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“What is it?” I ask.
“There’s a guy asking to see you. He’s way more persistent than he should be. Company policy dictates that we don’t allow unannounced guests of our employees on the premises without the employees’ consent. And you didn’t mention anybody was coming in to see you.”
I look at Tanya, who appears just as confused. “I’m so sorry, Yvonne. There must be some kind of mistake. I’m not expecting anyone,” I tell her. “Did he give you a name?”
“He said you’d know who he is.”
My stomach drops. The attitude. The persistence. The dramatic flair. “Yeah, I guess I do,” I mutter, my blood suddenly boiling. “Excuse me, Tanya. Yvonne, I’ll handle this. Please, accept my apologies.”
“No need to apologize,” Yvonne says. “I just figured we’d handle this between us girls, but if you need me to call security—”
“The last thing I need is a circus,” I exhale sharply. I can’t even enjoy what’s left of my coffee anymore since I have to protect my peace again.
Yvonne walks quietly beside me from the employee lounge through the passageway leading into the reception building. Every step that I take adds pressure to my shoulders, and there aren’t enough deep breaths to relieve the anger that’s currently bubbling up inside of me.
I thought I’d found a measure of peace here, but clearly Derrick isn’t ready to give up just yet. It’s okay, though. I’m not letting him ruin anything else for me. Not this time.
I find him sitting in one of the plush, comfy guest chairs, casually browsing a magazine, while Yvonne’s reception assistant is busy on the phone. Yvonne joins her, taking over another call, and I walk over to Derrick’s side, careful to keep a generous distance as I cross my arms and glower at him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss, my tone clipped.
Derrick looks up and narrows his brown eyes at me. “I should ask you the same thing. You haven’t returned any of my calls or texts. I had no choice but to look for you.”
“It’s not my fault you’re not taking the hint. I asked you to leave me alone, Derrick. We’re through.”
“Listen, I get it. I know I wasn’t the best fiancé, but Amaya, come on, this is a tad extreme.”
It’s hard not to blow up when he minimizes the terrible things that he’s done. But I’ve grown a lot, and I’ve learned not to engage.
“You weren’t the best fiancé? You cheated on me. Repeatedly,” I state. “There is nothing extreme in choosing to walk away from you, Derrick. Please, leave. This is my place of employment.”
“So, what, you’re ashamed of me now?”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass about you,” I reply bluntly. “I need to go back to work, and you’re causing a nuisance.”
“All I need is a minute, to just hear me out.”
“You had plenty of those before I left,” I say. “Seriously, get out. And don’t come back. We’re done.”
But he’s persistent. “How’s Mikey? Is he okay?”
“Since when do you care?”
“Does he miss me?”
“That kid has more sense in him than I ever did,” I reply and take a step back when Derrick gets up and starts walking toward me. “I’m serious, leave me alone.”
“I’m not leaving until we talk,” he insists.
I may have no choice but to ask the girls to call security. It’ll be a stain on my record here. Not even a week into the job and I’m already spending company resources on shooing my shitty ex-fiancé off the premises. It’s beyond embarrassing.
“Derrick, for the last time—”
“I’m not going anywhere, you hear me? You owe me an explanation, Amaya!” he snaps, unaccustomed to being told off, to being rejected in the first place. I’m the one who left, and he cannot accept it.
“What’s the issue here?” Kace’s voice slices through the tension.
I freeze, slowly turning my head to find Kace, Finn, and Elias casually approaching the reception area. My heart skips a beat at the sight of them—all three in sleeveless tees and shorts, still sweating from what I assume was a serious gym workout. The shorts they’re wearing give me a generous view of their muscular thighs and some of their battle scars. The t-shirts hug their chiseled cores, and I find myself licking my lips before taking a deep breath, bamboozled by my own conflicting emotions.
