Page 153 of Bossy Romance

She shuffles a bunch of files together and sweeps them into a folder. “They’re not mere directors anymore. They’re my replacements.”

The air in the room turns tense.

What the hell is she saying?

Nova meets my gaze and we share a private exchange of words without opening our mouths at all.

My heart thuds. Dread pours out in my voice. “Nova, what did you do?”

“I tried to be discreet. They know you’ve got more power than we originally let on, but I tried my best not to reveal that you were the owner. I think your secret is still safe, but it’s tenuous. We’ll need a better story about who the owner is and why he gave so much power to you.”

“Nova.”

“Not that it matters whether they know or not. Their job is to do one thing—assist you in all the day-to-day tasks. They’ll report all big decisions to you. Just like I do. You have the ultimate say. It’ll be a little awkward at first, but I believe you’ll find your own rhythm—”

“Nova, what the hell did youdo,” I say more firmly.

“I told you I was leaving, Adam.”

Her words are softly-spoken, but they pierce me like a slap by a glove of nails.

I curl my fingers into fists.

“It took a while, but I’ve finally gotten all my task templates organized. I’ve also fragmented all my duties and matched them up according to the directors’ respective areas of work, strengths, and expertise.”

“No,” I bite out.

She glances up, an eyebrow arched in defiance. “No?”

“You’re not leaving.”

She tilts her head and studies me.

“You can’t leave. You… I thought we’d fixed that. I thought the reason you had to resign in the first place was because of—”

“Of what? My feelings for you?” She gives me a frigid look.

I don’t want to believe that’s my Nova.

It can’t be.

It has to be someone else.

“I thought that too.” She straightens and faces the window.

I don’t recognize her.

Not her.

Not this moment.

None of what’s happening—the conversation, the frostiness in the air—none of it makes sense.

I picture the night I held Nova in my arms and kissed her for the first time. That night, she said she was consumed by me. That she waited for me. That she needed me as much as I needed her.

Right now, it seems like whatever hold I had on her is gone.

Not just gone.

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