Page 64 of Deal with Mr. Cruel

That’s strange,she thought. Maybe he had forgotten to turn it off. She went to flip the switch when she heard Jonas’s voice cut through the silence.

“You came back.”

She followed the voice and saw him sitting on the couch. He wore a suit, but his tie and the buttons were undone. His hair was a mess and he looked disheveled.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling. “I thought the gala was tonight.”

“It is,” he said, standing up and taking a step towards her. “I wanted to be here in case you came back.”

“I’m not back, Jonas. I’m just here to get my things.” Mae set her purse down and started toward the hallway to her room.

“Mae, please,” he called, but she ignored him.

Once she was in her room, she shut the door and locked it before her knees gave out and she slid down the length of her door. Mae put her head in her hands and took a few deep breaths. She had never seen anyone look so sad. He was a mess. Had he really missed out on a work event to wait for her? That wasn’t like him.

She pushed those thoughts from her head and focused on what she was here to do. She began packing her suitcase. She wouldn’t be able to take everything tonight, not with him just down the hall. She would just pack the necessities and wait for Nico at his apartment. Once her bag was packed, she opened her bedroom door and walked toward the living room.

The lights were on and Jonas was leaning against the couch, waiting for her. He eyed her suitcase.

“I’ll come back and get the rest of my stuff another day,” said Mae as she walked past him.

“Please don’t go, Mae.”

“You got what you wanted, Jonas. You got your deal with Nate. You got people to think you had a heart. You don’t need me anymore. This façade is over. We are done.”

He looked at her intently and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward him. “We aren’t done. Not even close.” The next thing she knew, his lips were pressed against hers and her heart betrayed her head. She pulled back and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

“You have to listen to me,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers. “Please.”

Mae slowly nodded and reluctantly took a seat on the couch. She told herself this would be the closure they needed. She was lying.

Chapter 24

Jonas

As much as Jonas wanted Mae to walk through the door, it completely took him off guard when she did. His hope had started to dwindle after so many calls and so much searching, and no sign of her. When he heard the key in the door, he thought he was imagining it. She was the only person who had a key.

He was glad he had not gone to the gala. Jonas had gotten dressed in his tux and was ready to call his driver when he decided not to go at the last minute. He couldn’t be in a crowd of people pretending everything was fine. Plastering on a smile as if his world wasn’t caving in on itself. He definitely wasn’t in the mood to see Nico either. Although they seemed to leave things on good terms at his apartment, he was just another reminder of Mae.

Jonas had called Wendy first, and then Braydon. He told both he was feeling under the weather. Wendy didn’t ask questions and had chicken noodle soup delivered. Braydon was a different story.

“A sick day, huh?” Braydon had asked skeptically over the phone.

“That’s right,” said Jonas. His energy was low, he didn’t even have to fake it.

“In the ten years you’ve been with the company, I can count your days off on one hand.”

Jonas sighed for effect. “I hate to miss the gala, but I’ve come down with something.”

“I hear that’s going around. My assistant is out with it, too. Haven’t seen her in days. The doctors are saying it’s something called… heartbreak.”

Jonas rolled his eyes so hard, he was sure Braydon could hear it through the line. He was happy to hear any news on Mae, although it meant she was hurting and gave him no clues as to where she was.

But now here she was. Sitting on his couch. He didn’t know how long he had. He had to get this right. Jonas started to pace the living room, while trying to find the words to say to her. He could barely look at her. He knew she was trying to keep calm, play it cool, icy even. But he could see the sadness in her eyes that failed to meet his. And he hated himself for putting that sadness inside her.

She looked so beautiful. Despite everything she was going through. Seeing her sitting there made his heart long for her, and she was right in front of him. He missed her already. If he missed her this much when she was a few feet away, how would it be if she left his life for good?

Finally, Jonas stopped pacing and leaned against the mantle of the fireplace with his back to her. The only way he could start was if he was not staring straight at the beautiful woman who wanted to be anywhere else but here. Understandably so.

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