Page 22 of The Greek Billionaire's Rejected Secretary

I've never had anyone have the last word so easily, dammit. But the thing is...I can't think of anything else to say either. And as painful as this is to admit, minutes have already passed since Soukoulis left that it finally hits me.

Both of them.

Those were the exact words he had used.

Because my secretary is as much as a control freak as I am, and since we have that in common...was Soukoulis suggesting that all the other factors were the same for both of us?

Which means...if I've started seeing Shayla as a woman—

Has she also started seeing me as a man?

SHAYLA

At first, I was ecstatic and relieved to see a familiar face in the crowd. I didn't expect Hope and Colin would be attending the same fundraiser, but come to think of it, Ishouldhave realized they'd get an invitation to this as well. Her husbandwasa billionaire, after all. That's all that's needed for everyone to want you in their party, even if they don't know you from Adam.

But when Hope tells me how she saw me in my boss's arms before looking at me meaningfully?

Ugh.

"Just because you and Colin are now happily married doesn't mean everyone wants the same happy-ever-after ending."

"Not everyone, yes...but remember when we were kids, and we used to have art classes? And remember how you'd always draw—"

"Nope."

Hope laughs. "It's all over your face. You totally remember—"

"You're, like, totally mistaken." And I'm, like, totally blaming those girls from earlier for suddenly making me sound like them when I'm flustered.

"This one time, please humor your once-orphaned, once-bullied friend whose pregnancy is quite sensitive—"

Childhood friends are the worst. They know exactly which sob story to use to get their way.

"Close your eyes..."

Fine.

"Recall all of those sketches you made about the wedding day you imagined."

Ugh.

"And then ask God in your heart—"

Oh no.

I find myself shifting on my feet as soon as I hear her say this.

"To show you the man He's chosen for you—"

What if I don't want to?

What if...I also don't want to believe in God?

Can I just keep pretending that He isn't real?

"—in case you already know this person."

No. No. No.

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