Page 31 of Words We Didn't Say

“The buyer had a question about—”

“Sorted.”

Michaela sighed. “Zach.” She ushered me to the side of the corridor and lowered her voice. “If this is about the other night…”

I responded with a raised brow.

“Okay, it is. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” Her voice dipped even lower. Michaela knew the firm’s rules. She played by them better than anyone—most of the time. “Everything that’s happened with Chris… It’s hard, and I…” Her smile was thin. “Honestly? I never really recovered after you ended it between us. I miss hanging out with you. I probably should’ve just said so, but it’s hard to break through all the noise with you.”

“No more late-night pop-ins, okay?”

Michaela hesitated a step, not used to me being so blunt, but she nodded.

“And no more photos either,” I said.

“No more photos. Strictly professional in the office.” She tilted her head with a smile. “What about outside the office? Let’s have a drink after work.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Zach, if this is because I used to say we were only casual—”

“Don’t. Just don’t. I can’t do this right now, okay?”

Or ever.

I left Michaela standing with her chin on the floor. I shut the door to my office, yanked the chair out from behind the desk, and collapsed. Finally, I’d returned to the safety of my concrete prison. My fingers flew over the laptop. I’d lost two hours in meetings and had a flood of missed calls to check. I scanned the list and sighed. Eden’s name wasn’t there.

With a frustrated groan, I reached for my desk phone.

“Knock, knock!”

My executive assistant’s timing couldn’t have been worse.

Sue’s bobbed grey hair popped through the gap she’d wedged in the door. “Hey, boss.” She bumped her hip against the glass until there was enough room to wriggle through with a stack of files cradled in her spindly arms. “I rounded up all the leases for the shopping centre purchase.”

“Thanks.” I pointed at the monitor. “Sue, are these the only phone messages?”

“Not enough for you?” She laughed. “Waiting to hear from someone in particular?”

“Eden.”

“Eden…from…?” Sue dumped the pile of folders on my desk. “Is she part of the hotel chain merger? The dickhead with the accent has been calling. He’s waiting.”She rolled her eyes.

“No. Eden. My girlfriend.” The word came out strained. Girlfriend didn’t feel right. Partner? Sweetheart? Soulmate? I ignored the dark whisper in the back of my mind reminding me to add ‘ex’ in front of every option.

“You have a girlfriend?” Sue stopped, her eyes on the ceiling, thinking it over. “Huh.” She shrugged.

Huh?

I’d always carefully followed Chris’s example and mastered keeping my worlds separate. Whatever label was slapped on my time with Michaela, I’d never let it impact our work. I rarely overshared details about my life or blurred the lines, but I must have at leastmentionedEden, right?

“No,” Sue said. “Can’t say I’ve heard from her, but I’ll pop her straight through if she calls.”

“Thanks.”

My eyes flicked between the phone and the red reminders of how much I needed to catch up. Chris’s words echoed in thevoid. I was so close to all the years of hard work finally paying off. I couldn’t blow my chance…and…well… Eden wouldn’t know I was back from my meetings yet. With a defeated sigh, I adjusted my glasses and got typing. One email was sent. Another. Two minutes turned into twenty.

I was about to hit send on a response to a tree dispute when Sue stuck her head through the door.

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