Page 99 of Powerless

“Not at the moment.”

“Why the fuck are you waking me at…” I pause to look at my watch. “Fuck, it’s nine.” I push the covers back and leap out of bed.

“You haven’t slept like this since—” Liam pulls back before he slips up. “So, she was good.”

I head over to the closet and take out a pressed suit, shirt, and tie. “I thought it was a complete waste of time.” I pause and look down at the carpet. “It wasn’t something I thought I needed, but, maybe I do.”

“Was it okay?”

I walk out of the closet with my clothes. “It was clinical. I could’ve stuck my dick in a hole in the wall and I would’ve had the same emotional connection.”

“You don’t want an emotional connection though, do you?”

I slightly tilt my head to the side and blink a few times. “No, I don’t.” I jerk my chin to the door. “Grab me a coffee please.”

“Sure.” Liam leaves the room giving me a moment to quickly slide on my pants and my shirt. When he returns, he has a coffee for himself and one for me. “Obviously she did something for you or you wouldn’t have slept until nine.”

“Honestly, once she left last night, I thought I was going to say no to more. But I needed that, and I finally slept.” I take my coffee and sip on it. “She has the personality of a fish.”

“That’s an interesting comparison. What type of fish?” I look to Liam who chuckles.

“I’m surprised I don’t feel guilty for doing this to Kathryn.”

“Because Kathryn wouldn’t want you to become a recluse. Given, it’s hard not to be when you’re the president.”

“I know,” I say as I tuck my shirt into my pants, then look around for my belt. “I think I want to see Mary again.”

“I can set that up.”

“Let me consider it and I’ll let you know.”

“When you’re ready.” I like that Liam isn’t pushy. “Jamie pushed your trade meeting to tomorrow. There’s the union meeting at ten and the vice president wants ten minutes with you this morning.”

“Set it up through Jamie.” I sit on the chair to tie my shoelaces. “I’ll be down in the office soon.”

Liam nods and backs out of my room. I finish dressing, take my briefcase, and head down the hallway. As I’m walking toward the elevator, I stop at the bedroom Kathryn and I shared for a handful of days.

I reach out for the door handle, then pull my hand back. I haven’t been in this room since the funeral. There’s a lump forming at the base of my throat, but I finally open the door and step inside.

I’m half expecting to smell her perfume when I walk into the room. Thankfully, I don’t or the guilt about what I did last night would eat me alive. I turn to look at Mark. “I need a minute.”

Mark stiffens but closes the door to give me privacy.

I place my briefcase on the floor beside the door and hesitantly advance toward the bed. Everything is in pristine condition. Nothing has been touched.

I sit on the edge of the bed and look around the room. My eyes land on Kathryn’s rings and with shaky hands, I reach out to take them. “I don’t know what to do,” I whisper as I turn the rings over and over in my palm.

I know if the roles were reversed, I’d want Kathryn to move on and be happy but I’m struggling to wrap my head around putting myself in the same position.

There’s one thing I know though, that it’s time to begin to move on. “There’s never going to be anyone else, baby.” I close my fingers around her rings. I take another moment before pushing up and shoving her rings into my pocket. I pick my briefcase up and open the door.

“Sir,” Mark says as he glimpses inside the bedroom.

“How’s your day, Mark?”

“Surprisingly uneventful.”

“Just the way we like it,” I say as we wait for the elevator doors to open.

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