Page 70 of Love From Left Field (Knights of Passion)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The elevator doorsopened and Lucas stood inside, shocked to see the woman he had been looking for, standing there with a box of stuff in her arms. Not knowing what to say, there was too much he wanted to say, he went with the first thing that came to mind.

“I thought I was the one who was supposed to clean out my desk.”

He immediately regretted it when he saw her eyes, icy cold with a light sheen of something in there, as if she were barely holding things together. He grabbed the box and, after a token resistance, she gave it up.

“What happened?”

“Not your concern.” She clipped each word as if with a knife. “You can move into my office now, or just plan your redecorating. I won’t be needing it anymore.”

He laid the box on a chair near the elevator and reached for her. She evaded him neatly, hugging her arms around her waist. The sight of the pain etched on her face cut him to the bone and he dropped his hands, burying them in his pockets.

“I never meant for this to happen.”

She arched a brow. “Really?”

“Really.” He sighed. “Okay, I wanted to punish Seamus but you and the Knights weren’t supposed to be caught up in this mess.”

“At least you’re not blaming Roger.” She sniffed.

“I didn’t know his plans, but that’s no excuse.”

“When did he tell you?” Her words were soft, broken.

“April,” he admitted. “But I never agreed.”

“And that should excuse you?”

“What did you want me to do, Miranda? If I told you, would you have believed me?”

“Maybe,” she cried, then her shoulders drooped. “Or not. I don’t know. Lucas, I can’t do this. Please. Just leave me alone, and stop calling.”

“Miranda,” he began but she held up her hand.

“No, it’s over. I need some time, space. Good luck helping the Knights, or whatever your next step is.” She pressed the button, picked up her box and walked into the elevator, effectively ending any chance he had with her.

*

“Are you fuckingstupid or just mean?” Lucas burst into Seamus’s office, Ruth running after him. “What the hell were you thinking, firing Miranda? She’s the best thing that ever happened to this team?”

Seamus looked up, unconcerned about the eruption. “Ruth, please close the door on your way out.” He barely spared Lucas a look. “I didn’t fire her. She resigned.”

“Semantics. She wouldn’t have resigned unless you pushed her. What happened?”

Seamus smirked at him. “I get the idea you had something to do with that. Something about making deals to take over as president for some new investors?”

Lucas colored but held his calm. “That had nothing to do with Miranda and everything to do with your mismanagement of the team.”

“Either way, it’s of no concern to you. I spoke with Roger and you’re done here. We no longer require your services. Be gone by the end of the day or I’ll have security escort you out. And they won’t be gentle.”

“You’re either the stupidest man alive or the worst businessman I ever saw. Miranda is the best part of this team. She cares about the people and worked hard to try to save it for you. You don’t deserve her.”

Seamus slammed his hands on his desk and rose to his feet. “Don’t you judge me. You don’t deserve her either.”

“I never said I did,” Lucas said quietly. “I know now why she tried to help you. I feel sorry for you. You’re going to lose everything that matters to you– your team, your status, your money. But you’ve already lost the best thing that you ever had. Miranda.”

He turned to leave. “I’ll be gone by the end of the day. But your troubles won’t go away so easily.”

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