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And the way he’d touched her, fucked her…
For God’s sake! They’d seemed crazed for each other!
But, no…
She amended her mental statement. Maxi was crazed for him.
Clearly, Ryan could take or leave Maxi.
Like she was just some novelty. A break from his usual reality of high-society lovers. A theory he’d tried out. One that apparently held no weight, so he’d decided to go back to Elizabeth.
She shook her head as dismay slithered down her spine. He’d made that decision right there in his office. Where Maxi or anyone else could have easily walked in on him and this other woman.
If it hadn’t been Maxi to discover them, she would have heard about it from someone else.
Was that what Ryan had wanted? For her to learn about the choice he’d made from anyone other than him? So that he didn’t have to deal with any emotions on her side? So that he could make a clean break?
Maxi’s fists balled at her sides. She’d been through this so many times. Had sworn she would never let another man do this to her—even if she couldn’t stop him from cheating, she wouldn’t let him devastate her.
So fuck it all. Dr. Ryan Donovan could have his clean break. Maxi would not give him the satisfaction of crumbling at his feet.
She was stronger than that.
Or at least, she had to be in this case. Because it occurred to Maxi that losing Ryan was the most painful experience of her life. Agonizing enough to make her want to curl up on her sofa and cry a river.
But the company had been hurled back into crisis mode because of the flub in Legal, and Maxi had to do something about it.
So she sucked it up. Swiped at the few traitorous tears that had seeped from the corners of her eyes. She collected her notebook and left her office, meeting up with Cal in his, not bothering to invite Ryan to the strategy session.
Maxi had spent most of her life taking care of things herself; she’d handle this new situation on her own.
She’d meant what she’d said to Ryan.
She didn’t need him.
* * *
The end of the afternoon rolled around, and Maxi locked herself in her office to get more work done. She told her assistant that if Ryan stopped by or called, to let him know she’d left for the day.
This clearly perplexed Avril, but Maxi didn’t elaborate. She and Cal had agreed to scour the city for suff
icient space to rent. He pounded the pavement while she searched the Internet. They’d already briefed Staci on the catastrophe, and after she spoke with the Board, Staci planned to deal with Legal.
Maxi was certainly glad she wasn’t Judith Layton, VP and General Counsel. That woman was about to get an earful…and possibly a pink slip.
Then again, it wasn’t so much fun being Maxi Shayne at the moment.
At least she had something to occupy her mind so that she didn’t have to think about Ryan—with Elizabeth practically in his arms.
Christ, if Maxi had walked in just a few seconds later…
She gave a sharp shake of her head to dislodge the image wanting to take up space in her brain and torment her. She wouldn’t allow it. There was a company at stake. Her job was at stake. How she’d gotten sidetracked in the first place was beyond her. She knew where her focus needed to be. On business.
So maybe this was a good thing. Maybe Ryan and Elizabeth reconciling was exactly the catalyst to get Maxi back on track professionally.
She’d like to pat herself on the back for finding a silver lining.
Instead, more tears flooded her eyes. And Maxi knew she wouldn’t be getting over Einstein anytime soon…
