Page 44 of Filthy Rich Bosses

He takes a deep breath, the kind you take before ripping off a Band-Aid. "I was wondering if you’d go out with me. Like, on a real date."

I blink. The question hits me like a wave, leaving me momentarily stunned. "Chase, I..."

"Just hear me out," he says quickly, his voice earnest. "I know I mess around a lot, but this—us—it’s not a joke to me. I like you, Tessa. A lot. And I think you might like me too, if you’d let yourself. This isn’t just sex for me."

His sincerity is almost enough to break through the walls I’ve carefully constructed, but I can’t let myself go there. Not with him. Not with anyone.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," I say gently, though the words still feel like a slap.

Chase blinks, his confidence faltering. "Why not?"

"Because..." I struggle to find the right words. "I'm not staying, Chase. This was always temporary. Getting involved would just complicate things."

"But—"

"No buts," I cut him off. "I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen. I’m leaving soon, Chase. There’s no point in starting something that’s only going to hurt later."

Chase's face crumples, and I feel like I've just kicked a puppy. His usual carefree demeanor vanishes, replaced by genuine hurt. I open my mouth, wanting to apologize, to soften the blow somehow, but the words stick in my throat. My chest tightens as I watch him struggle to regain his composure.

He looks at me for a long moment, his jaw tightening as he absorbs my words. "So that’s it? You’ve already decided how this ends, and I don’t even get a say?"

"It’s not fair to you," I say, almost pleading. "Or to me. I can’t...I just can’t."

Chase exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Right. Got it."

"Chase—"

"It’s fine," he cuts me off, his voice quiet but firm. "I get it, Tessa. I do."

Before I can say anything else, he turns and walks away, his shoulders hunched against an invisible weight. I lean against the doorframe, watching him disappear down the hall, my heart sinking with every step.

"It’s for the best," I whisper, but the words taste like ash.

Over the next couple days, I catch glimpses of Chase around the house. He's always at the edges of my vision, hovering nearby but never quite approaching. His usual boisterouslaughter is noticeably absent, replaced by a subdued quietness that feels…wrong.

During dinner one evening, I glance up to find him watching me from across the table. Our eyes meet, and for a moment, I see a flash of longing in his gaze before he quickly looks away.

"Pass the salt?" Grayson asks, nudging my arm.

I startle, realizing I've been staring. "Oh, sure," I mutter, handing it over.

As I return to my meal, I can't shake the image of Chase's sad eyes. It's like I've dimmed the light in him, and the guilt gnaws at me. But I remind myself firmly,You made the right choice. You can't get attached. You're leaving soon.

Still, as I lie in bed that night, Chase's crestfallen expression haunts me. I toss and turn, torn between my resolve to keep my distance and the growing ache in my chest. "One more week," I whisper into the darkness. "Just one more week, and this will all be behind me."

But even as I say it, a part of me wonders if I'm making the biggest mistake of my life.

I flop onto my bed with a groan, every muscle aching after a grueling day with Zeus and Lulu. Zeus is making some amazing progress, but man, they're wearing me out. I close my eyes, savoring the quiet moment—

BAM! The door slams open.

I jolt upright to see Cole storming in, his jaw clenched and eyes blazing. "What iswrongwith you?" He closes the door behind him.

"Excuse me?" I blink, completely bewildered. "What is wrong withyou?"

He paces the room like a caged lion, running a hand through his short brown hair. "Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

I sit up straighter, my confusion morphing into irritation. "No, actually, I don't. Care to enlighten me?"

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