encouraging this shit because let me make myself clear, I hate him. He’s a pompous, French asshole. But no man can rage that much over a woman that means nothing to them. He’s fighting it.”
“Thanks for that.”
“I would wish you luck, but the asshole is toast.”
If only that were true. Then it might make all my sacrifices worth it.
“Call me when you land?”
“I’ll text you.” He drops his gaze as I step away from the car.
Ryan’s been in my life for years, and I can’t imagine not seeing him on the regular. I’ve dismantled my life, my company. People I love and work for because of a fucking bad dream, because of a past I can’t outlive. And my resentment only grows.
The gravity of it strikes me as I close the passenger door and he drives off, granting me the freedom, per my request, to face this alone.
Your move, Mr. King.
The first four days of the following week, Tobias avoids me at all costs by locking himself in his office when he decides to show up after missing every morning meeting. I don’t bother to call him out on it, because it’s pointless. Regardless of his intentions to block me out, Shelly and I have spent endless hours going over the financials and programs to be set in place. And for the most part, we’ve accomplished a lot. If I left now, I’m confident she would see it all through. Tobias has been working on similar ventures most of his career, but I’m not quite done yet, and it’s my loyalty to the workers that will keep me here to see it through. But the fact that he’s avoided me so artfully makes my mission that much harder. But even on the days he keeps his office sealed, I can feel his curious stares and the weight they hold. I have no idea what it’s going to take to get my answers, but the more time that passes, the more I’m starting to believe I’ll never get them. And for that, my anger only grows.
Desperate for a friendly face, I park my rental and exit the car locking it up before I make my way through the door. A bell jingles at my arrival.
“Be right there,” she calls from the dressing room. The shop has changed in appearance, newly renovated, fresh paint on the walls, a new and improved logo. As I search the rack for new dresses intent on helping her make her quota for the month, I smile. It’s good to know some things haven’t changed.
Tessa rounds the corner, her focus back on the woman in the dressing room. “Let’s try a size up.” She turns in my direction. “Feel free to look arou—” She stops mid-step, mid-sentence when she spots me in the middle of her shop.
“Hey, Tessa. Been a long time,” I smile, giving her a little wave a second before her eyes drop. She bites her lip before walking past me to a rack. When she finds the dress size she’s looking for, her eyes again lift to mine. “How are you, Cecelia?”
I revive my smile, baffled by her initial greeting. Is she angry I left without a goodbye? It’s not like we were girlfriends. We never ventured out together.
“I’m good. In town for a few weeks, and I wanted to stop by and see how you’re doing.”
She dips her chin. “Good. Give me a second.”
Maybe I expected too much, but her reaction was not at all what I hoped for. Rattling with uncertainty, I sort through a rack grabbing a few dresses in my size before she reappears. Her hair is a little longer, but she looks very much the same. Curvier in the hips but still a stunning blue-eyed blonde. She’s got a bit of color despite the winter temperatures. And before she saw me, she looked…happy. She approaches me, just a little shorter in stature, and addresses me with a lifeless tone.
“So, who are we dressing you for today?”
I frown. “Just me. I haven’t been back in ages, and I just really wanted to see you and stop by and pick up a few dresses. I love what you have in here. How is business?”
“Business has been good for a really long time,” her words are laced with a little contempt. And I feel the stab as she eyes me. “You look…incredible.”
“Thank you.” I almost want to make my reply a question because of the way she said it.