Page 61 of The Wrong Promise

I could not work for him.

“Make it happen and check back with me in the morning.” His tension rises with endless calls, and it feels wrong to be in the room when he is attending to business. His demeanor has changed, and he needs privacy to deal with whatever went down with his company.

Before I walk out of the room, he says, “Yes, I’ll be there tomorrow, and I’ll deal with it first thing in the morning.”

The one thing I know about the Hendricks family is they won’t sleep until they get the job done, so I don’t expect Jobe to come to bed any time soon. My sheets remain wet, and while there are other bedrooms, I feel we are in a placewhere I can sleep in his bed. I stick my ear pods in and play my favorite romantic playlist rather than listen to Jobe’s heated conversation.

When I wake the next morning, I’m lying next to an empty space as he’s clearly left for the office at some ungodly hour.Did he even come to bed at all?

I go through my usual routine and wait for Piper at the café.

George walks in with her. “It’s happening today,” he says, wide-eyed. He looks smart in a suit jacket.

“Have you been talking to Gretchen again?”

He frowns, his brows pinching. “Maybe.”

“Well, I’m heading there now,” Piper says, looking at me. “Coming?”

Downing the remainder of my coffee, I walk with them into our office block. My stomach is tense. Not for today’s announcement but what Jobe said last night.

It’s the final time we need to pretendplays over in my mind.

I hoped we were getting somewhere, and now there’s a freaking time bomb ticking for when he checks out. I don’t know whether to ask him point blank if he’s going to end us because I saw him in the moment when we were together. We have something. I heard him admit to the yearning. We have great chemistry, so why end it and not see where this will lead?

Oh crap. Is it you want what you can’t have, and now, after I gave myself to him, he’s moving on?

I scan my ID as I walk through the building. I’m so distracted I probably won’t hear a single word.

Around nine thirty, we gather in a meeting room and wait for Tim, who strides in, hands in pockets, eyes lowered. The door closes with an audible click that echoes the room as we all wait for what comes next.

“Can I please have everyone’s attention?” Mindlesschatter stops, and he clears his throat. “Today is my last day at Warburton Investments.” Gasps and groans fill the room. “As you know, the company is merging with an LA-based company.” His eyes meet mine, and my heart flips. Why does this have anything to do with me? “Over the next week, offers will roll out. Some juggling is inevitable. It’s your choice whether you want to stay with the new company or accept your new role. There’s not much more I can say than to wish you all the best for the future and thank you for making my role here easier than it should be. You’re all a great bunch, and I’m sorry not to host the Monday meeting any longer.” Someone sobs at the back of the room. I didn’t know him well but he seems like a great guy. “Juliet has my personal number, so if any of you want to reach out for a drink, I’d love to see you. Are there any questions about your future roles, not mine?”

“Who is Juliet?” I whisper to Piper. “We should have a drink with Tim.”

She nods. “She’s his PA.Was.”

I give my focus to Tim. I feel for him as I sense this was unexpected. He glances at his cell. “The new company director is on his way down.” He looks at the door.

The guy opposite me raises his hand. “Tim. Was it your choice to leave?”

“It was a mutual agreement.”

“Bullshit,” George whispers beside me.

The door opens, and a suited guy appears.

Designer suit. Dark hair. Suddenly, I’m wide awake. “What in the holy fuck!” I whisper, though it’s more of a quiet shout. His eyes scan the room. I avert my gaze. I cannot look at Jobe Hendricks right now.

Piper leans forward and stares at me. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“Not anymore,” I snap.

I can’t breathe. Why didn’t he tell me this was theothermerger he was working on? Heat rises up my neck and cheeks, my whole face glowing red. So, this is what he had to deal with first thing this morning. And he didn’t mention a damn thing.

“Did you know?” George whispers.

I give him a sideways glance and shake my head. “Did you?”

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