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“What?” When she looks up and sees me, her lips tighten. I think she’s clenching her jaw at me.
“May I speak to you a moment?”
She looks away and continues putting her few possessions in the canvas bag on her desk. “There’s nothing to say. I gave Sandra the laptop. I’ve taken all my information off it.” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a business-sized envelope. “Here’s my official letter of resignation.”
A tremble is in her hand, and I wonder what it means. Is she nervous? Is she sad? Is this killing her as much as it is me?
“You’re required to give two-week’s notice.” Her blue eyes flash, and I shrug. “It’s in your contract.”
“You can figure out a way around that.”
The last of her things are in the bag, and she pulls the straps over her shoulder. She takes a step toward the door, but I step in front of her, closing it behind me and putting my back against it.
“Just give me a minute to run something past you.”
“I’ve given you all the time you get from me.” My hands go up, and hers do the same. “What do you want, Patton?”
That’s when I hear the crack in her voice, and I know. This isn’t as easy for her as she’s trying to make it seem. I might have a chance.
“You haven’t been here long enough to quit. It won’t look good to future employers. You don’t deserve that.”
She rocks back, crossing her arms. “You did not just say that to me.”
“I’d like to send you to LA.” I pause a moment to let the idea sink in. “Would you be willing to take Jerry’s place launching our West Coast division? It’s a great opportunity, and it won’t hurt your résumé.”
“It would help you, too.” Her voice is terse.
My hands go in my pockets, and I nod. “It would help me, but it’s also helping you… And you won’t have to see me.”
A weight is in my chest as I say it. I don’t want to send her to LA. I want her here. All of this is fucking bullshit. If she would just listen to me…
Blinking quickly, she turns her face toward the window. Her throat moves with a swallow, and my eyes trace the line of her jaw, the sweep of her golden-brown hair, her soft neck.
Clearing my throat, I move away from her door. “Take the week to think about it. You can let me know on Monday.” I turn the envelope in my hand and slide it into my breast pocket. “I’ll hold onto this until I hear from you.”
She inhales slowly then cuts those pretty blue eyes to me. The freckles on her nose make her seem so young. What will it take to win her back? Is it even possible?
“Can I go now?” Impatience is in her tone, and I step to the side, allowing her to pass.
She leaves me in a swirl of coconut and ginger that gets caught in my throat. She’s so beautiful as she walks out the door.
27
Raquel
Renée isn’t answering her phone.
Since I got home Friday night, I’ve been pacing my small apartment trying to reach her. I spent Saturday in bed and let myself cry. Sunday, I got up and took a shower. I forced myself to walk around the block, to go to the grocery store and buy food.
It was all I could do before it started again. I’m not sobbing crying, but I can’t stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. I don’t even know why I’m crying. He doesn’t deserve my tears.
But my heart is broken…
Of course, Renée isn’t answering her phone. I’ve been over here sleeping with the enemy, betraying her with every story I tell.
At the same time… she didn’t tell me anything. She could have warned me a little better instead of just issuing cryptic suggestions. “Don’t fall for him,” she said. “He’s the devil,” she said. Really, Renée?
I’m so frustrated, I start packing my things. Seeing Patton in the office today almost broke me. I waited until I was sure he’d be at lunch—of course, he wasn’t. It was all I could do to stay focused, to not fucking cry, to keep my hands from shaking. To act like he didn’t hurt me with his lies… his omissions.
