet she’s everything I’m not. Beautiful. Rich. Clever and funny. Skinny. I feel myself sinking onto the bed, needing to sit down. I can still smell his cologne in the air, the last reminder that he was here at all.
I should never have gotten my hopes up. I should have known deep down that I’m not good enough for an amazing man like him. And now, it hurts to think that there was ever a chance. It hurts to think that my last hope has been dashed. It hurts to think I’ve wasted months of my life here, praying for love that’s always been out of my reach.
I’ve hurt enough now. I’ve spent months being abused by the other staff members, just for a chance at winning Leo’s heart. But within the next thirty days, he’ll find someone else and marry her. Then I’ll have to live in the same house as the woman who has everything I’ve ever wanted. I’ll have to put a smile on my face as I serve her and pretend that my heart isn’t breaking in my chest…
Or I’ll have to leave. I’ll have to finally find the courage to walk away from Leo. I know how much that’ll hurt. I know that it’ll be nearly impossible when all I want is to bask in his presence. Somehow, I think I’d still want to do that even knowing he can never be mine. Even knowing he’s giving his love to someone else, worshipping her body every single night, giving her everything that I desire…
I can’t take it. I can’t live like this anymore. It hurts too much. The second he chooses his wife, I’m going to leave this place forever for the sake of my sanity. It’ll hurt like hell, but at least I won’t have to watch someone else living the life I want…
At least I can allow my heart to break in peace.
Chapter Five
Leo
I sit alone in my office, seething quietly. I’ve got a problem on my hands, for sure. It’s clear from my conversation with Amelia that I have to take what I want. She encouraged me to go for it with the woman I desire, and the only woman I’ve ever desired is her. There’s no way I can ignore that fact when the clause says I have to marry for love.
But I feel I haven’t examined the clause enough. What if there’s a subsection that tells me who I have to marry? I have a feeling that my father would have had someone in mind for me. He was always trying to set me up with women, much to my dismay.
I hear a ping on my computer which indicates that I have an appointment coming up. I frown. I cleared my work schedule this month, allowing the company to run itself while I grieve for my dad’s passing. I don’t recall setting up any appointments with anyone, including business or pleasure…
I check the notification and my heart drops to my stomach. I knew it. I just knew that my father had to be up to something…
On my calendar is a dinner date with Claudia Waterstone. I wrinkle my nose. Claudia is insufferable, in my opinion. I’ve met her a handful of times at various fundraisers and dinner parties, and though she’s a beautiful woman from a very classy family, she has never caught my eye in that way. All she ever talks about is her good looks and the money she’s made from modeling. I couldn’t care less about her or her life.
And yet here I am, booked for a dinner date with her. I almost laugh. Did I do something to piss off my dad before he died? Is that why he’s set me up with this ridiculous woman?
Surely he can’t expect me to marry her? He told me to marry, for love, not someone I can’t stand. Surely he doesn’t think that just because she has money and status that she must be a good match for me?
I stand and begin to pace the office. The trouble is, if this has been organized for some time, then it would be very rude to cancel on the day of. I’ve always prided myself on being a gentleman and there is no way I’m going to give that up now just because my eyes are set on someone else. I’ll go on this ridiculous date, have dinner with Claudia, and then let her down gently. There’s no other way around it.
