Page 36 of Falling Hard
"Well, he obviously already did," I mumbled.
When Jacqueline came toward me, ready to offer some form of physical comfort, I rushed to my feet. "I have to go."
"Olivia?"
Unwilling to let her see me break down, I didn't stop walking, but I assured her, "I'm okay. Modern women don't fall apart over a man."
I ran from my office, heart racing, slamming the elevator button with shaking fingers, and bolted out of the building the second the doors opened to the lobby. When I approached the parked car, and Hopeton jumped out and opened the door.
As he walked from my door to the driver's seat, tears prickled my eyes. Hopeton looked back and asked, like he often did, "Where to?"
In the backseat, the weight finally broke me, and I let the tears fall. Hopeton politely looked away. For minutes, I sobbed in the vehicle while he sat in silence.
Suddenly, I felt the SUV moving, but I didn’t care where we were headed. Hopeton was probably dropping me home. Yes, he knew me well. That's what I needed: my bed and my girlfriends. Well, maybe only Alex, since I just didn't feel like being scolded. With my eyes closed, a million thoughts flashed through my head: Luke and I in the sprinklers as kids, riding bikes, going to movies, bars, and camping.
Now he would have a new partner by his side, like his mother said. Life goes on, but moving on without me was never part of my plan.
I always envisioned a place with him, not some fucking third wheel.
I wiped my tears and then widened my eyes in shock. We had stopped, but I wasn't home. Instead, we were in front of the Goldman Sachs building, where Luke worked. Horrified, I looked up at Hopeton. "Why did you bring me here? Take me home."
The car wasn't moving. I raised my voice. "Hopeton, take me home."
"I can't, we’re out of gas."
I sat forward to see the dashboard. The needle clearly showed that was a lie. "Hopeton!"
He unbuckled his seatbelt and walked to the back. When he opened the door, I scurried to the other side. I wanted to see how he'd get me out.
"Stop being stubborn. Since you were a child, you've been afraid of everything and hidden all your insecurities. Those who don't know you may be fooled, but not me."
While his words were kind, my greatest fear at the moment was Luke exiting the building and seeing us. "Hopeton, please take me home."
"You can fire me, but you'll have to walk."
My jaw fell open.
"If you’re running away from happiness, I won't drive you. Please walk."
Silence.
Hopeton extended his hand to help me out of the car.
"Fine, I'll get out and call a taxi," I snarled.
Just then, I heard my words. I was going to hide. Such a coward!
I took the hand my driver offered and stepped out of the car, my legs unsteady beneath me. Once outside the SUV, I looked from Luke's building to Hopeton. I wasn't about to call a taxi. I knew exactly what I had to do. "But what if he says no?"
Hopeton shook his head confidently. "What if he says yes?"
Taking small and slow steps, I walked through the revolving door of Luke's building. My throat burned, and my hand trembled, but I walked to the receptionist's desk with my shoulders squared.
"Luke Forrester, please."
The lady didn't bother to look up. "Mr. Forrester and his coworkers left fifteen minutes ago. They probably walked to O'Reilly's Irish Pub."
Needing no more, I hurried toward South Street Seaport, where stockbrokers gathered after work to share drinks and, if you were lucky, secrets after work. The green sign with gold letters that spelledO’Reillycame into view, and I hurried. If I missed Luke, I might not have the courage tomorrow.
