Page 71 of Hard Limits

“I have no freaking idea, but if you find out, tell me.”

Around the corner, I saw Charlotte by the water cooler, filling a glass jug that already contained slices of lemon, cucumber, and strawberry.

“What’s with all the fruit?” I asked.

“Cosmo says it’ll help me to lose weight.”

“You don’t need to lose weight.”

“You think? I could barely fit into my thong on Saturday. I’ve joined a gym too—wanna come?”

“Uh, I don’t think I’ll have the time.” The clock was ticking, loud and clear. “What happened to Selena?”

Charlotte lowered her voice to a whisper. “Mr. Vale fired her.”

He’d done what? “Why? Why would he do that?”

“I have no clue; she wouldn’t say. She just threw all her stuff into a box and left. But if you find out the reason, let me know.”

“Uh, sure.”

I headed into my office. Mr. Vale had been in such a weird mood recently, but firing Selena was extreme. She was good at her job, he’d always said so, and such a fun person to be around.

There was a bound document on my desk. No note. For crying out loud—was I meant to mail it, photocopy it, or shred it? Why couldn’t he just communicate? I scanned the first page—it was some kind of legal thing.

This divorce agreement (“this Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the Effective Date by and between Braxton Louis Vale (“the Petitioner”) and Carissa Madeleine Dunn (“the Respondent”)…

Frantically, I flipped through to the end. Four signatures, all dated yesterday. Mr. Vale, Carissa, and two witnesses. Oh, hell, he’d done it. He’d really done it.

He’d gotten divorced, which meant he’d lost everything.

Was that why he’d let Selena go? Was she just the start? Had Carissa decided to close Nyx? It wasn’t as if she had a clue how to run the club herself, and the building would be worth millions as real estate.

Gingerly, I pushed open the door to Mr. Vale’s office, half expecting him to be passed out drunk. But he wasn’t. He was sitting at his empty desk, clean-shaven, no tie, his top shirt button undone.

Waiting.

But for what?

“You…you really did it?”

“I really did it.”

“You gave up everything? This place?”

“Almost. I would have, but luckily it didn’t come to that. Some old friends stepped in to help, and Carissa made a rare mistake.”

“So Nyx is still yours?”

“Yes, and it always will be. Come and sit down, Meera.”

I headed for the visitor chair in front of his desk, the place I usually sat, but he shook his head.

“Not there.” He tapped the desk in front of him. “Here.”

“You want me to sit on your desk?”

“I do.”

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