Page 38 of The Exposed Heiress

She repositioned her work bag on her shoulder. “It was a tough day.”

“Why don’t we go out to Rotherhithe?”

She looked at him. “For dinner? Maybe we should stay in London.”

“I have a sailboat.”

She widened her eyes. “Sailing? It’s a Friday night. I don’t even know what the weather is outside.”

The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. “It’s a perfect sailing night. There’s wind and you need to get outside.”

She shook her head. “I went running this morning.”

“Do you enjoy sailing?”

She thought about the large cruise ships or yachts she had been on. “I don’t know that I’ve been on an actual sailboat.”

“Come on. My car isn’t far.”

She kept pace with him, even in her four-inch heels. “I need to stop home and change.”

He nodded and they left the building. “So you survived the day?”

She nodded. “Not completely. I’m rather beaten up.”

“It’s hard to tell with you. You always look polished and beautiful.”

“I don’t think throwing a fit would help anyone.”

He leaned closer to her and touched her back as they headed towards the parking garage. “I’m not suggesting a childish tantrum. But you should express your thoughts about today.”

Emma stood up straighter. “Why? You know the gist of it. It was hard.”

He stopped walking and turned to her. “How was it hard?”

Emma stopped and looked at him. She could see strangers walking near them on the sidewalk. She hugged her arms close to her. “We’re in public. Let’s leave this until later.”

He lightly touched the sides of her neck. “You need to express yourself. You can’t always wait for the most convenient time.”

She looked into his gold-flecked eyes and could see a storm brewing. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

He removed his hands and stepped back. “We’re almost to the parking garage.”

Emma wanted to be alone. So much happened today, and she needed to process it. She had no intention of sharing her thoughts with Leo. It was too heartbreaking. She had been forced into the role of dismantling the company. She wanted to see it thrive and go on.

Leo paid the private parking fees and they walked to his Lamborghini.

Opening the door for her, Leo said, “I understand sharing part of yourself is challenging, but I don’t think you should be alone in all of this.”

She climbed into the low-slung car as gracefully as she could wearing a dress with heels.

She looked up at him. “I don’t feel alone. I feel like I have your support.”

He closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side. They drove to her flat and she couldn’t wait to escape the tense silence.

Looking back into the car, she said, “I won’t be long.”

Emma closed the door and walked up the four steps to her building. Putting in the security code, she opened the door and took in a deep breath.

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