Drumming her fingers on her arm, she nodded.
Swallowing hard, I stuttered. “I . . . I don’t really know what to say.”
With a frustrated sigh, Taylor stood. “I’m really busy, Jase, so if that was all you stopped by for?”
I narrowed my eyes and stood. “Really? This is how you’re going to do this?”
“I can’t give you anything right now, Jase.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean? I love you, Taylor.”
Her breath hitched while she quickly looked away for a few moments before turning back and piercing me with her beautiful eyes. “If you loved me you would never have pushed me away in the first place. You took something from me that night, Jase, and it was more than my virginity. Besides, you’re right. It would never work with me living in Austin and you living in Llano.”
My stomach felt sick as I tried to stop my hands from shaking. “Are . . . are you seeing someone?”
Something moved across her face. She looked conflicted, but stood her ground. “It doesn’t matter.”
Slamming my hand down on her desk, Taylor jumped. “It does to me! Please don’t do this because of some stupid mistake on my part. Give me another chance, I beg of you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Walking around her desk, I placed my hands on her arms. “If you tell me you don’t love me and there is no chance of us, I’ll leave. But you have to look me in the eyes and say it.”
A small sob slipped from her mouth. “I . . . I’m sorry, Jase. I need you to leave now.”
My hands dropped to my sides as I took a few steps back. She didn’t have to say the words. I could see it in her eyes.
Dropping my gaze, I fought to keep my voice controlled. “I won’t bother you again, Taylor.”
Her mouth parted up, but she stopped herself from talking.
Turning, I headed to the door and opened it. Before walking out, I glanced over my shoulder.
“I really thought you felt it too.”
“Felt what?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
I walked through the door and quietly shut it behind me. I filled my lungs with a deep breath of air and headed for the elevators. My heart felt as if it had just been ripped from my chest.
The worst part was I deserved it.
Taylor
Collapsing into my chair, I covered my face with my hands and cried.
What did I just do?
The light knock at my door had me spinning my chair around to face the window. My grandfather made sure I had one of the best views in the building. His favoritism caused me more problems than he could ever imagine.
“Ms. Atwood, Mr. Atwood would like to see you in his office.”
Luckily the chair hid me enough that Denise wouldn’t see me wiping my tears away.
“Th-thank you. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Um . . . he said now and he seemed a bit upset.”
Rolling my eyes, I now knew why my father warned me about coming to work for Granddad.
“I’ll be there in a second, Denise,” I said firmly.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll let him know.”
Why in the hell didn’t she just call me? She had to come in here and tell me.
Once the door shut, I spun around and grabbed my purse. Searching for my cell phone, I pulled up my favorites. If I called my sister, she would try to reason with me.
I didn’t want to call Lauren. She was too happy with her pregnancy news.
That left Libby, Grace, or Alex.
Looking up, I stared off into space.
He was scared.
Sitting up straighter, I pulled up my address book and found the number I was looking for.
After three rings he answered.
“Taylor, I mean Ms. Atwood, it’s a pleasure hearing from you so soon.”
Smiling, I tried to ignore the tightness in my chest.
“Mr. Burns, I was wondering if your invite to lunch was still open?”
I could practically hear the excitement in his voice. “Yes, it is.”
“I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.”
“See you then.”
Hitting End, I dropped the phone back into my purse and grabbed my compact. Checking to make sure my make-up was okay, I snapped it shut and stood. I smoothed out my pencil skirt and took a deep breath.
The phone on my desk buzzed. “Ms. Atwood, he is waiting.”
Heat surged through me as I moved around the desk and made my way to Grandfather’s office.
“I’m done letting men walk over me. It’s time I was the one in control.”
Pulling the door to my office open, I walked out and headed toward his office.
“As of this moment, I’m starting a new life.”
My father and mother stood in front of me with stunned expressions as I chewed on the corner of my lip.
“What do you mean . . . you quit?” my father asked in a stunned voice.
Rubbing my elbow in a nervous manner, I repeated what I had just said in a wavering voice. “I quit. Granddad wasn’t very pleased, but . . .”