Page 84 of Not the Billionaire

She had told him that.

“He’s dying inside, Genevieve.”

Her heart clenched, hearing that. But what could she say or do?

“I’m really sorry for my part in all this,” Skylar said. “I’m sorry for lying to you.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

“I wish you’d stay. This place won’t be the same without you.”

Genevieve hated the thought of leaving this job she’d come to love. “At my last job, I was kept in the dark about a lot of things, and once the truth came to light, I left in hopes of finding a trustworthy company to work for. And I thought I’d found that here.” Her throat tightened as she fought back tears.

“You did,” Skylar assured her.

“I trusted all of you. Yet once again, I was in the dark.”

“Genevieve.”

“I guess I must be pretty gullible since people keep doing this to me.”

“You’re not gullible, Genevieve.” Skylar’s voice was filled with sympathy.

“It feels like I am.” Genevieve paused to collect her thoughts. “But that was different. Before. That was about a job. This is even worse, because it’s personal. And that’s why I can’t stay.”

Leaving the office felt like the end of something huge, and she was so torn up about it that she didn’t go to her apartment. She drove straight to the farm. When she arrived, she went to the barn, walking down to the horse stalls, where Charisma immediately stuck her head over the door as soon as she saw Genevieve.

Genevieve rested her head against Charisma’s and tears suddenly burned her eyes. Growing up, whenever she was down, she came here, just to be with her sweet horse. Sometimes she’d talk. Sometimes she wouldn’t. Sometimes she’d ride. Other times, she’d simply stand with her or brush her. Tonight, she stood.

Charisma nudged closer, and Genevieve leaned against her, letting her move back and forth a little, as if the horse was trying to soothe her by swaying.

“I can always count on you, can’t I, girl?” She let her tears fall and stayed there for a long time. “I wish I could say the same about … him.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “I can’t even say his name. It’s too hard. I want Kurtis back. But I can’t have him, can I? Because he doesn’t exist.”

Genevieve was unsure of how much time had passed until a few lightning bugs flew in through the door. She gazed outside and watched them flit around in the sky, and she thought about that night on the beach. That perfect, wonderful night together. Lightning bugs were ruined for her forever now.

She left the comfort of the barn and walked to the house.

Mom was seated on the porch, reading a book.

“Checking up on the horses?” she asked.

“Yeah, I stopped by the barn for a while.”

Mom laid her book down in her lap. “Are you all right?”

Genevieve took a seat in one of the rocking chairs. The west-facing porch gave them a perfect view of the sun setting over the cornfields, and she spilled the entire story from beginning to end.

She expected advice or some sort of counsel, but instead her mother sat in silence.

“I don’t know what to do now, Mom. I left this job I loved and this man who I thought I loved. Everything’s falling apart.”

Still nothing.

“You’ve never been one to keep quiet when we needed advice. Or when we didn’t. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I knew who he was.” Ida looked completely guilty, avoiding eye contact.

“Excuse me?” Had she heard her mother right? “You knew he was Sebastian Schultz?”

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