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“At the end of the day, this is your life and your choice to make.” She smiles. “I know you will make the right choice, and I’ll stand by you.”
As our conversation comes to an end, I hug my grandmother, gather my things, and prepare to leave. As I step outside, my phone buzzes with another text message from my ex.
Hey Quinn, just wanted to see if you’d given any thought to meeting up. I know we didn’t end things on the best terms, but I think it’d be good for both of us to get some closure. Drinks on me.
My fingers hover over the screen. Taking a deep breath, I make a decision.All right, let’s meet for drinks. Just to clear the air and get some closure.
The restaurant’s warm, golden light casts a soft glow on the white linen tablecloth, reflecting off the pristine silverware. Outside the large window, the city’s bustle seems like a distant hum, muted by the luxurious ambiance of the dining room. The scent of truffle and garlic wafts through the air, mingling with the fragrant bouquet of roses adorning the tables.
The hostess leads me to a table in front of a large picture window.
Liam sits across from me, his tailored suit hugging his lean frame, his dark hair styled to perfection. His eyes, once filled with warmth and affection, now radiate arrogance and entitlement. I feel a sense of unease as his gaze lingers on me, scrutinizing my every move.
As he takes my hands in his, the weight of the moment presses down on me, a mixture of dread and disbelief swelling in my chest. “I’ve been thinking about us,” he begins, his voice smooth and confident. “I know I made mistakes, and I want to apologize for how I treated you.”
His words spark a glimmer of hope within me that he’s respectfully bringing closure to the rough ending of our relationship, but it’s quickly extinguished as he continues. “Quinn, I want us to get back together.”
I attempt to pull away, my heart pounding in my chest. “Liam, I thought you wanted closure and friendship, not... this.”
He smirks, that familiar arrogance shining through.
“Let go of my hand.” I jerk it from his grasp.
“I am the best thing that ever happened to you, Quinn. I’m willing to elevate you from your lowly position as a live-in nanny. Don’t you see that?”
Anger flares within me at his condescending tone, but I manage to keep my voice steady. “No, Liam. I don’t need you to ‘elevate’ me. I’m happy with who I am and where I am in life.”
He scoffs, clearly unimpressed with my response. “There’s a rumor going around that you’re dating Ezra Petrov. There’s no way he’s lowered himself to dating his nanny. If you two are together, he’s just using you for sex. He’ll never publicly claim you.”
My blood boils as I listen to his cruel words, my hands trembling with rage. The audacity of his assumptions and the blatant disrespect in his tone are too much to bear. I stand abruptly, grabbing my purse and throwing a few bills on the table.
“You know nothing about my relationship with Ezra,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “But one thing’s for sure — I’ll never go back to someone as arrogant and heartless as you.”
With that, I turn on my heel and storm out of the restaurant, leaving him in stunned silence.
As I walk down the street, tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and my thoughts whirl with confusion and hurt. The raw emotions churn within me like a storm, clouding my judgment and fueling my doubts.
13
Lost in Pursuit
Ezra
Thetensionintheboardroom is palpable as my team and I discuss the precarious state of our million-dollar deal. Our new product, a virtual reality platform, has revolutionized employee training and development for companies around the world. But now, everything we've worked toward is at risk.
"Why are they stalling on signing the contract?" I ask, my voice firm but restrained. "We've met all their demands, and the prototype has been approved."
My lead negotiator, Martin, runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "They have several concerns.” He clears his throat. “Your father’s company is hinting at withdrawing their involvement. That is a big blow.”
I try to keep my tone even. “I’ll handle that.” My parents are doing their best to control my life, and they try at all costs, even if it means losing a multi-million dollar contract. “What are their other concerns?”
“They're concerned about the implementation timeline, Ezra. They think it's too aggressive and want us to push it back another six months," Martin answers.
I slam my fist on the table, unable to contain my anger. "That's unacceptable! We've already made concessions on the budget and staffing. If we delay any further, we risk losing our competitive edge in the market."
The other board members exchange uneasy glances, sensing the gravity of the situation. As the founder of NexTech, my drive and passion have propelled the company to its current success. This deal means everything to me, and I can't afford to let it slip through my fingers.
"We need to find a way to reassure them," I say, my voice steely with determination. "Schedule another meeting with their executives. We'll walk them through the timeline again and address any concerns they may have."
