Page 56 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

In fact, there’s only one person whom I ever really showed my true self to, and she’s gone for good.

“Hey, Nathan!” someone shouts, raising their glass in a toast. “To the new building!”

“Cheers!” I reply, lifting my own glass and clinking it against theirs. Inside, though, my heart feels heavy, and I struggle to join the celebratory mood that fills the room.

“Great job on the project!” another person chimes in, patting me on the back.

“Thanks.” I attempt a grin, and my thoughts keep drifting back to Maria, back to the emptiness her absence has left in my life.

As the evening progresses, I find myself standing near a window, gazing out at the city skyline. In the reflection, I see the ghost of a man who once had everything but let it slip through his fingers. And as I watch the revelry continue around me, I can’t help but wonder if any of it truly matters when the one thing — the one person — I desire most is nowhere to be found.

“Hey, man.” One of the board members, Spencer, claps me on the back. “Congrats. We did it.”

“Yep.” I sip my drink. I’ve lost count of how many of them I’ve had.

“You should be proud. How about a speech?”

I look at the sea of people packed into the club. Hell, no, I don’t want to make a speech.

But everyone is looking at me, beckoning for me to make a toast.

I reluctantly raise my glass and clear my throat, the weight of Maria’s absence still heavy on my mind.

“Uh, so… here we are, celebrating this new building,” I begin, stumbling over my words. “I’m just really… happy, you know? And proud of all of our employees who contributed.”

My voice cracks on the word “happy,” betraying my true feelings. People stare at me with furrowed brows, sensing that something is amiss.

“Cheers,” I mumble, clinking glasses with the nearest person before quickly excusing myself to escape their scrutinizing eyes.

“Hey, Nathan!” Mitchell, a long-time acquaintance and CEO of a fast-food chain, greets me as I approach the club’s bar. “Congratulations on the new building!”

“Thanks, Mitchell.” I lift a finger at the knowing bartender, ordering another much-needed drink.

“First time I’ve seen you without a date on your arm.” He chuckles, taking a sip of his own beverage.

His words catch me off guard. It didn’t even occur to me to bring someone tonight. I suppose my priorities have shifted, and the idea of having a date by my side seems trivial compared to the emptiness left by Maria.

“Guess I didn’t think about it.” I rub the back of my neck awkwardly.

Mitchell raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push further, allowing me to wallow in my thoughts as the party rages on around us.

I’m finding myself increasingly nauseated by the superficiality of it all. The laughter and clinking glasses feel like a mockery of the emptiness gnawing at my insides. What’s the point of celebrating if the person who made it all worthwhile isn’t here?

Abandoning my drink at the bar, I weave my way through the crowd. I need some fresh air, need to clear my head before I go crazy in this building.

The night air is an instant relief, washing over me like a balm. My chest tightens, and I take a deep breath, hoping the silence and space will provide some clarity. As I walk down the street, the faint music and laughter from the club fade into the background, replaced by the rhythmic sound of my shoes hitting the pavement.

“Nathan!” a familiar voice calls, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turn to Corey with a halfhearted smile. His concerned expression tells me he knows I’ve been struggling.

“Where are you going, man?” He studies me intensely.

I shrug. “Just needed some fresh air.”

Corey frowns. “I know it’s been rough since Maria left, but you can’t keep going on like this.”

“I’m fine.” My words come out more bitter than intended.

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