Page 58 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

I throw the shot back, savoring the burn. “You know, the worst part is that I still think I would forgive him.”

“I don’t see how that’s the worst part,” Paloma says. “You two were brought back together for a reason. Maybe the two of you were a lesson the other needed to learn, or maybe you’re meant to be together, but I don’t see how you’re going to figure that out if you avoid him.”

“Avoid is a harsh word. I like to think of it as taking the time to lick my wounds in private, and then I can figure everything else out later.”

Paloma chuckles and shakes her head, picking a few pepperoni morsels off a slice of pizza before heading to the couch. “You should go. That dress will have him eating his heart out.”

I snort and follow her to the couch with the bottle of tequila, sinking down into the cushions beside her. “That’s if he even cares anymore. He’s going to get everything he wants, and then I don’t think he’s going to give a damn about anything else.”

“Look, what you told me sounded like he was lashing out.”

“It was.” I sip straight from the bottle. “I know it was. I just wish that I could go back in time and tell him about the proposal before he found out from Leo. It might have changed things.”

“You can’t live in the past, Jade. For what it’s worth though, I really think you should go to this party. Not for him. For you. You spent three months busting your ass for this company, and you deserve recognition for it.”

“Well, you might be right about that.”

Paloma takes the bottle from me, grinning before she sips. She sets it on the coffee table. “If you don’t agree to go to the party tomorrow, I’m going to stay here all day and then drag you there myself.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I think it might be the only way you actually go.”

The cushions envelop me like a warm hug as I lean deeper into the couch. “No. I think you’re right. I should go. If nothing else, I’ll be able to get some closure.”

“Who knows, Grayson could come to his senses by then.”

“I said I would forgive him.” My teeth sink into the edge of my bottom lip for a moment before I sigh. “I don’t know about anything beyond that, though. I mean, I know he’s been hurt by all of this stuff with his father for years, but why is it on me to fix that?”

“It’s not.” Paloma yawns and curls into my side, bringing the television remote with her. “You have to decide what’s best for you. This is your life, Jade, and you only have one chance to live it.”

She scrolls through the movies as I think about that.

I only have one life to live, and I like to think that Grayson was put back into it for a reason. In the weeks that I’ve spent with him, he seemed to be caring less about what his father thought, but then, in one day, he went back to being that teenager who did whatever it took to get what he wanted.

I’m tired of him pushing me away. I don’t want to keep doing this.

But I am going to go to the party. I’m going to celebrate the hard work that I’ve put in, and then the day after, I’m going to get back to my normal life.

Paloma picks a movie and sets the volume low, looking over at me. “So, what’s the plan for after this?”

“Well, since the contract isn’t going to get renewed, I’m going to have some time to myself. I’ve been thinking about taking Mom on a trip through Asia. She always said she wanted to spend some time touring through the countries there, and she’s not getting any younger.”

Paloma smiles and pats my thigh. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“I do, too.”

“Take some time off for yourself. You’ve been working yourself to the bone for years.”

She’s right about that. I work as hard as I can, making sure that my employees are taken care of. I built two businesses from the ground up.

I went into a third business and pulled it from the rubble.

Now, I’m tired and want a break more than anything else in the world. Some time away when nobody wants anything from me, and I can be free to relax as I want.

As the movie plays, I pull out my phone and send a message to my travel agent.

It’s time to start taking care of myself.

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