It was like watching a train wreck unfold, she thought sickly, and she was a helpless bystander without any power to stop what was inevitable.
For as long as she could remember, Grant had always thrived in the limelight, someone who never had trouble charming and impressing all kinds of audience.
But that Grant was not the Grant she was watching now.
“So...”
Fawn managed to stop herself from cringing. It was the first word that Grant had spoken, and so far he had repeated it three times in the past thirty seconds.
“The project we’re here to discuss today is...” Grant broke off.
“Anything wrong?” the president asked impatiently.
The projector had the first slide of his presentation on display, and Grant turned to look at it with a vaguely bewildered look, almost like the entire text was written in Latin.
And it all went downhill from there.
The hour-long presentation was reduced to ten minutes, but it was still the most painful ten minutes for everyone in the room. Names that even kindergarten students would have no problems with were either misspelled or mispronounced, and project estimates miscalculated even though they could have been easily computed without a calculator.
It was one humiliating and inexplicable mistake after another, and by the time the president furiously got up to reschedule the meeting, Fawn’s heart had long broken for Grant.
“On behalf of Mr. Bennett,” the president bit out, “I apologize for this inexcusable waste of everyone’s time. We’ll have this meeting rescheduled next week.” He shot a hard look at Grant, saying coldly, “Let’s hope for a better outcome then.”
As soon as the meeting was officially adjourned, the president was the first one to stalk out of the room, followed by an irate-looking Lou, who hadn’t spared Grant a single glance. Everyone else filed out, including the prince’s bodyguards, but only after they had gotten their cue from Fawn.
The conference room was empty in less than a minute, leaving Fawn alone with Grant.
He was slumped on the chair next to the projector, and she approached him slowly, unsure even now of what she could say to him.
She might be his girlfriend, but it was nothing but a nominal title now.
When she was a foot away from Grant, she hesitated, wondering if she was doing the right thing.
What if Grant didn’t want her now?
What if he wanted Lou?
And yet—-
Lou wasn’t here.
She was.
And Grant was still a man she had once loved.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Fawn finally closed the distance between them. When he didn’t show any signs of being aware of her presence, she touched his shoulder gently, saying, “Grant?”
“I’m sorry for this.” Grant’s head remained bent as he spoke.
Ah. He knew she had been there all the while then, and yet—-
He had ignored her.
Why?
“I didn’t want you to see me like that.”
A lump formed in her throat, making it hard for Fawn to swallow. She had never heard him sound this...weak. Never. And if she had a choice, she would never have wanted to.
Then you’re being stupid. He cheated on you, remember?
Yes. I do remember. But I loved him once. Remember?
So?
Before Grant became my boyfriend, he was my friend first, and how can I ever want to see a friend of mine be in this much pain?
Like I said, you’re being stupid—-
“There’s no need to do that, Fawn,” Grant suddenly muttered under his breath.
Startled and confused, she asked dumbly, “Do what?”
“Talk to yourself.”
Oh.
“You only do that when you’re troubled.” And finally, Grant slowly raised his head, and she couldn’t stop her heart from crying out in pain at the empty look in his dull blue eyes.
“What happened?” she whispered. “What’s wrong?”
Grant shook his head, saying brusquely, “It has nothing to do with you.”
“Of course it has.” And she knew then she couldn’t make herself break up with him – or at least not now. Not when Grant looked like he was about to shatter any second.
Digging her fingers into her palms in an effort to stay focused, she reminded him forcefully, “I’m y-your girlfriend, remember?”
Grant flinched.
“Grant, say something.” Her fingers dug deeper in frustration. Why wouldn’t he tell her what was wrong?
And almost as if he had heard her unspoken question, Grant suddenly choked out, “I don’t deserve you.”
The words shocked her, but more than that, they hurt because once she would have done everything to hear him say them.
But it was different now.
“This i-isn’t like you, Grant.” She fought to keep her voice steady. “Why can’t you tell me what’s wrong?”