Page 74 of Silver Fake

Melissa's eyes widen, and now she looks surprised. "If it's worse than you calling her a liar, then I doubt there is any hope of us getting her back to work here."

"I was just so angry," I reply. "I couldn't understand why she would keep Victor's offer a secret if she was planning to turn it down. If she trusted me, why wouldn't she tell me about it?"

Now it's Melissa's turn to sigh. "What did you do, John?"

I swallow hard, bracing for her reaction. "I basically told her that Victor only wanted her to be his secretary to get under my skin. That he couldn't want her for anything else."

She gasps. "Yousaidthat to her?"

I give a solemn nod.

Melissa picks up a file folder from my desk and swats me on the arm, the papers inside flying out like a swarm of angry bees.

I definitely deserved that.

I rub my shoulder. "That's assault, you know."

"I don't care," she snaps. "Jesus, John. I can't believe you wouldsaysomething like that to her after everything she's been through."

Dropping my head into my hands, I let out a pained sigh.

"I didn't mean it like that," I mumble into my palms. "All the words just came out wrong. And no matter how many times I told her I loved her, I just couldn't take it back."

Melissa’s gaze is sharp. "You love her?"

I look up from my hands and meet Melissa's gaze head on. I love Lisa, more than I've ever loved anyone. There's not a shred of doubt in my mind about that.

"Of course I love Lisa." I quirk an eyebrow at her. "Why are you even asking me that?"

Melissa smirks, her arms folded as she leans back in the chair. "Because that's the first time I've ever heard you say it out loud."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. My gaze meets the carpeted floor, not ready to meet Melissa's eyes again.

"Lisa loves you too, you know," she tells me, her voice softer now.

I can't help but snort at her words. "Maybe she did before, but I think that ship has sailed..."

Melissa reaches out and squeezes my arm. "No it hasn't. Lisa doesn't give a rat's ass about Victor or his stupid job. She wants to be with you. Anyone can see that. She doesn't need to say it out loud for the rest of us to know it, so why are you so thick?"

Because I'm waiting for her to leave me every day.

Sighing, I lean back, my head falling back against the headrest of my chair. "I really messed this up."

"Yes, you did."

It's not what I want to hear, but it's honest, so I can't fault her for it.

"I've been taking my frustration out on her instead of dealing with it. And now I don't know if there is any way to get past this."

"You're right, but what's more important right now is to focus on what you're going to do to make it right."

Melissa is Lisa's friend, so if she thinks there is a chance it can get her to forgive me again, maybe I need to pay closer attention. "Do you think there is anything I can do to make it right?"

"To make it right?" She shrugs. "Probably not. But getting her to forgive you, yeah, I think there is a chance. She's a great person, and if she loves you, there is a lot she will go through for you. So yes, you might be able to get her to forgive you, but you'll have to prove to her that you aren't the dick you keep making yourself out to be."

She stands up, and I do the same. "Thanks, Melissa."

She nods. "Sure. But just to be clear, I'm on her side, so you better get this right and fix what you screwed up, or I'm going to make your life here at the firm miserable."

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