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“No, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him. I don’t know if I’m ready for people to know, especially if we’re in a bad place.”
Gabe nods in recognition before leaning forward. “So what’s your plan?”
“I’m gonna do what you said, wait her out. She’s still got a few days at Baker & Park, so she’ll have to talk to me in some capacity. Just have to see what happens.”
Despite my words, I can’t shake the feeling that maybe it won’t be as simple as it sounds.
I step into the office, dreading the sight I fear I will find. Sure enough, Hannah’s empty desk greets me with its eerie stillness. My mind races and my heart pounds in my chest. She isn’t supposed to leave until Friday; what could be happening? I take a deep breath, pretending like it is any other day, and hang my suit jacket on the back of my chair, everything feeling heavier than usual.
Without even an attempt to dive into my work, I make my way out into the hallway to find Hannah, disheveled and exhausted, settling into her desk. Her hair is normally perfectly styled, but today it barely looks like she dragged a brush through it. Her typically sharp-as-nails eyeliner is nowhere to be found, and in its place is swelling around her beautiful green eyes from crying. Even though she is clearly trying to make it look like nothing is wrong, the pain she’s radiating shoots straight to my gut.
“Hey.” I speak softly, approaching uncertainly. I know that if I come on too strong, she’ll cower away from me, and that’s the last thing I want.
“Hello.” Her voice is quick and clipped, a response I would expect if Jessica from Human Resources stopped by her desk, not the guy with whom she’s been intimately involved for months.
My hand clenches then unclenches at my side as I attempt to calm my racing heart. We need to talk, and something tells me it is going to be a challenge. Though I originally planned to wait her out, as I look down at her now, I can’t will myself not to try.
“Hannah.”
She doesn’t even look up from her computer screen. Herfingers fly across the keys with an intensity meant to rebuke me.
I shiver as the chill of her indifference fills the room, my stomach plummeting as realization dawns on me.
“Hannah, please.”
Her gaze slowly drifts to mine, her icy impassiveness melting into something else—anger. “Leave me alone,” she grits through her teeth.
“I’m still your boss, you know. Until Friday, you can’t just ice me out. We need to be professional.”
“Oh, do we? I wasn’t aware we were still trying to maintain professionalism at this firm.” Her words have bite, but I’ve argued enough times with her to not let it faze me.
“Hannah, can we please talk?”
While I try to keep my voice down, she doesn’t seem to care about making a scene.
“Fine,” she huffs as she storms past me into my office.
In the past, I’ve found a sick sense of amusement in her being angry at me, sometimes even a sense of attraction. However, in this moment I feel an invasive need to guard my dick.
I step into the room, the floor creaking beneath my feet. I shut the heavy door behind me and can feel its coolness against my back as I twist the lock into place.
Hannah sits down in Jackson’s seat, clearly attempting to place distance between us for this conversation.
My feet begin to take me closer to her, but she raises a hand in warning. I pause immediately and my gaze burns into her as if hoping that my intensity will make her change her mind.
“Can we please talk like adults?”
“Fine, let’s talk.” Her previous distance is tucked away asshe approaches me with vengeance, but her arms are crossed over her chest as she keeps her distance. “How long have you been cheating on me?”
Of all the things I anticipate coming out of her mouth, that is low on the list.
“What?”
“Did I stutter?”
“Hannah,” I sigh as I step closer. She backs up instinctively, and I stop. “I didn’t cheat on you.”
“I saw you.” Her glare is toxic as her eyes meet mine. Where love once consumed her green gaze, hatred has taken over. Even when we were at our worst, she’s never looked at me like that.
