Page 76 of Arrogant Boss

“It’s something more than he’s leading on.”

“It doesn’t matter, I shouldn’t have dated him in the first place,” I sigh.

“You know what you need?”

“What?”

“A drink.” She stands up from the couch, folding the blanket neatly and placing it back on the love seat. She goes to the kitchen and pours a glass before coming back to the couch and shoving it in my hands. “The new year is coming up soon, and we need to leave all these men alone and move on to the next year—single and happy.”

That’s easier said than done. But she’s right. He didn’t love me enough to stay. He made me feel so good about myself. I’m not going to ever experience love again. Well, I can’t call it love because he never loved me at all. I take a sip of my wine, but no amount of alcohol can keep the pain at bay. There is nothing to stop the ache in my chest or the tears falling from my eyes.

Poppy sits back on the couch, and I rest my head on her lap.

“How could he toss me away as if he doesn’t care about me?”

“I don’t know. It’s not right. You know you deserve better than him. You deserve someone who wants to love you unconditionally.”

I sit up and wipe my tears. “You’re right, I do, but unconditional love doesn’t exist.” I grab my wineglass and down the bitter drink. “Fuck him.”

“Yeah. Let it all out.”

“Fuck him and his big dick. Who needs him? I sure as hell don’t. You know what?”

“What?”

“I was right about him. Him and my ex, and my father, are all the same. They think they can treat women like shit, but whatever. I’m not dating for a while, and the next guy who tries to come into my life can go to hell.”

Poppy stands up from the couch again and pours us another glass of wine each.

“What are you going to do about your job?” she asks.

“I don’t know. I got offered a job on the creative team and I get to keep my salary. But I don’t want to face work because I know the employees want to know if what’s on TMZ is true. I don’t remember if I told you, but those people were always side-eyeing me and the women there completely ignore me. They even started a rumor that I was using Atlas to get to the top, and now he left and I’m on the creative team. It will give them the confirmation they need to say I’m a whore.”

She clutches the wineglass tight, her knuckles turning white “You shouldn’t care what people think, Lake, but your workplace sounds toxic.”

“I might not take the job. I can’t go into work because everything reminds me of him. I have to face the music tomorrow, and I’m going to tell my new boss what I’m going to do. I feel as if I need a fresh start in life.”

“What about your dream of being a fashion designer?”

“I still have the dream, but the industry is too small. Everyone knows who I am, and my reputation is going to follow me no matter what I do. I need to move on with my life and forget he exists. But I will talk to Jasper about a reference letter, in case I want to return to the fashion world.” I rub the side of my temple as dried-up mascara clumps on my eyelids. “I have to thank Atlas.”

“Oh, yeah. For what?”

“I need to learn to love myself,” I sigh. “I’ve been looking for other people to love me, but I need to love myself and accept myself for who I am first. Because if I don’t, then who will?”

“You have a point, and I’m proud of you. I really am. We need to celebrate.”

“For what?” I ask.

“Self-love. We need to celebrate self-love.”

Atlas

I hate the weather in London. It’s always windy and cold, like living in Seattle. My new EA comes into my office and sets my coffee down on my desk. She’s beautiful, brunette with short hair, nice long legs, and curvy. If I wasn’t nursing a broken heart, and if I could kick how I feel about Lake, I would fuck her and send her on her way. But she isn’t Lake. No one is like Lake and ever since I broke up with her, I can’t stop thinking about her, no matter what I do. I’m miserable. My heart beats hard, and I feel a weird pain in my chest every time I think about her.

As I lift the warm cup, I notice a note that saysHave a great daywith a smiley face taped to the mug. What the fuck? I glance up at my new EA.

“Linda. Don’t leave notes on my cup.” I straighten my tie and take a sip of coffee, at least she knows how to make it right.

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