Page 45 of Forever Not Yours

Not good. And it made me nervous.

“If I can just…?” I stood up, but Juliet discreetly shook her head.

“We just need five more minutes of your time, Mr Kopetski, to get your requirements right. The bonds you suggest need to be—”

“I asked for Mr Dewaert to make me a proposal, and he seems to be more interested in his phone.”

Bastard.

“I do apologise,” I said, trying to switch off my phone in my pocket in case the alarm went off again.I probably needed to dose up as an interim fix, and there was emergency stuff in my office. Coffee would do nothing here, but I still took another sip. Cold.

“Now, Mr Kopetski, if you can give me a week to run the analysis and put together a comprehensive proposal, bearing in mind the new changes you have outlined, then—”

“You have two days. I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”

He seemed to like that word. Nonsense.

“Two days,” I reluctantly parroted back. It sounded like I agreed. I’d need to work around the clock for that. Big investment. Huge risks. Things I normally lapped up, but I needed time. Proper calculations. Numbers. I could do the basics in two days, but it still made me sweat just thinking about it. “We will need time.”

“Then I’ll go elsewhere.” Mr Kopetski stood up, his large body straining under the sudden movement.

There were biscuit crumbs all down his front, a coffee stain on his tie.

I wanted to laugh but swallowed instead.

“Mr Kopetski, a pleasure to see you again, and let me and Mr Dewaert have our team once again look over your proposal and try to find you a suitable solution. One that is above board for us all.”

Juliet smarmed in that stoic way she did so well. She held out her hand. He turned around with a snarl, let his minion open the door, who followed him out with an apologetic smile on his face.

I hadn’t even caught his name, whoever he was.

“Bastard,” Juliet muttered.

“I can’t do this in two days.” I sat back down on the chair and even managed not to wince. My skin felt better today. Less bruised. I couldn’t decide if that made me happy or just more confused.

“Bash, can I have your attention for a minute? Just level with me here.”

“Mr Kopetski is off his head. I know it’s a huge contract, but there are—”

“I don’t give a shit about Mr Kopetski. I’m ringing Damien and giving him a piece of my mind, and insisting we deal with him only from now on. If he keeps sending us this absolute clown, I will cancel the contract. No regrets my end.”

“Good.” Relief. A small amount at least.

“But I think you should consider finding another place to work.”

“What?” I shrieked. I wasn’t proud of the way I reacted.Calm, Bastien. Fucking calm the fuck down.

“I don’t want to come into work every day, feeling like I’m either about to explode or burst into tears. I can’t do this. I’m the CEO. I run this…this company. And if you’re here, I can’t do that effectively. I need to move on. I can’t do that when wherever I turn, I hear your voice. Not with having to sit here next to you every day feeling like shit because we couldn’t make this work. I’m hurting, Bash. Reeling. Every minute of the day. And it needs to stop.”

“So you want me to leave?”

“I want you to ring Caroline at Smythe’s. I’ve already mentioned you to her, and she said she has options.”

“I… Jules. Please.”

“No.” She was stern. Defiant. So strong. I’d always admired her for that, how she held her head high. She looked straight at me. “No Bash. You’ll always be my weakness, the soft spot in my armour. I can’t let youruin what I’ve built here, and I mean that. You will. I will bend over backwards for you, and someone will stab me in the guts. That’s what you do to me. You’ll be here, and I will forever be reminded of the things I couldn’t have. I don’t want that. And to be even more honest—”

“What?” Fuck, I was angry now. If I wasn’t careful, I would start to cry. I snorted. She looked at me in disgust.

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