Page 53 of Ruthless Financier
“You couldn’t.” He showed me his back and I saw how tense he was as he said, “Good night, Indigo.”
My heart had no right to break into shards of glass as I slipped into the bedroom. We’d never agreed to love. And love between a man and a woman meant I’d turn into my mother. This hurt right now, but I’d made the right decision. I’d protected myself.
Chapter 16
Jacob
I woke up hot and had a pain in the back of my throat. I hadn’t been like this in a long time. This was how I felt when I was a boy and unable to save my mom from whatever bothered her. I sat up in my bed and drew my legs toward my body.
The last time I’d been like this was when my mother had died. Inside I screamed for release and slowly uncurled myself.
Hopefully I had time to stop Indigo from leaving. My mom had told me she loved me every night, but I hadn’t taken that risk.
I needed to correct that. If Indigo stomped on my heart, then I’d find out if I was capable of walking away.
Last night I’d been on an emotional rollercoaster from seeing my father. I had always worried about turning out like him, but I’d never really believed it would happen.
Yet I hadn’t told the woman I loved how I felt about her.
As I buttoned my pants, I heard a car engine stop outside my window. My service was here. Was she planning to leave?
I threw open my door and ran to catch her, still in my bare feet. I didn’t care if I stomped on recycled bamboo floor or shiny marble that was cold to the heels.
Pushing Indigo away because of my father only gave him the power again. And I was done caring what he might do next.
She wasn’t in the living area.
I knocked on the door of the bedroom she’d slept in and waited.
Seconds ticked past. I heard no sounds inside. I peeked in the door, but the bed was made and the lights were off. I flipped them on. Cold ran down my spine. Her suitcase was gone. She’d already left.
It wasn’t a car arriving I’d heard but one leaving.
Once again I was all alone. I threw open her bathroom and closet, but they were empty. I slumped on the bed and called out, just to be sure, “Indigo?”
No answer except a crackle under my butt. I scooted over and grabbed the envelope I’d been sitting on. The second I saw my name, my hands trembled. I ripped it open and read the paper inside.
Jacob,
Thank you for setting me up to start my own company. I am going to run my own PR firm, and get by on my savings to start my company. Maybe whoever you sell the Tulsa Sooners to will want to work with me … I’ve transferred the twenty-five million back to your account because when you love someone, you help and support them unconditionally. I’m sorry I ever hurt you.
Love,
Indigo
Love? My heart fluttered and I rubbed the cords in the back of my neck to get out the tension. She hadn’t loved me. She hadn’t said anything.
And I’d never told her how I felt.
For a few minutes I sat there, dazed, my fingers brushing against the bed.
Then I stood and paced. Should I go and find her? My skin buzzed.
I brushed my teeth in silence and cleaned myself up, but saw that less than ten minutes had passed. The hot water of the shower hadn’t helped my stiff muscles, and I wished there was a way I could go back in time.
The money was hers and she’d earned every penny.
I hadn’t been this wound up in years. I headed to my gym and ran through my routine three times.
