Page 4 of The CEO's Revenge

I thanked Robert once again as he walked me to my car.

“Will you be okay, Savannah? Are you sure you can drive? Do you want me to follow you home or anything?”

I shook my head. “No. I’ll be okay.”

I reached up and brushed my lips against his cheek. “Thanks again for everything, Robert. You’ve been a great friend to us both. Shame Max didn’t appreciate you.”

“Promise to call me if you need me?”

“Of course. Take care.”

I got into my car and pulled away. I watched in the rear-view mirror as Robert grew smaller, feeling as though Max was growing smaller and smaller in my heart. By the time I reached my apartment, I was sobbing my heart out. I knew that I would have to find a way to heal my shattered heart from Max’s betrayal, but not now. Now I would just mourn the loss of him. For it was a big loss. A very, very, very big loss.

I went through the rest of the week in a daze. There was no word from Max.

I did not try calling him.

I did go to the seafront and fling into the ocean the pearl necklace he gave me, though. As soon as the milky beads touched the water, I was full of unbelievable regret. I dived in, fully clothed, after it, but it was gone forever.

The way Max was gone forever from me.

1

SAVANNAH

(Four years later)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7KNmW9a75Y

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Twenty-three pairs of eyes were fixed on my face as the bell rang. I could hear a pin drop. I could feel them squirming at the silence that ensued. Finally, I opened my mouth, and the class seemed to draw a collective breath in anticipation.

“You may go to lunch.”

“Thank you, Miss Maitland!” they chorused happily as they dashed out of their seats.

I began to count to ten. Even before I got to seven, the door was already closing behind the last child. Smiling to myself at their incredible zest for life, I turned towards my desk. I loved my job as a middle-school teacher, but there were days when I needed a break and today was one such day.

I could feel a headache starting behind my eyes.

Quickly, I packed my things and headed towards the teacher’s lounge, making sure to lock the door behind me as I did. Mid-semesters were coming up in a few weeks and I did not want to run the risk of any mischief with tampered tests. I knew my eleven-year-olds well enough to know how sneaky they could be.

I entered the lounge, sank into the closest chair, and slipped my shoes off. I pulled out the pins that had tightly held my thick hair in a bun all morning and allowed it to fall down my back. Some of the pressure behind my eyes eased. I leaned back and closed my eyes.

“Rough morning?”

My eyes opened and my gaze found Stacey standing over me, a cup of coffee in her outstretched hand. I smiled thankfully and took the hot beverage from her. Cupping it in my palms I took a sip.

“I’ve had worse, but it could have been better. I just don’t know what’s gotten into them this morning. I had to reprimand them at least five times, and only when I threatened to call their parents, did they settle down a bit.”

She waved her hand in front of her face. “I swear, it’s that time of year. I don’t know what it is about March, but it just drives them all so giddy and feral. My crew is the same.”

I laughed. “You sound like you’re talking about a field of wild ponies.”

“It’s the spring thaw that’s doing it. All winter they’ve been frozen and now that it’s warming up, they’re getting feeling in their little bodies again.”

I considered Stacey’s theory as I took another sip of coffee.

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