I almost wish that the corporate mindset didn't require me to have to be so professional where I had to smile and be polite to this stupid bitch Nadia.

Sorry, I shouldn't call her a bitch. That's really not fair.

But she's sitting right here, smiling at me sweetly, as George and I basically sign exit interview papers that will mean the dissolution of the partnership between Gage Price and the kingdom of St. Albans.

And after that, it means the loss of my job. Because even if George wasn't forced by the partners to have to let me go for losing a client, I would have probably left on my own. I couldn't hold onto one bad boy prince!

Think about all the books you've read in the past. The heroine always manages to tame and reform the bad boy prince. Sometimes they even have babies.

Not so here. This prince...all he ever gave me was a pink slip.

I just don't understand the whole smile at you while stabbing you in the back mentality.

It really just doesn't make any sense how Connor pulled me out of my shell and got me to start falling in love with him, and then just as I'm close to it, just as I'm ready to let go and give into him, and just as he's about to do the same, he goes and does something like this.

I mean, listen, I know it's been three days and I should probably move on.

But Connor D'Avington is the closest I've ever come to just completely giving myself up to someone. I mean, I've had sex before. I've been in relationships before. I've even had my heart broken before.

But this is the first time I've ever honestly been able to picture myself growing old with a man.

I dunno, it just seemed right, you know?

And I feel betrayed.

"Connor regrets not being able to be here today," Nadia says with a sweet smile. "He's in the process of potentially getting married I believe, but you didn't hear that from me."

Despite everything, George is still taken by Nadia.

"Your secret is safe with us, pretty lady," he says, but I just roll my eyes. She's not trying to impress George. She's trying to rub it in my face that Connor has a life that he's moving on with after shattering mine.

And yes, he pretty much did just shatter my life.

First he fucked me so hard and so good that I think he ruined all other men for me. Like seriously, I will compare all other men and how big their cock is and how they use it to him. And they will all fail.

Second, he made me open myself up to being loved. And you know what?

It felt amazing.

But then he left.

And now I feel like shit. I don't know how or when I'll ever be able to open myself up like that again.

I mean, I can go on and on. You're probably not going to like me if I do. You'll read this and then just go write a review about me talking about how I was being whiny. Because honestly, the longer I keep talking about Connor, the more whiny I feel, you know what I mean?

It's like....

Wait.

Did you hear that?

There's something coming

I realize I've sorta been spacing this whole time and I look up and see Nadia with her mouth open and her eyes fixed on me.

What is the big deal? Oh my God, do I really look that sad?

But then I realize that Nadia isn't looking at me.

She's looking beyond me.

I turn.

And that's when I see a motorcycle roar off the pier attached to Manhattan and fly up into the air.

Everyone on the open-air barge that is the Frying Pan watches as literally it looks like the motorcycle flies across the air.

I watch as it arcs upward and then as the rider desperately keeps the nose up to make it go farther.

I take a moment to admire the body on the bike. The strength that the person has to be possessing in their upper body to be lifting the motorcycle and keep the nose in the air is impressive.

Equally impressive are the patrons who start to scream and run away from their tables as the motorcycle starts angling down.

Like they're running from the wrath of a descending deity, the people leave their purses and their drinks and their entrees and they get the fuck out of anywhere in the vicinity as fast as they can.

Because when that motorcycle lands, it basically lands on a table, breaking it. It takes the wooden chairs along with it and then starts to speed toward us, breaking everything and strewing detritus on its way.

Just the fact that the motorcycle making impact with the barge sends shockwaves throughout the restaurant and people are screaming.

Thankfully the barge is rather large, at least the size of a basketball court and people are running the other direction.

But I'm looking at the rider curiously.

Because I have a sinking feeling I know who it is as the man gets off the bike and takes off his black helmet.

Yup, how did I guess? Of course, it's none other than Connor D'Avington.

I'm about to say something when he rushes over to me.

Well, whatever happens, I need to remember to be firm. I can't just forgive him because he managed to land a motorcycle on a barge.

Connor rushes past me.

Okay.

That's not really what I was expecting

Instead he approaches Nadia and throws his helmet on the table, upsetting our drinks.

It's safe to say that everyone, including Nadia, George, and I are standing up now since he landed his motorcycle and we're watching him.

"You lying bitch!" Connor yells, and grabs Nadia. A part of me is glad that he came for her and not me. "You think I wouldn't find out?" he yells.

"Its too late!" Nadia says.

"No it's not, Nadia," he yells to her. "It took all of two days to figure out you were a Constitutionalist who's been planning the leaks and the bad press."

"Well, you know Your Highness, you sort of helped in that by being a complete buffoon," Nadia yells back, taking a step away from him toward the edge of the barge. "These people will never do business with you again. I've made sure of that."

Connor looks at me and I see frustration go through his eyes.

He does the only thing he can.

He reaches over and grabs Nadia, whose eyes go wide.

He then takes her and chucks her off the barge. It's a good thing we were sitting on the side next to the railing and the water because he just throws her into the Hudson River.

She shrieks and screams as she flails in the air and then splashes in the water as Connor tosses her a life preserver.

Then he turns to me as everyone in the restaurant runs to the railing to look at Nadia spluttering as she treads water.

"Natalie," Connor says. "I don't know what Nadia said..."

I look at him. I need to stay calm. I can't forgive him too easily. Even if he had no idea, I need to play it cool.

"But obviously I don't want to cancel our contract and I want to undo everything she has been saying for the last three days," Connor says, putting his arms on my shoulders. I take a gulp. It's getting harder and harder not to just kiss him but I need to stay strong. For all women, everywhere.

"But there's one thing that she may not have said that I should've said a lot earlier than today, but I didn't because I was a fucking idiot," Connor says, and looks at me. "Natalie Thomson, I love you."

Oh. My. God. So much for staying calm and being strong.

"I love you too, Connor D'Avington," I say, coming closer to him. We're inches apart.

"I fucking love you so much, Natalie," Connor says, and his mouth is inches from mine. "And I promise I'll love just as much, if not more, for the rest of our lives."

I dunno.

He leans forward to kiss me and my mouth parts as his tongue reaches in and massages mine.

You know what? That sounds good enough for me.

He pulls me close to him.

Ah, fuck it.

Forgiven.