Page 88 of The CEO Enemy

It’s gotta be “we” or nothing.

The only reason why I’m not hounding her at her door and urging her to see reason is because pushing her is going to do more harm than good, because above everything else, what Jess is, is stubborn.

But so am I.

She’ll see things my way. She’ll realize that my father’s threats don’t matter. She’ll agree there’s more here and that we have to be together.

I need a strategy, not a “bull in a China shop” approach. If I charge in there recklessly, she’ll show me the door faster than I can blink.

I glance at my watch, and it’s half past five p.m.

Before heading home to face her with a plan of action, I make a pit stop at my office, as I do almost every evening.

Imagine my surprise as I step into the waiting area of my office to find Jasmine still present, greeting me with a crisp, “Mr. Blackwood, there’s someone waiting in your office.”

I frown, not knowing who the hell would be here to see me. “Who is it?”

“Oh, someone from the Westerlyn NYC property you’ll be happy to see, I’m sure,” she says with a smile, ready to leave for the day. “Anything else you need?”

“Have a nice evening, Jasmine.”

“Thank you, you too, sir.”

Heart racing, I open my door to find Jess standing by the windows. It’s bizarre to find her in this space. I’ve kept my job at Blackwood and my job at the hotel separate. Having both worlds combine throws me for a loop.

“Hey, I was just about to go see you,” I say, glad to see her, closing the door behind me.

Jess turns around and my heart sinks. I can tell by the look on her face that I’m not going to like where this conversation goes.

“I’m sorry to show up here,” she says. “But this couldn’t wait. You weren’t at home, and your secretary said she expected you to arrive soon.”

“Good, because I need to talk to you too, baby.”

I cross the room toward her, but before I get a chance to say anything else, she cuts me off by thrusting an envelope into my hands.

I didn’t even notice she was holding anything.

“Here,” she says, letting go of it. “This is for you. I’ve signed and dated everything, even had it notarized.”

“Signed what?”

“The papers for my half of the properties, the ones you drew up weeks ago. I looked them over with my lawyer, and everything is fine.”

This isn’t what I’m expecting or wanting. “You didn’t have to do that. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about?—”

“Yes, yes, I do,” she cuts me off. “I think it would be best for both of us if we finalize the sale. Which is why I’m leaving.”

30

JESS

Ican’t stop shaking. I’m usually brave, but today broke me.

This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.

Once I made up my mind about selling to Sean, I knew I had to do it fast before I changed my mind.

This was never going to work.

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