Page 90 of Game Change

“You know he was going to break in, right?” Colin asks.

“Yeah, but it would trigger the alarm.”

“You need security cameras.”

“They’re being installed on Monday,” I say, and he nods.

“I don’t like that guy. He’s desperate, and that can be dangerous.” I don’t refute his words. Oliver has never been dangerous, but people do change. Clearly, I don’t know him as well as I thought.

“Honeybee, what’s this?” Colin asks a few hours later. After the ugly scene with Oliver, I told him I didn’t want to spend time worrying or thinking about my former stepbrother. He can make all the scenes he wants but has no rights to the house.

Colin’s in my kitchen while I sit at the island and text Raven and Amira. I look up and he’s holding a brochure from my real estate agent.

“Oh, I’m selling this condo,” I say.

“Why?” he asks.

“Well, I spent more on the new house and repairs than I budgeted,” I say.

“I have the feeling you’re leaving something out.” He drops the brochure on the table, walks to me, and hugs me from behind.

When he kisses the shell of my ear, I shudder and move out of his arms to face him. “There is,” I admit. “But I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” I try to walk away, but he pins me to the kitchen island.

“No, you don’t get to do that. Talk to me.” He gently takes my chin between his thumb and index finger.

I take a deep breath before I blurt out, “I’m going to leave Kincaid Architecture.” The room goes deathly quiet, and he drops my chin. “Not anytime soon. In about a year, maybe two. I won’t be able to work for a while, so I’m cutting costs now. I want to start my own firm. In the time I can’t work, I will finesse my business plans and research potential clients. Things like that.”

When he doesn’t speak, I look away and try to slide past him, but he won’t let me. “I don’t want you to leave your job, baby. That was never my intention or Milton’s.”

My nostrils flare at the mention of my former mentor’s name. “To hell with Milton,” is all I can think to say. “Put yourself in my shoes for a minute.” I push against his chest, but he doesn’t budge. “It’s not only disrespectful, but it’s like a slap in the damn face,” I yell. “It’s humiliating, and everyone will think I’m sleeping with the boss. I have no credibility left in the office, and the only way to avoid being fucked over in the future is to work for myself.” I manage to slide past him and walk to my bedroom, but he’s on my heels and follows me inside.

“Fuck everyone in the office who has a problem with us. I’ll fire them all.”

My eyes widen at that, and then I throw my head back and laugh. “You clearly don’t get it, but I don’t expect you to.” I shake my head at his audacity.

“What don’t I get?” he asks, and I spin around to confront him.

“I’m a woman, Colin.”

“I know,” he says with a flirtatious grin.

I ignore that look and continue. “Not only that; I’m a woman of color. I worked my ass off for the past six years at your uncle’s firm. He made promises to me, and in a matter of seconds, he snatched them away and handed them to his nephew.” When he opens his mouth to speak, I shake my head. “And I believe you didn’t know and had nothing to do with it. I believe that, but it doesn’t hurt less. And if I didn’t have two mortgages and a depleted savings, I would have walked out that day. But you know what? Milton knew that, and he used it against me. Another form of betrayal from him, and I’m kicking myself for being too blind, naïve, and stupid to see him for who he really is.”

“I’m sorry,” is all he says. “You’re right about Milton.” He takes me in his arms, and I let him wrap them around me. “But I still don’t want you to leave the company. Give me some time, and I’ll fix everything.”

“It’s not for you to fix,” I say. “And it won’t change anything between us. We won’t work together anymore. That’s it.”

“But I love working with you, Brynne. You’re brilliant and so talented.”

“And I want to use that brilliance and talent to work for myself,” I remind him. “And it won’t happen for a year at least.”

“That gives me at least a year to get you to stay.”

“I think you should get used to the idea of me leaving. It’s for the best, and—”

“And I’ll miss having you there and seeing you whenever I want. Despite you believing me, I feel guilty about it. I want the opportunity to make things right. Will you give me that chance?”

“There’s nothing for you to make right, Colin. Please, don’t make this about you or us. This is about me doing what is right for my career.” I step out of his arms and leave the bedroom, but he follows me.

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