Malia froze when she saw Hokuto Tanashi waiting outside the student center. He knew. "Mr. Tanashi, can I help you?"

He indicated the door to the side leading to the employee area for the front desk. "May I join you?"

He was standing in front of her, asking to join her behind the student help desk? "Yeah, of course.” She ushered him through, while trying not to show nerves. Like that could happen. Her leg was bouncing two hundred miles an hour right now. "Come on."

He smiled as he glanced around. "So this is where you work."

She laughed. "Just one of the places.”

“I respect that.”

When he smiled, he looked so familiar. Something about the way he cocked his head. Her heart stopped. No. There was no way that her imagination was right on this. "How can I help you?"

"May I?”

She nodded. "Of course. Have a seat.”

"I think you are a gifted student. Brilliant, honestly. The sample marketing plans that you turned in for your class are ones that, with a little tweaking, can be applied to products we have in the current product line at Tanashi.”

She grinned. "Wow. That’s amazing. Thank you." It felt good to hear that, but she knew he wasn't here for her.

"I think you have a great future. Regardless of what happens with the Tanashi scholarship, I will personally write you a letter of recommendation, which is pretty much a job offer."

Her mouth hung open. "Listen. I appreciate that offer, and I know what I'm capable of, but why? What do you want in exchange?”

He smiled. "I know I'm probably not going to be the only one offering you a position for the summer. And I urge you to take the time to think about it. But, before I go ...”

Oh God. This was it. Regardless of what happened with the class, or the Tanashi scholarship, she pretty much had a job. Tanashi told her that himself. Her life had changed so much in the last two months. Right now this was about survival.

“Thank you. Coming from someone like you, that's just—that's incredible. It's great knowing that the hard work I put in pays off."

"Of course. We believe that wholeheartedly.” He nodded and then stood. "I wanted to deliver that message myself.”

"I find it hard to believe you came all this way to tell me that you like my work."

"Of course I did. It's one of the cornerstones of what we believe. Acknowledge excellence when we see it." He stopped short and then gave her a kind smile. "We also believe in following the rules.”

The bottom fell out of her stomach. "Excuse me?"

"The job is contingent on whether or not you stop seeing my grandson."

Malia's mouth hung open. Oh fuck me. "I—I—I don't understand?”

"I think you do. Zephyr Donovan is my grandson. I'd appreciate you not telling him. Granted, after you hear what I have to say next, you probably won't be too eager to see him. I've known about you two since the beginning. I have him under surveillance. Actually I have since he was born."

The flash of anger burned under her skin. "Are you kidding me? You've been watching me, watching him?"

"Standard operating procedure. I need to know what kind of man he is. He's one of my fellows after all. And you are one of my students. One of his students." Never mind the fact that she had broken the rules, knowing that someone from his company had been watching them was creepy. And gross, and infuriating.

“You are something else."

He squared his shoulders. "I don't expect you to understand why I do the things that I do. Suffice it to say that I believe that Zephyr has turned out for the better. Now he can make some decisions about his life that he wants to make. And I would urge you to do the same. If you continue along this path you are on, he will lose everything. You will lose everything."

"Is it some kind of threat?"

He held up his hands. "Calm down. I don't make empty threats. I don't make them because I don't have to. It doesn't matter how hard you worked before Zephyr arrived. Every grade you have will be called into question. Every A, every excellent presentation, will be tainted by the fact that you had a relationship with your mentor. Come May, I cannot interfere at that point. But at this point, I can and will do what I have to do to protect Tanashi Corp."

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with Tanashi?”

"It has everything to do with Tanashi Corp. Not only are you flouting the rules, but Zephyr is the heir apparent, even if he doesn't know yet. Just like me and my father before him, he will have to choose the company over love at some point. I'm just asking that he makes that decision now."

"I'm not going to speak for Zephyr. but maybe you should ask him what he wants."

Tanashi shrugged. "Maybe. But with you holding him back, he'll always hold a part of himself back. It's up to you. Choose him or choose his future. Think of him or think of your heart.”

Her whole world imploded in that moment because she knew he was right. As much as Zephyr gave of himself to everyone around him, he didn't always focus on what he needed, or what he should be doing for himself.

“If I choose love?”

“I destroy my grandson's future. I won't have someone weak at the helm. He needs to have a singular focus. Be able to make the hard choices. He can't do that with … a girlfriend.”

Tanashi was right.

The time he dedicated to Trevor, the time he made sure to spend with Cooper. The dedication to his family. All those parts of his life were things that pulled away from his complete focus on Tanashi. Eventually he would see that. And then she'd gone and added herself into the mix. No you didn't; he added you. "Zephyr’s capable of making his own decisions."

"Yes he can, but you and I both know Zephyr is a giver. He will always choose to give part of himself. And so sometimes, decisions have to be made for him. Otherwise he will never realize his full potential.”

"So you want me to break it off?"

Tanashi shrugged. "I don't care one way or the other. Just know that if you don't, you will be removed from the program. The job will be gone, and you will likely face disciplinary action from the dean. And I will crush Zephyr. You and I both know he's vulnerable."

Ice spread from the top of her head to her toes, making the hairs on her arm stand up. Would he really do that? "But I need—"

"I know what you need. I know you were living on the streets. Sleeping in cars and on you’re friend’s couch. That's why I'm counting on you make the right decision. Luckily this time, your survival and Zephyr's survival are one and the same. All you have to do is break it off. Simple, since we both know that you're not the type of girl who believes in happily ever after. Just look at your life. You would've ended up on the streets, but things have a way of working out."

Shit. "So I'm supposed to just walk away?"

He nodded. “Yes. Walk away. You get to stay in the class; internship or no internship, you get to keep your position. Your sister stays at the fancy prep school she's at. And Zephyr, Zephyr takes his rightful place at Tanashi Corp. Without any distractions. I know that you're tough. And practical.”

"I need you to go."

He nodded. "I understand. I hope you make the right decision. You have two days." And then he walked out, the door closing softly behind him.

Hands shaking, Malia sank into her chair. She hated him. Mostly, she hated that he was right.

* * *

"Hi honey, I'm home." Zephyr chuckled to himself as he tossed his keys into the bowl on the mantle.

Malia was in the bedroom packing. "Hey, Zephyr."

His stomach knotted. “Everything okay with Eva?"

"Yeah. Absolutely. But, I know we talked about it, me staying here. But I've decided that I'm going to move out. I got that TA position. I'm going to take it."

He frowned, his mind reeling. No. They'd talked about this. Why was she leaving? He swallowed the knot of pain. "Okay, I'm confused.”

"I know, and it seems like I'm being wishy-washy or flaky or whatever. And that's not my intention. But it really is better if I get some space. And, you know, for appearances.”

For fucking appearances. "Yeah, I hear you. I hear all the things you're saying. But I'm wondering what in the ever-loving fucks? You said you loved me."

"I—Look. This is about getting back to my life. I care about you more than you know. I love you. But I am messing with my future here, and I'm not going to risk it. Not for you. Not for anything. I have to survive."

The words hung between them, and she continued. “I'm not going to risk my future for you.”

This wasn't right. Something was wrong. "Malia, let’s talk about this. Let's get out of town. We can go on a date, a real one. Somewhere no one knows us and you can tell me everything that's going on in your head. Don't do this."

"No, Zephyr. You talk things out. I take actions. And I don't want to talk this out. I think all of this is too much. Everything is moving too fast."

"Okay, I will slow down.” The panic had his mind racing. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest. And he couldn’t figure out a way to stem the bleeding, the pain that was flowing through him. If he could just get it to stop.

She's not leaving you. She's not leaving you. She's not rejecting you. Except, that's how it felt. Because she didn't even look relieved when he said he could slow down. "Are we over?"

She swiped the tears off her cheeks and squared her shoulders. "Yeah, we are. I'm grateful for everything you did. And I will pay you back for Eva’s tuition. I will, as soon as I get paid.”

"I don't want your fucking money. I want to know why you're running … again."

"I'm not running. I'm doing what's best. For both of us. For your future at Tanashi Corp. You came here for a fresh start. You need to focus on what your goal was. Since you met me, you've been focused on my problems, your family, and Cooper.”

He shook his head. "Don't make this about me. You’re the one leaving. You're the one running." He ran his hands through his hair as he paced.

She spoke through a sob. "You have been perfect. You have been everything I could have ever needed or wanted, and I thank you for showing me what it's like to be loved. Reminding me that love doesn't mean disappointment. Goodbye." She headed for the door and tried to step around him, but he stopped her.

"Don't do this. Don't walk out on me. I love you.”

"I’m sorry.”

He had no choice but to watch her walk out. The pain that radiated through him was something he’d never experienced before in his life. Was it supposed to hurt this bad? Was he supposed to feel like someone had taken their hand and plunged it into his chest? He'd lost her. He’d done everything right, and he still lost her.