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‘What do you know about it?’ He turned towards the woman. And how come he didn’t? Because he spent more time with Darcie than anyone.

‘Not much.’ The woman swallowed, her smile fading. ‘It only came out at her farewell party last night.’

A party that he’d known nothing about and certainly hadn’t been invited to. Insult to injury, much? A rosy cloud of rage misted in front of him. Never mind that he never socialised with his staff. Had Darcie sipped champagne the way she had a fortnight ago? When she never, ever drank. In all the nights she’d travelled alongside him, not once had he seen her touch alcohol. Until then.

Come upstairs with me?

Had she invited some other guy to her room the way she’d invited him?

‘Where’s the wedding?’ he rasped.

‘The register office in the city.’ A wary response.

She was getting married in a register office on a weekday morning? Something was off. Darcie was off—just now she’d most definitely not been herself. This wasn’t—couldn’t be—real. It certainly wasn’t right. He nodded, his feet moving fast. Because as far as Elias Greyson was concerned, Darcie Milne wasn’t getting married anywhere today.

Not to anyone.

CHAPTER TWO

DARCIEPACEDTHECORRIDOR, keeping her gaze on the main entrance. It was only ten minutes until the allotted time for the ceremony, but all she could see was Elias’s expression as she’d fled his office fifteen minutes ago. He’d gone white—piqued because she’d snapped and not jumped to his summons. There was nothing more to his annoyance. No deeper emotion. There was never any real emotion with him. He was just too used to getting his own way. And right now she needed to forget the long-standing infatuation that had led to her making a colossal fool of herself a fortnight ago. She sucked in a breath and slammed the door on that mortifying memory once more.

It. Was. Over.

She wouldn’t see Elias Greyson ever again. She was about to marry someone else. As long as her groom actually arrived.

Her whole body suddenly ached like she’d come down with insta-flu. She checked the time again and her nerves exploded. Whywasn’tShaun here already? She knew he’d been reluctant but she’d thought she’d convinced him. Darcie would do anything for her best friend and Shaun had loved Zara, too. And Lily was the one—theonly—part of Zara that lived on. That little girl needed them. There was no way Darcie was letting Lily remain in the foster system any longer than necessary.

Shaun had eventually agreed when Darcie assured him she had enough money saved to give him what he needed to build his business. She’d have agreed to anything to secure Lily’s future. And she’d have just enough left over to stop work for a little while.

In a few months Lily would start school and Darcie could return to work while also helping Shaun. Now that she had the experience of working for Elias Greyson on her résumé, she’d get any number of jobs through an agency. Unless Elias didn’t give her a good reference. Which, given she’d just yelled at him, was a possibility. Nobody raised their voice at Elias and he certainly never raised his. But it would be too unfair if he held that one lapse this morning over her. For more than two years she’d worked all hours for him and yes, she’d been paid well. But for that last moment this morning she’d always remained in control of herself. Never once biting back the way she’d sometimes wanted. Never once saying anything inappropriate. Because she’d needed the job and he was her boss.

Okay, aside from today there was just that one time she’d said something she shouldn’t. But he’d agreed to forget it.

But she still couldn’t forget his face just now. He’d truly expected her in the office today. He’d not even noticed that she and most of the others had gone for pizza last night for her to say goodbye. Of course she’d not included Elias on the email invite, knowing he wouldn’t come, but it shocked her that he hadn’t even known about it when ordinarily nothing in the office passed him by. He’d looked stunned. Part of her would’ve laughed if her stupid heart hadn’t been breaking. Because her stupid heart had been his from the first moment she’d clapped eyes on his ridiculously handsome form. She had to work so hard not to look at him too much in these last two years...

But he’d not even cared about her resignation. Only that she hadn’t been at her desk first thing this morning to see through this latest deal. Too hurt to admit, she stared at the floor and willed Shaun to arrive.

‘Darcie? Sorry I’m late.’

She looked up, startled her wish had come true. Shaun hurried over, dressed in faded jeans and tee. She swallowed and forced a smile. It wasn’t as if she’d gone to all that much effort either. She didn’t even have a posy of flowers. But her treacherous mind reverted to Elias. What would he wear to his wedding? Doubtless it would be a glamorous affair. He’d stun in a bespoke tuxedo and he’d have literally a model bride...

‘It’s okay,’ she reassured Shaun as cold sweat slicked her back. ‘Thanks. It’s almost time.’

Shaun shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘Haven’t you sent the money over yet?’

‘I haven’t had a chance. I got called in to—’

‘If I don’t pay that deposit I’ll lose the deal. You know I need it now, Darcie.’

She refocused and studied Shaun more closely. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and he fidgeted, moving from foot to foot as if he didn’t want to remain in place.

‘Come on, you know we’re going to need this,’ Shaun added impatiently. ‘Transfer it now and I’ll forward it right away.’

Darcie’s inner alarm inside sounded.

You can’t ever trust anyone.

She’d known Shaun for years. She knew his weaknesses. But she also knew he was fighting them just as she was hers including the doubt—that alarm—she was feeling right now. The assumption that she would be let down yet again by someone she’d thought she could trust was an automatic reflex she constantly had to combat.

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