Page 47 of Business or Pleasure

“That’s right, you were.” She stood, crossing her arms. “Nothing has changed, so why should I take time out for you? What can ever become of us when you won't be sticking around?”

A flash of frustrations went through me. The way she phrased it made it sound as I made promises. “I’ve hidden nothing about who I am, where I’m from. If this,” I gestured between the two of us, “isn’t what you wanted, why did you continue in the first place?”

“Because I’m an idiot, apparently,” she snapped. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I mean, look at you.”

I took a step back, now completely confused. “What does that mean?”

“You know what I mean.” Her cheeks were flushed. “You’re friends with billionaire Alec McCrae. You come from a rich, high-class family. You own companies and give lots of money to big causes.” Her hands curled into fists. “And I’m…well, I’ve got no family. No important name. No money.”

“What?” My mind was spinning. I didn’t understand how an attempt to surprise her with lunch had turned into this.

“The distance between our worlds isn’t just Seattle to Scotland.” Her shoulders slumped. “If we take this further, it’s just going to hurt more. It was a bad idea.”

“Aye,” I said quietly. “It was.”

I was halfway through the lobby when I realized that I left the bag of food in Harlee’s office. I wasn’t about to retrieve it, though. As Harlee had pointed out, I could afford to let her keep it.

As I got into my rental car, I made a decision. From here on out, I’d focus only on the reason I’d come here in the first place. Work. Using voice to text, I sent Brigh a message to meet me at the hotel restaurant for a business lunch. She immediately replied that she would get us a table.

While she could be a bit possessive at times, I could always count on her. When we returned to Scotland, I’d see to it that she received a large bonus.

I didn’t have my laptop with me, but I didn’t bother returning to my room for it.

Brigh acquired a booth near the back of the restaurant, and the host took me straight to her. After giving my drink order, I addressed Brigh. “I want to discuss scheduling for our return home and our marketing launch.”

Her expression didn’t change in the slightest. “Should I contact the airline?”

“Not yet,” I said. “I’m not yet finished with MIRI, but once I do, we’ll return home the following day.”

She didn’t try to hide her surprise. “You don’t want to have an extra day to…say your goodbyes?”

We both knew she wasn’t talking about Alec. I could have pretended not to understand, but I needed to, well... vent.

“That’s not necessary. She’s made it quite clear that our worlds are too different for us to make any sense.” I hated how bitter I sounded.

“Perhaps it’s for the best.” Brigh’s voice was sympathetic. “We never intended to stay here. Home is Scotland, not Seattle. You have family, your business. Everything is there.”

She was right. My entire life was back in Scotland. No matter how I felt about my parents or how frustrated I was by what happened with Angie, that was home.

“Aye.” I needed to say it out loud. “Edinburgh is home.”

“It sure is.”

“Well, when we’re back home, I’ll be giving you two weeks off, with pay and a nice bonus.” I smiled at her.

Her hand went to her chest. “That’s not necessary.”

“Aye, it is.” I took a bite of my meal, though I barely tasted the savory beef. “Now, for what comes next…”

As we went through the plan, my mind returned to the neat, organized way of thinking I worked so hard to cultivate. Orderly lists, prioritizing the various things I needed to do. Making plans for my future.

In Scotland.

Twenty-Two

Harlee

I was a royal bitch.

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