Page 123 of Strictly Business

I drop the paper like it’s burning my hands, my thoughts spiraling, but I immediately grab my phone, dialing her number.

The phone rings.

And rings.

And rings.

No answer.

I try again. Four. Five times.

Still nothing.

Frustration and panic claw at me. I stand up, the office chair swiveling as I push away from the desk, my mind racing.

My hands shake as I walk toward the door, determined to find out where she is. Sophie and Jade look up when they see me coming, their eyes widening before they quickly turn back to their work, pretending to be busy.

I stop in front of their desks, my voice low and tight. “Where is she?

Sophie avoids my gaze, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “Um… we don’t—”

I cut her off. “Don’t lie to me. Where the hell is my fiancée?”

“She’s packing,” Jade says, crossing her arms over her chest.

Packing.

I blink, the word not quite registering in my mind. “Packing?” I repeat, my confusion clouding my thoughts. “Packing for what?”

Jade scoffs, sharp and loud. “She’s moving in with me,” she tells me, her words slicing through me, turning my world upside down. “Are you seriously going to act like you don’t know why she wouldn’t want to live with you anymore?”

I don’t answer, turning away, my mind racing to connect the dots. Why would she be packing? Why would she be leaving?

I check the security feed on my phone. My heart clenches when I see her standing in the living room, suitcase in hand, struggling to close it.

The air in my chest tightens as a mixture of dread and anger rises inside me.

I swipe the screen away and call for my driver. “Lionel, get the car ready. I need to go home. Now.”

“Right away, sir.”

It feels like the longest ten minutes of my life. My leg jitters nervously, thoughts spiraling out of control. Everything was fine between us, right? We were good. We were perfect. How did it all fall apart so fast?

The car pulls up in front of my building, and I barely wait for it to come to a full stop before I’m jumping out, heading inside. The elevator ride feels like an eternity, each second stretching longer than the last. My hands tug at my hair, frustration clawing at me.

Please, let this be a mistake. Let her still be here. Let this all be some kind of misunderstanding.

Because I can’t lose her.

I reach my apartment door, heart pounding in my chest. I step inside and freeze when I spot her, standing by the doors, suitcase in hand, looking like she’s ready to walk away for good.

She blinks, her expression unreadable. “What… What are you doing here?”

I swallow hard, fighting to keep my voice steady. “What am I doing here? The real question is, where the hell are you going, Amara?”

Her gaze drifts away, her eyes avoiding mine. “I thought you’d be at work.” Her voice is small, distant, and it fucking tears at me.

“Why would you want me to be at work? Why are you trying to run away from me?” I take a step closer, my chest aching.

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