Page 29 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire
Nate smirks, leaning back in his chair. "Besides, it’s fun watching you fall on your face. Never thought I’d see the day Liam West, king of Ocean Bay, got tripped up by a girl who works the front desk at an animal clinic."
"Shut up," I mutter, but there’s no heat behind it.
Bryan chuckles and gives me a knowing look. "Time will tell, West. You can keep pretending it’s nothing if you want. But we all see it. You’re already gone for her."
I rub my hands over my face, groaning. "She just… she pulls away. Every time I think we’re getting somewhere, she puts up another wall. And I don’t know what on earth to do with that."
Bryan leans back now, watching me like he’s already figured me out. "Do nothing. Let her see you’re not going anywhere. That’s all you can do. Be steady. Be there. The rest? That’s on her."
I sit there, staring at the vase of flowers in the corner of the office, white lilies and pale roses, almost like the ones I brought her.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s not about fixing her. Maybe it’s just about showing her I’m here.
Nate claps me on the back as he stands. "There’s the man I know. You’ll figure it out. Just don’t screw it up, yeah? We’ve got a reputation to uphold."
I roll my eyes as they both head out of the office, but Bryan lingers by the door.
"West," he says, his voice quieter now.
I look up.
"You deserve this too. Don’t forget that."
And then he’s gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Do I deserve her?
I don't even know. But I know one thing.
I want to deserve her.
The rest of the afternoon is a blur. Meetings. Emails. Calls. But my mind keeps drifting back to her. To the way her lips felt against mine. To the way she wouldn’t meet my eyes after.
By the time I leave the office, the sky over Ocean Bay is painted in streaks of gold and pink. The air smells like saltwater and possibility.
I get in my car, but I don’t start it right away.
I reach for my phone instead.
Her name is right there at the top of my messages.
I type something. Delete it. Type again. Delete.
Finally, I just put the phone down and start the engine.
Because Bryan’s right.
I can’t force her to let me in.
All I can do is show up … and hope that someday, she decides to open the door.
I’ll wait for her. As long as it takes.
***
"I've had enough of this."
