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Riley couldn’t have been more surprised. He came to apologize? She was so stunned that she almost fell over backwards. “Whatever for?”
He let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “I did something I’m not proud of.”
She frowned and stood up, folding her arms. “I think we’re both in that boat.”
“Yeah, well, I fear my boat might be a lot bigger than yours.” He cringed.
Riley had no idea what he was saying. Was he not making sense on purpose? Maybe he’d been drinking. “What are you talking about?”
“I broke into your room and found the article you wrote,” he blurted out. “I’m sorry,” he tacked on, after he looked at her face.
A buzzing noise started in her ears. She couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You broke into my room? When?”
“This morning. After I sent you for skin cream.” A guilty look crossed his face. “I think I was the one who accidentally turned your article in.” He stared at the floor.
Wait, was she hearing this right? Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“I think this whole thing was my fault.” He sighed, and his shoulders slumped.
Riley couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t been the one who turned in the article. What a relief. She’d thought she was going crazy. She’d been so sure she hadn’t saved it. But why had he been on her computer in the first place? It didn’t make any sense.
“Wait a minute,” she said. “Why did you break into my room?”
“My head of security called me. They checked into you and found out you were a reporter.” He avoided her gaze. “I wanted to confirm what they said, because part of me didn’t believe it.”
She shoved his shoulder. “And you saved my article to the shared drive? Why?”
“It was an accident!”
“Well, that sucks.” If he hadn’t been messing with her article, it would have never come out. This whole thing wouldn’t have happened.
He looked pretty miserable. “I know.”
She leaned against the desk. “I guess that solves the mystery of how the article got published.” She gave him the once-over. At least he’d come clean to her. She had to give him props for that. Still, if she hadn’t written the darn thing, it wouldn’t have been leaked.
She sighed. “It’s still not your fault. I was the one who wrote it. I was the one who came here to expose you.”
He grimaced, like her words physically hurt him.
Guilt ripped through her. It was horrible of her, and she knew it. She was here to find a story. That was it. “I just didn’t plan on falling in love with you,” she said, quietly.
His gaze snapped to hers. Seconds melted into each other as he stared at her, processing what she’d said. He took a step toward her. “Why did you write the article?”
She fidgeted and looked down at the carpet. Should she tell the truth? No point in lying to him anymore. “I needed the money.”
He slowly nodded. “I see.”
But she’d thought about it all day, and she’d decided to give the money back. It didn’t feel right to keep it. She straightened, wanting him to know. “But I decided not to take it. I’m giving the money back. I don’t want to benefit from your pain. I’m quitting my job and—”
“How does not taking the money help? The story is already out.” He took another step toward her. He was close now. Close enough she could touch him, if she reached out.
“I can’t take the money,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I feel too guilty.”
“Then how will you live?”
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t know. That was the scary part. “I’ll think of something.”
His gaze softened. “Did you mean what you said? About falling in love with me?”
