Chapter 45
His hands stayed on me for a few seconds longer, then he stepped back.
It wasn’t rough, just a shift–like he was placing me aside so he could breathe. I felt the space immediately. His hands left my waist, and the warmth went with them.
I stood there, still a little flushed, trying to keep my face calm.
“So..” I started, smoothing my sweater down, “what now?”
He didn’t answer right away.
His posture shifted slightly. Shoulders squared. Hands slid into his pockets
“What do you mean?” His voice was flat
My smile faded.
“Does this.. change anything?” I asked. “About the contract?”
He blinked once, ng emotion on his face. “Why would it?”
I stared at him. My chest tightened.
“We had sex,” I said. “Isn’t that a violation of something?”
“It’s not in the contract,” he said. “It’s not anything”
1 looked at him. My throat felt right.
“It meant nothing” he added. “If you want to be paid more for it, just say that.”
I didn’t think. I didn’t plan it
My hand flew up and slapped him across the face. Hard.
His head turned slightly from the impact. The sound echoed in the hallway.
I didn’t wait to see his expression. I turned and walked fast toward the stairs, my vision already blurring. I didn’t stop until I reached the bedroom. I slammed the door and locked it behind me, my chest rising and falling like I’d run a mile.
I dropped onto the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands,
1 hated myself for letting it happen. For giving in to something so stupid. For thinking it meant more than it did,
I stayed in my room for the rest of that night.
The next morning, I didn’t speak to him. Or the morning after that. Every time I heard footsteps in the hall, I waited until they passed before stepping out. I timed my meals when I knew he wouldn’t be in the kitchen. It was easy, he didn’t look for me, and I didn’t give him a reason to..
A few days passed. I stopped crying. My chest still felt tight sometimes, but the ache was dull now, I felt more annoyed than heartbroken. I hated that I’d let myself think it meant something. I hated that it still crept into my thoughts when I least expected it. I hated that I missed his voice
By the end of the week. I was fine. Not happy, but stable.
I was ready to go back to work.
When I walked into the office again, no one looked twice. The same white walls, same quiet buzz of emails and phones and keyboard clicks. My desk was untouched. I sat down and opened my laptop
Kent walked by, nodded once, and kept moving.
Great, business as usual.
The first thing I asked was what everyone already seemed to know.
10:42 AM
Chapter 45
“How’s Karl? I hear he and Gypsy have been spending a lot of time together.”
One of the other assistants looked up from her desk. “Yeah, I guess. She’s been around
more lately!
I didn’t ask any more questions.
I didn’t care.
Except I did.
Later that morning. I opened my phone and saw the headlines. I didn’t even have to search them. They were everywhere.
“Karl Lever purchases controlling shares in Winston Industries.
Seen leaving with Gypsy Laurent. Are old flames rekindling?
Romance rumors swirl as billionaire meets with ex’s father.”
I stared at the screen, expression blank.
So that’s what we were now. A news footnote, a PR hiccup.
I shut my phone off and tossed it into my bag. My hands were clenched without realizing it
I hated this contract. I hated this life. I hated being tied to him.
Around noon, an email notification popped up on my screen. It was from HR
Subject: Mandatory Overnight Team Retreat
I clicked it oper
To support interdepartmental collaboration, the executive team has approved a one–night company retreat for all core staff. This will be a required professional development trip. Transportation, accommodations, and meals will be provided. Outdoor activities and team- building exercises will be scheduled across Saturday and Sunday, Location: Ridgeview Campgrounds, 2 hours from HQ
I scrolled down. There it was in bold.
Attendance is mandatory.
I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed.
Great
I’ve been avoiding Karl all week. Now I get to be stuck in the woods with him for twenty–four hours, sharing bug spray and team- building exercises where I certainly can’t pretend he doesn’t exist.
Perfect timing-
I packed my things slowly, stacking the files into my bag, shutting my laptop, checking twice to make sure everything was zipped. Kent stood near the hallway, scrolling on his phone, waiting to walk me out.
I wasn’t in a rush. I just didn’t want to be here anymore.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and followed Kent down the long corridor. The office lights had already dimmed for the evening. The main floor was quiet. Only the cleaning staff was left
We were almost at the front doors when I saw them.
Karl and Gypsy, coming in from the opposite end of the hallway.
They were walking side by side, slow, like they’d just come back from something. She was smiling up at him. His expression didn’t show much. Her hand was close to his, not touching, but close enough.
I stopped walking
Kent looked over his shoulder, saw them too, but didn’t react
I didn’t say anything I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and kept walking, straight ahead, eyes forward. I had every intention of walking right past them without a word.
Chapter 15
But Karl’s hand shot out and caught my wrist.
I stopped cold
With his eyes fixed on me, his spoke to Gypsy, voice calm.
“You should wait for me in the car.”
She looked at him, then at me. Her expression flattened. She didn’t argue. She turned and walked off, heels tapping sharply against the tile.
Once she was out of earshot, I looked up at him.
“What!”
He didn’t answer. His hand slid from my wrist to my waist as he stepped closer. I backed up once, then again, until my back hit the wall behind me.
He pressed a hand dat to the wall beside my head, eyes locked on mine. His body blocked out the rest of the hallway,
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