Page 59 of Reclaiming Love

Chapter 32

“It’s a few days after New Year’s, ma’am. Perhaps you might have some resolutions or goals for the year to put into action?”

The presumptuous little idiot, Melissa thought, biting back her tongue. Her patience had run out. “I’m not interested in any offers you have. But I am interested in cancelling my membership. Thank you.”

“Well, if you’re absolutely sure—”

“I am. Can you do this or do I need to come over in person and ask your manager to do it for me?” She was never one to be rude to people, but this assistant had sorely tested Melissa this morning.

She could almost imagine the set face of the surly woman at the other end, could feel it in the ominous silence that followed. Then, “Done. You are effectively terminated.”

Melissa put down the phone and wondered why it had taken nearly ten minutes of her time to explain something so simple. She wanted to cut off all chances of running into him. Cancelling her gym membership hadn’t been necessary since there were other hours, when he did not go, that she could have gone. Especially now that she’d started to appreciate the gym and the benefits a good workout gave her. But that place tasted of him, was somehow linked to him always now—and it was that link she wanted to sever.

She would still have to suffer seeing him at work.

Yet there were other far more important matters that needed her attention. With that in mind, she’d left early this morning and gone straight to the coffee shop desperately needing to see Noah.

He wasn’t there.

With no obvious way of contacting him, she couldn’t explain her side of events to him. Seen from his eyes, things looked worse than bad. She looked worse than bad.

He hated her. How could he not? There was no way, given what he’d seen, no way in the world that she’d come out of this unscathed. He had already judged her—she’d seen the look in his eyes—standing next to Matt in the kitchen, and who could blame him for misreading the situation?

Knowing Matt as well as she had come to, she didn’t put it past him to stretch the truth. He wouldn’t own up to what he’d made her do, but she knew he’d twist the truth somehow. That he would slip something into the conversation with Noah at some point. The problem was it wouldn’t be the truth.

If she hated herself for what she’d let Matt do, she hated herself even more for what she’d done to Noah. Now she was stuck in a situation she didn’t know how to get herself out of. What sucked even more was that she worked at the same place as the man who had violated her.

Remember, you’re not a victim. You gave him consent.

Besides, lots of people had dirty secrets they carried around like valium pills. This could be hers.

Her only hope was to pray she never had any computer problems this year. Or that he’d opt out and let some other support guy resolve the calls on her floor.

Nadine opened the door to her office and peered outside. “Melissa—do you have a moment?”

“Sure.” She got her notepad and pen ready and walked into Nadine’s office.

Nadine looked at her expectantly, as if she had an announcement to make. “Is everything alright?” Melissa had hoped her laid-on-too-thick makeup would do more than cover her blemishes: she’d hoped it would hide the shame she carried around with her.

Apparently not.

Melissa laughed off Nadine’s concern. “Sure. I think I’m still dealing with the shock of returning to work after the Christmas break.” Nadine’s staid expression told her she wasn’t too convincing.

Nadine got up and took the empty chair next to Melissa. “Please don’t mind me saying this, but lately, you’ve seemed…not your useful cheerful self. Is it the work? Anything else? Sandra? Mitchell?”

Melissa shook her head again and met Nadine’s stare. She forced herself to smile. “No, I’m fine.” She tried to think of something to put Nadine off her scent and found it. “Mr. Zimmerman says we’re going to be busier than ever. Is something going on?”

Distracting Nadine might be a better option; otherwise, the way she felt right now, Melissa was sure she would dissolve into tears if Nadine continued to probe a moment longer.

Nadine’s lips formed a thin, closed line as she folded her hands in her lap. “Well—I do have some news for you.” From the glum look on Nadine’s face, Melissa knew it wasn’t good news. “I want to tell you myself before Michael makes his announcement.”

Melissa braced herself for the worst—that Nadine was leaving the company. It would be another blow to her fast imploding world. She sat up straighter, ready to hear the news she knew would impact her. It wasn’t just her personal life that was crumbling around her; her working life was falling to pieces as well.

“Are you leaving?”

“I’m going to Europe. For a year.”

“A year?”

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