“I accept the part I played in all this, and I am deeply sorry, Carissa. Please forgive me. Please.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes, making her way to the ladies’ room. I follow suit.

“Are you going to be my bodyguard in the bathroom as well? Are you going to wipe my butt?”

If you let me, I almost say.

“I love you,” I say instead. “Yeah, they were right. I am in love with you, Carissa, and I can't help it.”

She stares at me in disbelief and shakes her head. “Who the hell are ‘they’?”

“My friends. They said I was in love with you, but I didn’t believe it.”

“Can you not do this right now?” she whispers. “You have hurt me enough, Jayden. All I’m asking is don't hurt me anymore.”

“I promise you, I won't. Just forgive me. Give me a chance to redeem myself.”

I see the tears glisten in her eyes as our heartbeats synchronize. I can hardly blink because I want to experience this moment fully without skipping a second.

The sound of a toilet flushing in one of the stalls causes us to jerk away from each other. Carissa wipes off the tears falling from her eyes as the stall door opens slowly.

“Oh my God,” Lydia shrieks as she emerges. “How long has this been on?”

“How much did you hear?” Carissa asks., her jaws tense and her lips tighten in panic.

Lydia makes a dramatic body move, swaying from side to side. “Long enough to hear the word ‘love.’ I can't believe you didn't tell me, Carissa.”

“Sorry, boss,” she says sharply when she catches a glimpse of my face.

Unlike Carissa, I’m rather calm. I really don't give a shit if everyone knows about us right now. As long as she takes me back, that's all that matters.

“You need to promise not to say a word. It’s not what you think,” Carissa pleads, glaring at me. “I will give you the details later.”

Lydia makes a zipping gesture on her lips. “Not a single word.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Lydia finally leaves, but not without looking at my face with a smirk on hers.

“I can't believe this.” Carissa paces as soon as the door shuts behind Lydia. “Are you trying to ruin me completely? I will be the topic of discussion for the next God-knows-how-long.”

“Relax,” I try to assure her. “I’m the boss around here. Nothing will be said out loud, and it will not affect you negatively. Just trust me.”

She stops and glares at me even more. “Trust you? Tell me, where has that ever gotten me?”

“If I fuck up this last chance, do whatever you please to me. I miss you so much,” I say, reaching for her, but it seems like the more I try to get closer to her, the more she resists.

I never thought it possible that any woman could resist me. Carissa is my first.

“Stay very far away from me. You are my boss, and that’s about the most respect I can afford you, nothing else.”

“Carissa, wait…”

She walks away without another word, leaving me in here by myself. She is determined to keep me at arm’s length just as much as I am determined to get her back.

The door opens again and two ladies walk in. Their giggles are suppressed by the sight of a man in the ladies’ room. I nod at them and hurry back into the ballroom.