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She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Uh… maybe five minutes? She might be on the fifteenth floor, though. I had another document that was supposed to be picked up a few days ago. She offered to bring it up for me after I complained that no one was as diligent at picking things up as she was. She’s a great secretary. You got lucky with her.”
I let out a relieved sigh and nodded. “I did. Thank you, Priya. Fifteenth floor, right?”
She nodded, watching me curiously as I walked away. Neither Luka nor Bennett worked on the fifteenth floor. I could just go back to my office and wait for her, but for some reason, when I stepped into the elevator, I pressed the button for the fifteenth floor instead. I needed to see for myself that she was doing what was asked of her.
I didn’t have to go far to find her. She was standing in the hall, speaking with someone I recognized. The frustration came and went in an instant when I realized she wasn’t standing around chatting. Her face was pale, and she was trembling, big, tear-filled eyes locked on the douchebag who broke her heart. I stepped closer so I could hear their conversation.
“... I mean, it’s just embarrassing. You finding different ways to come talk to me isn’t going to make me change my mind. Why do you even still work here? Are you just following me around, hoping I’ll give in and take you back? It won’t happen, babe. Get it through your thick skull.”
Fury lit in my chest, and I stormed toward them. I didn’t miss Julie’s heartbroken look.
“I-I’m not– I don’t–”
Alan scoffed. “Don’t bullshit me, Jules. You’re fucking pathetic. No one is ever gonna want you, so just give up already.”
When a tear slipped over her cheek, I lost my temper. I couldn’t punch an employee, though I seriously wanted to, so instead, I stepped up to Julie, pulling her into my arms. She jerked her gaze to mine, choking on a sob, and I shook my head.
“I’ve been looking for you, love. You left without kissing me goodbye.”
With that, I dipped my head and claimed her lips fiercely. That asshole said no one would ever want her. That was a lie. I wanted her. I knew two others who wanted her too. No way in hell would I let him convince her otherwise.
Chapter Thirty-One
JULIE
When Priya told me she had a few documents that needed to go upstairs, I offered to bring them up for her. I figured if I kept busy, I’d stay out of my head. The panic after what happened in the conference room was suffocating. I didn’t know Grayson was aware of what was happening and I was mortified when he moved Bennett’s chair out of the way and helped me to my feet. And terrified. I thought for sure I was going to lose my job.
He reassured me that it wasn’t the case, but I still felt anxious about it. I hurried through my tasks, throwing myself at anything that might keep him from firing me. When Priya let me know that the documents he wanted were available, I raced to get them and offered to help when I found more. I figured it might make him less pissed at me if I did a little extra.
I hadn’t really been paying attention to what floor I was going to. I knew the person who needed the documents and found their desk pretty quickly. They were grateful for my help, apparently overwhelmed with work, and never found a minute to get downstairs to grab the new stuff. I was just leaving to head back upstairs when I ran into Alan. I’d forgotten he worked on this floor.
Since we’d both moved on and I didn’t want to be that girl who ignored their ex after years of being together, I smiled politely at him. He sneered, sidestepping to block my path when I moved to walk past him.
“What are you doing here?”
I frowned. “I had a file to drop off.”
He made an irritated sound, rolling his eyes. “That’s the excuse you’re going with? The CEO’s secretary is a mail carrier now?”
I shook my head slowly. “No, I just–”
He let out a frustrated sigh, his head dropping back. “God, you’re so fucking predictable. I knew you wouldn’t be able to just move on. You’re a stage five clinger. What am I gonna have to do to get you to stop stalking me?”
My mouth fell open. “I-I’m not! I told you, I just had to drop off a file!”
“Bullshit. I can’t believe I was ever with you. I mean, it’s just embarrassing. You finding different ways to come talk to me isn’t going to make me change my mind. Why do you even still work here? Are you just following me around, hoping I’ll give in and take you back? It won’t happen, babe. Get it through your thick skull.”
I felt my stomach turn over and I had to tighten my grip on the documents until my knuckles turned white so that I wouldn’t drop them because I was shaking so hard. Tears blurred my vision, and I shook my head helplessly.
“I-I’m not– I don’t–”
Alan scoffed. “Don’t bullshit me, Jules. You’re fucking pathetic. No one is ever gonna want you, so just give up already.”
His words cut through me like a knife, and I almost wanted to collapse from the pain. Tears spilled over my cheeks, blurring out his scowl. Embarrassment, shame, it all hit me at once and I couldn’t say a word to defend myself.
He opened his mouth, probably to say more, but before he could, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me against someone’s chest. When I looked up and saw Grayson, the humiliation only grew. He always seemed to show up at my lowest points. He wasn’t ever going to take me seriously now. He looked so angry, barely banked fury in his eyes, but his grip on my arms was gentle.
“I’ve been looking for you, love. You left without kissing me goodbye.”
