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Kelly stared at Diana’s trim ankles, wrapped in thin straps of buttery leather. She had flawless skin and long, lustrous brown hair that belonged in a shampoo commercial. What was it like to be that sort of woman? To be pretty and perfect and so certain of herself, even if the mask had dropped briefly.
“Did you love him?”
“What?” Irritation laced the question.
“Spencer. Did you love him?” Do you still love him? Does he love you? Is that why there’s no room for me?
Diana laughed softly. “Who can say what love is? It’s such a fluid thing. Here today, gone tomorrow.”
Her blithe answer brought tears to Kelly’s eyes. As if it were that simple for her. “For you, maybe. For some of us it doesn’t work that way.”
When Kelly’s voice cracked, Diana glanced at her in alarm. “Then I’m truly sorry for you.”
Kelly wiped her eyes. Her parents might’ve been unreliable, but the one thing they’d taught her was the importance of love. She wouldn’t allow herself to turn off that side of her nature, as much as it hurt right now.
She loved. She wanted to be loved in return. And one day, she would be.
“Don’t be. I’m better off.”
“If you say so. I have a lot to get done, Kelly.”
“Why aren’t you going to the new Virginia store? Since you’re so eager to take over, wouldn’t it make the most sense to start there fresh?”
“Not that I owe you any answers, but Spencer’s handling Virginia. He’ll be there for the next year, and in the meantime, I’ll be here.”
Kelly swallowed thickly. “What do you mean, he’ll be there?”
“He’s moving to Virginia, as was planned. God, do you always talk this much?”
As was planned.
That he hadn’t told her shouldn’t matter anymore. They’d already broken up, if they’d ever been together. But it was just one betrayal too many.
What was she going to do? Wait until Spencer came back from Virginia, then slink around trying to pretend she didn’t care what was going on between him and Diana? Deny she was dying inside every time she looked at him? Maybe she could turn off her feelings if she tried hard enough. In the meantime, every day would be hell. She’d always look at him and Diana and wonder.
Maybe he would never come back. He’d stay in Virginia and then she’d be left to wander past his office, remembering the day she’d come in on him and Leigh. She’d never really gotten the story there either. Maybe Leigh was next on his list.
And if she didn’t think of that day, she’d remember working with him all night long. His mouth on her breasts, his face in her hands. But worst of all, she’d remember the night he’d taken her love and stomped on it before she’d even had the nerve to offer it to him.
Or she could cut her losses.
She’d remember regardless but at least she could get away from this place and not have to see him in every corner. She could start moving on.
Kelly reached up and unclipped her nametag, shocked that her hand could be rock steady when she was about to do the craziest thing she’d ever done. But it was also the most sane.
“I’m leaving,” she said quietly, relieved her eyes were dry. She wouldn’t cry anymore.
“Good. Leave the door open.”
“I mean I’m leaving permanently.” When Diana turned, Kelly set the badge on the conference table where she and Spencer had stared at each other so heatedly. A week ago. Just a week.
A lifetime.
Diana shrugged as if she didn’t care one way or another. Why should she? Kelly was just another cog in her parents’ wheel. “Your choice.”
“Yes. My choice.” For once she wasn’t going to be afraid. She was going to be just fine without the store. Without Spencer. She had two legs and she was going to stand on them.
On her way out, she shut the door.
