Page 46 of Boss Level

And Oliver was stripping her of that, because…

Because I didn’t know why. “So…”

“So.” Judith mimicked me.

My phone beeped with a call from Grant. I ignored it. “I’ll call you if I hear any news. Good or bad.”

“Sounds good. Xander?”

My breath hitched at the change in her tone. The softening. “Yeah?”

Her pause was longer than I cared for. “Thank you,” she finally said. “Talk to you soon.”

That was less than satisfactory. Shit on a shitty day.

Might as well top it off by listening to Grant’s voicemail. “Wondered if you want to get lunch while I’m in town. And by the way, you all did the right thing by voting the way you did today.”

I wouldn’t throw my phone across the room; it hadn’t done anything wrong. But if I called Grant back, I’d say things I’d regret.

Or maybe not. Maybe I’d enjoy every single thing that came out of my mouth. Would I burn bridges for this? Destroy my career?

Interesting question. I’d kept my mouth shut about my relationship with Dominic for years, despite hating it. But that was for him, not me.

And this would be for Judith.

Except it wouldn’t help the situation any, so telling myself that was bullshit.

I settled for sending Grant a text telling him my calendar was full. Any sort of meet-up was a no-go.

It wasn’t a lie. The rest of my day was full of cramming in last minute meetings before the holidays and new calendar year, including catching up with everyone besides AcesPlayed who debuted games at RinCon. I made it home around six-thirty, which wasn’t bad for me.

Dominic’s car was in the garage, and I parked next to him and headed inside.

An ache bloomed in my chest at the sight of a simple bouquet with a single sunflower in the middle, the entire thing wrapped in green tissue paper. The flower sat on the kitchen table, and even if Dom hadn’t told me about his dinner plans, I would’ve known it was for Judith.

“Hello?” I called.

“Bedroom.” Dominic’s reply carried to me from the other room.

I found him exactly where he said he’d be, in the walk-in closet, putting on cufflinks. He held out his right wrist and the link, and I stepped in without a word to help slip it on. He’d always had trouble with the mechanics when he used his left hand.

“Thanks, handsome.” He kissed me on the cheek and took a few steps back.

I leaned against the doorframe and watched both him and his reflection as he finished dressing.

For a night out with the woman he was calling his fiancée.

With Judith.

The gnawing in my thoughts grew, chewing holes through me with the kind of jealousy that could devour a soul. Not because Dominic and Judith were going out tonight, but because they didn’t have to hide it. Their engagement wasn’t even fucking real, and they were going out to dinner as a couple. Telling the world they were in love. Dining with his business associates and not hiding a thing.

“Saw the flower.” Maybe if I climbed out of my own head, pulled it out of my ass, and talked through this, I’d be okay.

Dominic gave me a faint smile while he straightened his tie. “So Judith can brag about the sweetheart she’s marrying.”

Unlikely it would come up. Judith almost certainly wouldn’t mention it to near-strangers.

“And with the day she’s had, she needs it,” Dominic added.

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