Six weeks later

Priscilla Nugent was sitting across from my desk. Her hair was neatly held back in a professional, slick bun. Her dress was tight and her legs were long and carefully crossed over.

She was the fourth candidate I was personally interviewing for the position. Elsie was supposed to have this job.

Priscilla was perfectly competent for the position. She was an industry veteran, according to Ralph. He had headhunted her out of an environmental firm in New York. She’d been living in Argentina for two years. Which meant that she would be perfect for our South American expansions.

I stared at her while she listed out her achievements in a confidently professional voice. It was like white noise in my ears. I wasn’t paying attention to a word she was saying.

I was thinking. Two months ago, I would have either hired or fucked her. Right there in my office. I could tell from the way she blushed red when I looked at her that she was thinking the same thing. It had happened before. Several times, in fact.

These kinds of meetings went in one of those two ways. Either we clicked professionally or sexually. I just made sure never to let those two things cross over. Today, however, things were different.

Even a beautiful blond stunner like Priscilla Nugent stirred nothing in me. I didn’t care for her professional achievements. Neither did I care about the ample breasts she sported under that tight gray dress. I cared about nothing.

“Mr. Morin?” Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts. How long had I been out of it?

“Sorry, what did you just say?” I asked.

Priscilla looked confused, but she pasted a wide smile on her face immediately.

“I was just wondering if you had any questions for me. I would be happy to answer them for you,” she replied.

I clenched my jaw and tried to think. What could I ask her to make her believe that I was listening to her? Nothing came to mind. I hadn’t even looked at her CV. I didn’t know any noteworthy details about her.

I sat back in my chair and weaved my fingers together.

“No questions. Thank you, Ms. Nugent,” I said firmly.

Priscilla seemed confused again.

“Mr. Morin…I’m sure we will have a lot to discuss. I’ll be happy to do so,” she said, but I didn’t reply. Priscilla shifted in her seat.

“Maybe not now. Later, perhaps? I’m in town for a few more days. Maybe we can discuss this over some drinks?” she asked, and a suggestive smile was curling her lips.

“Ms. Nugent,” I said and leaned over the desk, “the position is now closed. There must have been some logistical miscommunication within my staff. This meeting shouldn’t have been arranged.”

Her mouth fell open in shock. She was holding herself up, but I could see that she was annoyed.

“I’m…” she began to say but I cut her off.

“I apologize for wasting your time,” I said abruptly and stood up from my chair. She stood up slowly and hesitated before shaking my hand.

“I flew all the way from New York for this!” There was a controlled anger in her voice.

“I will be happy to reimburse you for your trouble,” I said and walked to the door and held it open.

Priscilla gulped, but she had her pride. I kept my eyes averted from her as she slowly walked out.

Once she was gone, I charged to my desk and picked up my phone.

“Ralph, get in here!” I barked.

Ralph was in my office within minutes.

“Mr. Morin, Sir, what happened? Ms. Nugent has been kicking up a storm outside. She claims you told her the position is closed?” Ralph was confused, but he was hiding his frustration well.

I glared at him. I was angry — not with him, but he was the only person I could take it out on now.

“The position is closed,” I growled.

Ralph crossed his brows. He was trying to keep a straight face as he stood before me.

“What do you mean, Sir? Have we found someone for the job?” he asked.

“No, because the job doesn’t exist anymore,” I told him. I was trying to control my rage, trying to keep my cool.

“I don’t understand, Sir.” Ralph shook his head.

“I’m closing down our expansion plans in South America. You don’t need to recruit a team for me,” I replied.

“The whole operation?” Ralph was aghast.

“Leave me alone. Now!” I roared and jumped out of my chair. I wasn’t about to give him an explanation. I didn’t have to explain myself to anybody. I’d earned that right!

Ralph gulped and then turned on his heels and rushed out of my office. When he was gone, I walked to the window and stared out. I was breathing hard. I could feel anger bubbling under my skin.

In the past six weeks, since the last time I saw Elsie, I’d gone from feeling frustration to sadness, and now anger. I was angry without her. I was angry with myself. I’d messed everything up. I’d hurt her again.

I shouldn’t have gone to Chicago. I shouldn’t have tried to seek her out and recruit her. She was doing fine without me this past decade. I was doing fine without her too.

Now, nothing seemed normal. I couldn’t go to sleep without thinking about her. I couldn’t work without my mind wandering. I couldn’t even look at another woman without comparing her to Elsie.

It had been six weeks, and I still wasn’t over it. How long was this feeling going to last? This feeling of emptiness?

Whatever Elsie was doing, my only hope was that she was happy. I would never be happy without her, but at least she might have a shot at it.