Page 202 of One Bossy Disaster

We’re both trapped in each other’s presence, and I think maybe if I freeze in place, we’ll never address the elephant in the room again.

But maybe we don’t need each other.

What’s that saying again?

All’s well that ends well?

This is, technically, the best ending possible to something that was never meant to be.

We just don’t have the courage to admit it.

But Shepherd blinks as he clears his throat.

“I was thinking,” he says, “about releasing you from the Young Influencers program early. You’ll still get your money, so don’t fret about that.”

“What?” I take a step back.

“I’ve decided to match the prize with an investment of my own. You’re getting double—four million dollars,” he assures me, like it’s the only thing that’s ever mattered.

Holy crap.

Of course, I care about the money.

I’m thrilled to have a sizable donation to a charity of my choice, but hearing the rest knifes me in the heart.

He’s letting me go.

Officially.

“In the long run, it’s better this way,” he says. “You won’t be around to suffer any more whispers or evil eyes in the office. I won’t risk tainting your reputation further as the legal actions against Mark and the Cervas hit the news cycle.”

“Myreputation? Don’t you mean yours?” The anger, the hurt, just erupts right out of me.

His gaze holds steady as it locks on mine.

“If that’s what I meant, I would have said it.Yourreputation is the only thing that’s mattered since those photos dropped, Dess. You’ve suffered enough and I won’t keep tarnishing you.”

The air punches out of me.

My gut fills with lead, jagged and sharp.

The shards cut even as they drag me down.

Fresh tears sting my eyes and I have to turn away.

“Don’t you think it’s a little late for that now? Pretending we were never together?”

“Destiny—” He sighs.

“Is this why you really brought me here today? So you could soften the blow and then tell me to my face to leave?”

His face tightens.

The ending we saw rampaging toward us slams me in the face so hard I’m almost blinded. The elephant in the room, trampling over my heart and leaving it for dead.

I wonder if I already have ugly tears rolling down my cheeks when I notice I’ve bitten the inside of my cheek hard enough to draw blood.

This is so ridiculous.

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