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“You don’t want to move? Well, why didn’t you say so?” Kane exploded.
“Because she didn’t want to disappoint you,” Leo said.
“What—how would that be disappointing us? Jesus, Meg, do you think we want you to have a miserable career doing something you don’t like?”
“No, I—” Honestly, she hadn’t taken her thought processes that far. And while the guilt that she’d upset her family welled up inside her, again, she also noted thewein Kane’s statement. No matter how often he fought with her, Kane and Cat were the heads of this family. They worked together. And with Sam and Thea married and having a wonderful life with their new husbands, that left Megan. Alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Kane asked again, his voice strained.
“I was fine!” she exclaimed. “Honest. I was fine. I didn’t mind. Until I did.” That was the closest she could get to expressing her feelings of the last few weeks.
Kane scraped his hand through his hair. “My sisters are literally going to kill me,” he muttered. “You know the last time I had a straight conversation with any one of you?”
“I wasn’t trying to hide anything,” Megan said in a small voice. “These past few weeks have been crazy.”
“Crazy enough that you’re thinking of moving across the country to be with this guy?”
“Not moving. Visiting.”
“I did that, remember?” Kane said. “I flew over. Went to the parties. Went to the awards ceremonies. You never saw the person you went with. Their lives are controlled twenty hours out of twenty-four. You’ll be expected to look good and stand to the side. And even though you’re not the main event, your life will be picked apart just as much as theirs.”
“It already is,” Leo said.
“But if he leaves her and she—”
The idea of ending things with Alessandro sent a shot of fear through her heart. “Leo,” she interrupted. “I’d like to end my internship here a little early. And then, Kane, I’m sorry, but I’m going to take a leave of absence. I need some space to figure this out.”
The hurt on Kane’s face was worse than anything she’d seen so far. Was this better than telling him her misgivings as soon as she’d felt them? Probably not. Megan had screwed things up. She should just stay. Write Alessandro off as a lovely interlude, stay, and finish the plan the family had for her.
She couldn’t. She couldn’t breathe at the thought of it. “Look,” she said, going to Kane and wrapping one of his arms in both of hers. “I love you. All of you. Just… give me a little space.”
“I didn’t think I wasn’t,” he said.
“I know.” She released him. “Leo,” she said, turning to her boss. “All I’ve had for two weeks is busywork. The sooner I get out of here, the better for those security guards downstairs. Don’t you think?”
“You’re not going today,” Kane burst out. “What am I going to tell Cat?”
That made her smile. “I love that the one person you’re afraid of in this life is your big sister.”
“I’m not—”
“It’s okay. I was, too. I’ll let you know what I decide. Leo, is it okay if I leave now?”
“Sure.” Leo nodded. “Your bodyguard can help you with your stuff.”
“Thanks.” She turned to the door but had to go through Kane first. “Don’t worry,” she told him. “I’m a big girl now. You don’t have to take care of everything for me.”
She patted his arm, and he moved to the side, apparently unable to answer. Megan closed the door to Leo’s office quietly, not wanting to hear whatever Kane said next.
Back at her desk, she looked at the pictures on her cubicle, the succulent plant she’d carefully kept alive for years, her favorite mug for office coffee—now full because Terry had convinced her to forego Oh Beans! this morning—and her meticulously arranged desktop screen, with the projects she’d worked on for two years lined up in strict rows.
If she went with Alessandro, she would know nothing. Everything familiar would be upended. She would have to learn from the bottom up again. If she stayed, she could build on the skills she had and be the best at the job that had been saved for her for ten years.
She picked up her burner phone.
♦
Chapter 18
