Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“You know,” I said, shaking my head, tears already welling in my eyes. “Even if I had lost the account, lost the deal, at least I would’ve had you, right?”
“Brynn?” Weston looked so damn confused, and it made me break all over again. Because how did he think I would react? Did he expect me to not be hurt by this? Did he expect me to go back to being his assistant, his friend, like nothing ever happened between us?
Had I signed up for that in the beginning? Maybe.
Had things changed the longer we were together? Yes.
For me they had.
“I didn’t want to push,” I said, the fight going right out of me. “I never wanted to push you, Weston. I knew what we had was too new, too fresh…but I never thought you’d use me like this.” Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I pressed the magazine to his chest. He took it, but kept his eyes on me. “Now I know why you never told me you loved me.”
“Brynn,” he said, but I ignored his plea, grabbed my bag, and stormed out of my own office. My heart broke with every step away I took from him.
WESTON
“Ms. Nelson is on a conference call!” Her assistant almost tripped out of her chair as she tried to stop me from barging into Lena’s office.
She was unsuccessful, only catching up to me after I’d already stormed through her closed double doors.
“Mr. Rutherford,” the assistant whisper-hissed. “She’s on a—”
“Excuse me, Mr. Taylor,” Lena said into her phone while simultaneously holding up a finger toward us. “I’m sorry, dear, but I’ll have to call you back. Something just came up.” She smiled at the phone, nodding before hanging up.
My hands were in fists at my sides, my adrenaline spiking and mixing right along with my anger. I turned toward her assistant, doing my best not to roar at her. “Leave us. Now.”
The assistant, to her credit, waited for Lena to nod before she headed out, closing the doors behind her.
“Weston, darling,” she said. “To what do I owe—”
“I always knew you were a power-starved go-getter, Lena, but I never thought you’d stoop this low.”
She sat up straighter in her chair. “Excuse me?”
I jabbed a finger, pointing at the rock she sported on her left-hand ring finger. “That isn’t from me.”
“This?” She waggled her fingers, making the diamond sparkle in the light before she stood up and rounded the desk to stand in front of me.
I took a giant step back.
“You may not have given it to me, but it certainly is a delightful little replica, isn’t it? Amazing what talented individuals can create from pure memory.”
I rubbed my palms over my face. “Do you even realize the damage you’ve done?”
“Damage?” she shook her head. “Have you checked the stock prices? After the announcement they went up five points. Can you imagine how high they’ll go after the wedding?”
I gaped at her. “You’re delusional.”
“I’m practical, Weston,” she said, shrugging like she didn’t have a hand in ruining my life.
“Why did you do this? We haven’t seen each other in months.”
“And that’s different from the last two years?” she asked. “I told you months ago, I don’t need all of you. Just pieces.”
The pieces of me that would elevate her social status and solidify her business ventures. Fucking hell.
“And I thought I was clear when I told you I wanted nothing to do with a life like that.”
“You’re overreacting,” she said. “You’re a logical businessman, Weston. You always have been. And I know you always need hard evidence before you invest,” she said, motioning to herself and the fake ring. “This was my way of presenting that evidence to you. You have to see the upside of this. We’re great in bed together, great in business. Everyone loves the idea of us—”
“I. Don’t.” I shook my head. “I will never marry you, I will never be with you. Ever. And if you don’t get Vogue to print a retraction, I’m going to take you to court for libel.”
“The article did nothing to damage your character,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You wouldn’t have a case.”
“Do you want to take that bet with me, Lena?” The tone of my voice made her visibly swallow.
“I can’t believe you’re ignoring the stock prices and the potential for growth here—”
“I’m in love with Brynn!” I shouted, the sound filling the room and making her jump.
I took a deep breath, doing my best to calm the roaring anger inside of me. I wasn’t about scaring women, even the ones who were making my life a living hell.
“Your assistant?”
“My best friend,” I clarified.
“You’ve got to be joking. She’s no one—”
“Careful,” I cut her off. “She’s everything to me. And the stunt you pulled may have lost me the love of my life.”