Page 92 of My Office Rival

“Long distance? What are we, in college?” I shook my head bitterly. “There were no promises between us. I fell for her, but it was one-sided. She’s not interested in a relationship. Hell, she told me when I met her that she thought you couldn’t have it all.”

Miles sat back, stunned. “Huh. I never thought I’d meet someone just as blind as you are.”

“I’m not blind,” I grumbled.

“Yes. You are.” He was annoyingly persistent when he thought he was right.

“It sounds like you really want to tell me why, so go ahead.” I crossed my arms and waited.

He looked gleeful at the opportunity. “Well, first of all, you have that stupid only one night rule, even though sex gets better themoreyou have it with the same person.”

I had to give that one to him. Sleeping with Cynthia had been a life-altering experience.

“That rule is in place because I’m sick of people walking away from me. So I walk away first. You know this. It’s actually quite simple.”And I should have stuck to it with her.

“It’s actually quite simple,” he mimicked before sipping his drink. “And you seem to think that she doesn’t want you.”

“She doesn’t. She’s walking away. She didn’t ask me to come, and she left immediately after the conversation. She’s a fucking coward.”

“Takes one to know one,” he snapped back. “You opened up to her. I know you did.” He pointed a finger at me. “Youfell in love,which means you two had a connection. I know it. And you’re just going to give up on that? What the fuck?”

Suddenly I was exhausted. “Give it a rest, man. Not everyone’s due for a happy wife, happy life situation like you are.”

He snagged his drink and drained it, not meeting my eyes. I knew that look. That look said he was hiding something from me. Miles deflected a lot. Possibly more than anyone I knew. Oh, his eccentric billionaire bullshit was real, but a lot of the time his flashing smiles and small talk were not. He was ruthless and more fucked up than anyone I knew. Probably why we got along so well, and why he felt free to call me on my bullshit. I opened my mouth to ask him what was eating him when my phone pinged. My stomached clenched. Cynthia?

We’re getting closer pretty boy

You owe us

Stop hiding

It will go better for you if you come to us

My hands shook slightly as I read and re-read the message. I dropped the phone on the table and stabbed at the screen.

“There. Reason number one why I’m never leaving New York for some godforsaken small town to chase a woman who couldn’t care less about me.”

Miles read the message and his brows drew lower. “What the fuck?”

I waited for him to put two and two together. He knew the whole sordid history with my last foster family. He and Jonah were the only two people who knew all the details.

“It’s them, isn’t it?” His jaw was set.

“Yep,” I said roughly, before signaling for another round.

“Fucking assholes,” he spat. “This doesn’t sound like the first message.”

I shook my head mutely, numb, and swigged my new drink. The liquor burned going down, and I welcomed it.

“Are you going to respond?”

“And say what? I—” My voice broke. “I can’t, man.”

“I’ll do it.” His voice was steely. “I’ll do it and I’ll fucking kill them if they come near you.”

“Thank you,” I replied dryly. “I’m sure they’re shaking in their boots.”

“We should get my security company to look into these pricks.” Jonah and Miles used some fancy, just-this-side-of-the-law, private security firm.

---