Page 66 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘I do.’

‘I have to admit, Lil...part of me hoped that this was all some sort of elaborate game.’

Guilt slammed through her. Maybe that was how it had started, but she thought back to their first date and realised it hadn’t ever been. Not really. She and Julian had been special from the start and now it was over. It was always meant to end, and she should have done a better job of barricading her heart.

‘I don’t want to talk about him.’ She sniffed. She couldn’t bear it. She missed him already—as if a piece of her soul had been ripped away.

‘He was my home, Dev. No one cared for me like he did.’

Devan flinched, then shifted closer. ‘I haven’t been a very good brother to you, have I?’

‘No, you haven’t,’ she said softly, and saw him wince.

‘I hate seeing you hurt, Lily. And I’m sorry that I was also a cause of it.’

Lily said nothing, focussing instead on the way the sunlight danced on the diamond.

‘I have no excuse,’ he went on. ‘I guess I wanted to do right by Dad. I had something to prove. But I should have been there for you. I should have helped you with Lincoln. That should never have been placed on your shoulders. I’m sorry I tried to force you.’

Lily finally looked at her brother, seeing genuine remorse on his face. ‘What are you going to do about him?’ she asked.

‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll find a way.’

He snaked an arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

‘I’ve missed you, Dev.’

‘I’ve missed you too, Lily.’

* * *

Julian sat behind his desk in his office, high above San Francisco, just as he had done for the last three weeks. The rest of the floor was dark. Everyone had left hours ago. Not one of them, not even his PA, had said goodbye. They had all been giving him a wider berth than usual.

The sky behind him was pitch-black. Twinkling lights spread out as far as the eye could see. He had no mind for it. No mind for the beauty. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was his work.

In the weeks since Lily had left, Julian had focussed only on IRES and he had been productive. Of course he had, when he’d had to keep busy every waking hour. It was all he could do to stop himself thinking about Lily. To spend as little time as he could in that bed where they had come together every night. In his home that now felt too big. Too empty.

His life was empty without her, but he couldn’t let himself dwell on the ache in his chest that hadn’t let up since he’d made her leave. He had always known he would have to let her go, and still he’d let himself love her. Still, he’d carried that love in every breath.

His phone rang, pulling him out of the thoughts he had fallen into. Thoughts of Lily. Glancing at the screen, he let it go to voicemail. If it wasn’t about work, he didn’t need to hear it.

It didn’t help that while people suspected they were no longer together, Lily hadn’t said anything to anyone. So everyone asked how was she? Where was she? What was going on? And every time he barked that it was none of their business.

He scrubbed a hand down his face, barely able to keep his eyes open any longer. Grabbing his laptop, he left his office, went down to his car and drove home in silence, mentally planning out his next day.

IRES had been awarded the Arum deal. It was a massive undertaking, which thankfully kept him busy. And, as reluctant a partnership as it was, Lincoln was clearly impressed with what Julian had brought to the table.

But it felt like a hollow victory.

He had wanted to earn his way in. Show the elite just what his company could do and make them choose him. After all, if these contracts were handed out on merit, there would never be any doubt that IRES would be their first choice every time. Except they weren’t. And Julian had had to resort to ruthless means once again. It had been the only way to ensure his goal and thereby set Lily free.

His home loomed dark and unwelcoming as he parked his car in the underground garage. He wondered, as he walked into the house and went straight to the fridge, what Lily would have said if she’d known what he’d done to get the contract.

‘Don’t do anything that could hurt you later.’

Her voice in his head made him flinch. He had already done that, even though it had been for the best. One day she would find someone who loved her—not as much as he did...no one could love her like him. Someone who would make her happy.

Julian slammed the door shut. His appetite had disappeared in an instant.

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