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"Tessa…"

"No, I get it." She steps into her heels, and suddenly she's all business. Professional. Distant. Just like me. "The company never sleeps, right? Better go send those documents."

"Don't leave." The words come out before I can stop them.

She pauses at my bedroom door, something vulnerable flashing across her face. "Give me a reason to stay."

I could. I could tell her everything. Could let her see all the messy, complicated parts of me that I keep hidden. Could trust that maybe, just maybe, she'd stay anyway.

Instead, I say, "I have an early meeting tomorrow."

Her smile is sad. "You always do."

She's gone before I can respond, leaving only the lingering scent of vanilla and the ache in my chest.

I pour myself a drink, staring at the city lights through my windows. The snow has stopped, leaving everything looking clean and pristine. Untouchable. Like me.

My phone buzzes—Asher again. I ignore it, opening my laptop instead. The Baker acquisition documents stare back at me, mocking my attempt at distraction.

But all I can think about is the look in Tessa's eyes when I pushed her away. The way she saw right through my excuses. The way she always sees through me.

“Don't screw this up. She's good for you,” I mutter to myself. I know she is. That's what terrifies me.

Because Tessa Marlow doesn't just want the polished, successful version of me that I show the world. She wants all of me. The mess, the complications, the self-esteem issues I pretend don't exist.

And I don't know how to give her that. Don't know how to be that vulnerable, that real, that… seen.

My phone lights up again, but this time it's Tessa.

Tessa

For what it's worth, I'm not going anywhere. Even when you push me away. Even when those walls go up. I see you, Zane Mercer. All of you. And I'm not scared.

The words hit me like a physical blow, making it hard to breathe. Because maybe that's what I'm really afraid of—not that she'll run when she sees the real me, but that she already sees me and wants to stay anyway.

I stare at my phone, thumb hovering over the keys. There are so many things I want to say. So many walls I want to let crumble.

Instead, I turn back to my laptop. To the acquisition. To the safety of numbers and business deals.

But her words echo in my head, making it impossible to focus.

I see you, Zane Mercer. All of you. And I'm not scared.

Maybe she should be.

Chapter 13

Tessa

The text from Zane stares up at me from my phone screen, making my heart race despite my best efforts to stay calm.

Zane

Can we talk? I know it's late, but I can't stop thinking about earlier.

I glance at the clock—11:43 p.m. The responsible thing would be to wait until tomorrow. To give us both space to process what happened at dinner, how quickly things had escalated from passionate to painful when his walls slammed back up.

But when it comes to Zane Mercer, I've never been very good at being responsible.

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