Page 66 of Taming the Billionaire Cowboy
Carly’s voice echoes in my head, her words sharp and cold as ice. Each one tugs on me, pulling me from the high rises of Houston to the open fields of Miralena. Our worlds are so far apart.
She said this couldn’t work, her and me. She was right. But still…
A knock on my office door snaps my head back up. “Yes?” I call, trying to pull myself together.
Marie peeks her head in. “Dave is asking you to reconsider continuing the meeting. They haven’t left yet?—”
“Of course he is,” I bite out.
I don’t know why I ever thought Dave had my back. Sure, he encouraged me to go to the hospital that day I had the panic attack, but then he also guilt-tripped me into coming back to Houston. Yes, the final choice was mine, and I’m glad I did it. I mean…
Yes. No.
Of course, I’m glad.
“Hey,” Marie says. “You all right?”
“Fine,” I quickly say.
She doesn’t move from the doorway, just stands there with big eyes. Suddenly, I realize how much of a kid she is. Even though she gets so much done around here - does so much to keep my life together - she’s still in her early twenties. She still has so much to learn. So much to live.
God, I hope life goes better for her than it has for me.
I sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“No need for that, boss,” she says, taking a step into the room. “Everyone has their off days. Or weeks.”
“I just need to get it together.” I scrub a hand through my hair, fighting back frustration.
Marie nods, sympathy in her gaze. “Want me to clear your schedule for tomorrow? Or at least postpone the morning meetings?”
I glance at the window, where the sunset casts long shadows over the cityscape below. Tomorrow’s packed with more negotiations and one major presentation. But right now…
“We can’t,” I tell her. “I already ended this meeting early. We can’t push anything else.”
Still, she lingers. “Oliver, you look pale.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I assure her. There’s so much more she could be worrying about. Her own career, love, happiness…
I stare at her, suddenly feeling like I’ve let her down. “Marie. Do you do anything but work?”
She blinks at me, confused. “What?”
“Are you dating? Do you hang out with friends?”
She adjusts her glasses. Stands a little straighter. “My career is my priority.”
“But life isn’t all work,” I tell her earnestly. “Do me a favor and clock off early. Go get a drink with friends. Or go for a hike, a drive, anything.”
“I…” She looks taken aback. “No, that’s all right.”
“Please. I don’t want you to end up like me. You should?—”
“Oliver.” Her face is red. “I don’t… I don’t have anyone to get a drink with.”
That knocks the breath out of me. Shit.
She’s spent years working for me, putting in more hours and more energy than five people. I pay her well for it, and she’s on the fast track to do anything she wants in life after this job, but…
