Page 82 of Perfect (mis)Match

I did my rounds and answered the same questions over and over. Yes, I was sad to go. No, it wasn’t because of what happened with Vincent. Yes, we could keep in touch. I went into autopilot to keep myself from feeling too much.

I didn’t want to spend a second doubting my decision.

After all, I’d gotten everything I wanted. A nest egg to help launch my business and an introduction to Mercedes to kick it off. It was what Vincent and I had agreed to. And it was a mutually beneficial partnership, because he got what he needed as well.

And now it was over. And that was fine.

I’d planned ahead and driven Darcy’s grandmother’s car again, so I wouldn’t have to take the subway ride of shame with a box stuffed full of my belongings balanced on my lap while the rest of the riders gave me sad, knowing looks.

I packed the last of my things—a welcome plant that had been waiting for me on my desk on my first day that I’d miraculously kept alive, a stress ball in the shape of a bottle of perfume, framed photo of Darcy and me to remind me what I was working toward—and took one last look around.

The end of my tenure was a nightmare, but I’d sure had fun while it lasted.

I hoisted the box onto my hip, flipped off the light, and nearly ran into Linda.

“Oh, hey,” I said, wary because Linda was Vincent’s lifeline, guardian, and pit bull.

She smiled sympathetically. “Piper. Are you okay?”

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. “All good, thanks. Just heading out now. Is there something I forgot to do?”

She shook her head. “Not at all. I just wanted to walk you out.”

“Is this a security thing?” I glanced beyond her to see if Vincent had sent his tough guys to join in.

“Piper.” Linda clasped my shoulder. “No. This is a colleague thing. I want to be here for you.”

More eye prickles, more sniffles. Iwasn’tgoing to break down.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

But I didn’t exactly understand it. Linda and I barely knew one another; we’d never even shared a cup of coffee. Her offer was kind, but of course I was on guard.

A few people waved sadly as I walked through the office on the way to the elevator. This silly, accidental job I’d lucked into had meant so much more to me than I’d realized.

Of course, it wasn’t just the job. But I didn’t want to think about that part.

Linda and I boarded the elevator for the long trip to the parking garage. She inserted a special key in the control panel.

“One of the perks of the executive suite,” she explained. “We get a direct flight to the garage with no interruptions. But that also means I don’t have as much time to say what I want to say.”

I frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“He’s a mess,” Linda began. “I know it looks like he’s the same old Vincent, but all of this drama is really impacting him.”

“Well, yeah, I get it.” I stopped myself from saying that the drama was one hundred percent his fault. Linda would just feel the need to defend him—and it would be a pointless argument anyway. “He’ll be fine.”

“Summitwill be fine, there’s no doubt about that,” she agreed. “Vincent is another story.” She glanced up at the security camera then back at me. “I know this is none of my business, but I just want you to know I’ve worked with him from the beginning, and I’ve seen the beastly side of him, as well as the prince. Let me tell you, we dealt with the beast for alongtime.” She laughed at the thought of it. “He’s been trying really hard to keep that side in check, but he’s a work in progress. Sometimes he still messes up. Friday night was a prime example.”

I could only nod, because I still didn’t know what she was getting at.

“I’m not talking about the Maya stuff,” she said softly. “I’m talking about you.”

Her worried expression was an arrow to my heart, and a single tear ran down my cheek.

“I know he hurt you by outing the start of your relationship like that—and then by focusing on the fallout for Summit instead of making sureyouwere okay. But that’s because fixing things on a business level is what he always does. When it comes to fixing things on an emotional level…he’s lost. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care for you. I’ve seen the change in him since you’ve been here. He’s lighter. Happier. Nicer to be around,” she laughed again. “You made my job so much easier.”

“Well, I’m sorry my leaving is going to make your life tougher,” I sniffled.

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