“I don’t cook. I boil. That’s a big difference according to you.”
“Come home. I’ll cook every day for the rest of our lives so long as you agree to not leave again.”
Her eyes shut. “No.”
I take advantage of her guard being down and walk up to her. Her chin fits perfectly within the palm of my hand, and I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Please. I’m miserable without you.”
She blinks up at me. “I’m not ready.”
“What do you mean you’re not ready?” The sick feeling in my stomach returns stronger than ever as she pulls out of my embrace. I don’t stop her, although every cell in my body is pushing me toward her like a magnet.
“I need time to think.”
“What’s there to think about?”
“You. Me. Us.”
“What about us?”
“Whether or not there was even an us to begin with.”
My chest aches from her confession. Instead of lingering on the pain festering inside of me like sepsis, I choose to ignore it. “You signed a contract.”
“Our deal never said anything about being in a real relationship. You yourself called it a game.”
“This isn’t a fucking game and you know it.” The idea of her thinking that makes me want to rage, but I hold back. I’ve done enough damage as it is.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“So what? You just want to go back to how things were before we fell in love?”
Her eyes dart away, and it’s written clear as day across her face. That’s exactly what she thought.
I release a bitter laugh. “Go ahead and take your time, but nothing is going to change the fact that you and I are inevitable.”
It takes a ridiculous amount of self-control to step away from her, but nothing good will come if I keep pushing her on this. She wants her time, and I plan on giving it to her. So long as it happens according to my rules.
Cal drops off Iris’s official resignation letter at 9 a.m., exactly like Iris promised. After everything I went through to prevent it from happening, she is leaving anyway.
All because of you.
Cal hovers in front of me.
I look up from her letter. “Yes?”
“Are you going to sign it?”
I clutch onto her resignation letter with my two fists. “I plan on it.”
He raises a brow and motions toward the paper.
“You can go back to your desk now.”
“And miss all this internal conflict and angst? What do you take me for?”
“A dead man walking.”
He grins. “Watching you struggle to cope with all this is far too entertaining to pass up, especially given how miserable you made Iris.”
“Can you please leave me alone? I’m not in the mood.”
His brows jump, and I realize my break in character. I asked him to go.
Ever since I entered the office, I’ve been stuck in a constant state of heartburn. No amount of meetings or busy work can steal my mind away from the conversation I had with Iris this morning.
I pass by Cal’s desk instinctively, half expecting her to be there, only to remember she won’t be returning. I’m so used to her being around that I’m not sure how to handle her absence.
“This is for the best.” My brother pulls out Iris’s usual chair, but I point to the other one.
He shoots me a look as he drops into the one opposite of Iris’s seat.
“She’s not coming back. Saving her chair won’t change that.”
“She’s still my wife. That chair is hers regardless of her occupation status, so use the other one.”
“Is she still your wife?”
“Get out,” I seethe.
He shrugs. “I’m just asking.”
“No, you’re looking for a fight.”
“Maybe I am. At least that way we can settle this. I don’t like working with all this tension around us.”
“There is nothing to settle. This is between me and her, regardless of whatever impression you might be under.”
“She came to me crying, Declan. I’m not going to sweep that under the rug because you decided a little too late that you made the wrong choice and you want her back.”
My fists clench against my lap. “I’m not doing this with you.”
“Then sign the paper and I’ll leave.”
I grab an ink pen to sign her resignation letter, but stop myself. My hand hovers above the blank signature spot.
Cal clears his throat. “If you really love her, then this needs to be done.”