Chapter 22

Bonnie

I hadn’t been back in my apartment for over a day and when I returned the next morning, everything looked different. I’d spent the past day, since the night of the May Fair, with Nash, and now that we were apart again, even though it had only been an hour, I wanted to see him. It was like I was going crazy. I couldn’t control this incredible urge to just start laughing. I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening to me. After all these years.

I got into the shower, and I remained there for longer than I needed to. I’d already texted Peter to meet me at our old office because I had a surprise waiting for him. From his response, I could tell that he was excited. When I finally emerged from my misty bathroom, I stood in front of my mirror, with a towel wrapped around me. The very same one I’d been wearing that day Nash had appeared at my apartment door. It had all started with that wrapped towel, I thought and sighed, still in utter disbelief.

I blow dried my hair carefully today. I wanted to look my best, be in my best mood when I met my employees again. So, that farewell party was a waste of time! I shook my head indulgently. Nash had managed to come into my life and completely change it around. He wasn’t the guy I’d always thought he was. We were competitors when we shouldn’t have been, because we made such a great team!

I was still smiling as I pulled a pair of dark straight jeans up to my hips. They hung loose around the bottom of my waist; I really needed to start eating more. I found a cute red paisley blouse that I tucked into my jeans, and buckled a wide tan belt around my waist. I could give up the heels again. Back to wearing sandals.

I let my hair hang loose, and it fell to my waist. Every time I moved and my hair swung, I remembered the way Nash had bunched it up in his hands. How his eyes shone when I undid my bun and it came tumbling down around my bare shoulders. I really needed to stop acting like a crazy person and just get on with my day. I had him now, finally. I didn’t need to fantasize about him anymore.

I was out of the house before eleven and on my way, driving to our old office. The day couldn’t have been better. Bright and sunny with fluffy candy clouds in the sky. I smiled at pedestrians who crossed in front of me, I let everyone overtake me. Honestly, nothing could bring me down today.

I even parked in my usual parking spot, and I walked with a spring in my step toward the office. I only realized that there was something off when I saw the bright yellow bulldozer and a crane with a wrecking ball parked suspiciously at the side of the building. I shaded my eyes against the sun as I hurried closer. The office was coming into sight.

Then I saw them, all thirteen of my employees, huddled outside the office building, looking up in unison at the wrecking ball. Peter was with them, too; he had arrived early. He noticed me walking toward them, and he took long purposeful steps toward me.

“Is this some kind of joke, Bonnie? You called me here so I would have to stand here and watch this happen?” Peter was yelling. I had never seen Peter yelling.

“What’s happening? No, this wasn’t why I called you here.” I ran toward him. I could see the nervous faces of the others turn to me. Some of them looked like they were about to cry.

“What do you think is happening, Bonnie? They’re bringing the building down. They’re building something else on top of it,” Peter said.

“No, that isn’t supposed to happen. Nash cancelled that plan,” I screamed back at him.

“The guys said that they got the go-ahead from Preston’s office only an hour ago. So clearly, your pal changed his mind,” Peter said, fishing out a handkerchief from his pocket to give his forehead a wipe.

“What? Are they sure?” I asked, staring up at the building. The one I had worked so hard to buy. How much of my personal savings had gone into acquiring it? How much time had I spent designing and decorating the space?

“Ask them yourself. They just got the green light. They’re going ahead with it, Bonnie.” Peter’s voice had quietened, and he looked resigned and defeated. I covered my face with my palms, rubbing furiously. How was this happening? Why would Nash give them the go-ahead after promising me that I could work here with my people?

I’d just seen him. A couple of hours ago. He didn’t look like he had changed his mind.

Unless that wasn’t his plan to begin with. Unless his plan was to get into my panties. Was this some kind of ultimate victory against his old college rival? To possess me body and mind, and also possess my company?

“What are we doing here, Bonnie? We really shouldn’t be watching this,” Peter said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stared at him with my lips quivering.

I was so foolish. I had trusted Nash again. When all he wanted to do was be his usual self, the slick Nash Preston who could get into any girl’s panties. Even the one whose sinking company he’d just bought. Was he exchanging high fives with his father in his office now? Was he patting himself on his back for his brilliant acting skills? He had managed to fool even me.

“I’m going to give that bastard a piece of my mind,” I said to Peter, looking him directly in the eye as though he was the one I was talking about.