Page 13 of Her Exception 2

“I feel you. I know this sounds crazy, but I can’t wait for the day I’m sad about working because I miss my kids.”

I chuckled. “Listen, I got a feeling that’ll happen sooner than you think. There’s no doubt in my mind you’ll hit your partner goal by forty.”

“I don’t deny that. It’s managing partner that I’m concerned about. Happening here at least. If it was up to just Violet, I would be more confident that it would happen, but I’m not sure about the others.”

“I wish I could say you had nothing to worry about, but with Jeremy and Flex, I honestly can’t say. With the way you’re tackling these cases, you can open your own firm and have the same success. Your name has always been synonymous with success. Your clients will follow you anywhere.”

“Will you? Because I’m not leaving without you.”

“With no hesitation. You and Parker keep me sane here. If y’all leave, I’m gone too.”

He laughed, though I was dead serious. I would have included Amaru in that number, but we didn’t have a professional relationship as weird as that may sound. We talked to each other in passing, but our relationship was personal. I can count the amount of cases we’ve worked on together on one hand over the last several years. When we did partner up, we were great together, though. Mecca and Parker were the associates I worked with most, and I liked it that way. I never had to worry about things at work making things weird between me and Amaru while we were with the kids at home.

At the sound of light tapping on my door, we both looked to see who it was. I smiled with a mouth full of sushi at the sight of Darron. Motioning for him to come in with my hand, I wiped my face in case there was something on it.

“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt, but this can’t wait.”

Mecca stood to excuse himself and give us some privacy.

“What’s up, baby?” I asked, making my way around my desk.

We hugged, but his grip around me was loose. Concern filled me as I looked into his eyes.

“I have… bittersweet news.”

“What is it?” I asked as his arms finally tightened around me.

“Since I did so well with the merger in New York, one of the top mergers and acquisitions firms wants to hire me as their in-house attorney. To start, they want me to take on a merger that’ll be just as big as Google and Android.”

“That’s great, Darron! Congratulations! We have to celebrate.”

He shifted on his feet as he smiled and nodded. “Here’s the thing… I have to move to New York immediately. Like today. We have to break up, Amelia.”

“Why?” I asked softly. I’d never been a woman to beg a man to stay with me, and that wouldn’t change now, but I needed to know how we got to this point. The last time we saw each other he was talking about marrying me and giving Alisia a sibling. “We can’t do long distance?”

“I don’t think so, sweet girl. We were straining with my schedule being as it was. I’ll only be busier, and I won’t have as much time for you. You don’t deserve that.” My head hung. It was my attempt to keep him from seeing the tears in my eyes. “Hey, don’t do that.” He lifted my view. “I’m doing this because I love you.”

Scoffing, I removed myself from his embrace. “Yeah, you love me so much you’re not willing to try.”

As much as I didn’t want them to, the tears began to fall. I turned my back to him as I wiped my face. He squeezed my shoulders and kissed my neck.

“Milli…” he stressed, and the sadness in his tone only made me want to cry more. “I had accepted the fact that I would never have the gift of a wife and children. Being with you made me believe that was possible. But the truth is… I’m just not built for that kind of life, and it’s better we accept that now than later.”

With a nod, I wiped my face. “Do you have time to say goodbye to Alisia?”

“Not tonight, but I’ll be back this weekend, and I’ll say goodbye to her then. I promise.”

My eyes rolled to the ceiling as I gritted my teeth.

Yet another man in and out of her life because of me.

With a nod, I put space between us.

I no longer wanted him touching me.

“Amelia…”

“Can you please go, Darron? Please?”

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