CHAPTER ONE

RYDER

I pull my phone out of my pocket and send a quick text to Milton to tell him to come back and pick me up when I hear the door to her apartment open.

“Ryder.” Ashlyn calls out as the elevator doors start to close.

I look up at her from my phone and hate how sorry those beautiful blue eyes look. Like she knows she just broke my heart. She stands there, that overly large shirt still on, but she added a pair of sweatpants and flip-flops.

With everything I have in me, I manage to pull my eyes away from her and look back down to my phone.

“Wait.” I hear her call out but I make no attempt to stop the doors from closing.

She jumps inside just in time, trying to catch her breath before begging. “Ryder, please. Let me explain,”

“What’s there to explain?” I ask flatly as I place my phone in my pocket and look up to see how many more floors I have to endure with her. The space is closing in on me. The smell of her sweet perfume is enough to knock me off my feet.

She sucks in a deep breath. “I didn’t—”

“You know; it doesn’t matter what you have to say.” I interrupt her. “I get it.” I don’t get it, though. I want to turn to her and ask her why? What had I done wrong? What did Bradley do that he deserves her? But I close my lips.

“You don’t,” she says defensively.

I can’t listen to her voice anymore. “Save it,” I say, still refusing to look at her. I can’t look into those blue eyes or at those soft lips. I can’t look at the face I’ve come to dream about. Saw a future with. All of that is gone now. “I get it, Ashlyn. He’s your best friend. That you fuck.”

“He’s my best friend, but …”

“You guys are different,” I say, interrupting her. There’s nothing she can tell me that she hasn’t already informed me of. “You’ve said that.” I nod once still unable to look at her. I may break. I have to be strong. I’m not some pussy who needs a woman to love them. I fuck them! I’m the male version of her! I’m not gonna beg and plead for her to want me.

I feel her hand reach out to me, and my entire body tenses. Just the thought of her touching him and then me … it’s too much.

The elevator dings, and the mirrored doors slide open and I all but run out of it and through the lobby of the Q’s. I’m not far from the glass front doors when I feel her hand grab my upper arm, and she yanks me to a stop. My muscles tense, but I can’t hold it back anymore. I spin around and harden my eyes as I look down into her blue ones. They’re full of unshed tears, and they piss me off. “Why are you down here, Ashlyn?” I snap, my voice echoing through the large lobby.

She cringes and speaks softly. “I want to apologize.”

I yank my arm free of her hold. “No need to apologize for who you are.”

Her eyes widen in shock at my words, and she wraps her arms around herself. “What does that mean?” she whispers as her eyes search mine as if she’s looking for some kind of sympathy. She won’t find it!

“Just a fuck!” I state carelessly then, without wasting another second, I turn around and walk out the front doors, leaving her standing there holding herself.

I can feel her stare on me, and it just makes me even more pissed! She practically chased me out of her apartment and for what? To tell me that she loves him? That after all this time, she finally realizes Bradley is the guy for her? That she’s sorry she couldn’t love me? No thanks.

I don’t need her to explain that I’ve lost the war. I figured that out all on my own.

“Mr. O’Kane …” Milton greets me. Guess he got my text. “Something wrong?”

“Shut it, Milton!” I snap, making my way to my Cadillac that he has parked curbside.

I get into the back and pull the door shut before he can do it. I keep my face straight ahead even though she wouldn’t be able to see me with the blacked-out windows anyway. I refuse to do it!

I can see Milton out of the corner of my eye as he pauses by my window. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, and I wish I could erase the past three weeks of my life.

I open them when I hear the front driver’s side door open. Milton looks at me through the rearview mirror. His dark eyes look at me as if waiting for me to say something. “Something wrong?” I snap.

His brows pull together and his eyes look away from me to focus on the entrance of the Q’s— she must still be standing there. “What are we waiting on?” I demand.

His eyes come back to mine in the rearview. “Nothing, sir.” He places the SUV in gear and pulls into traffic as lightning lights up the night.

I lay my head against the headrest and let out a sigh. Fuck, she left my life just like she came into it—fast and unexpected!

 

I sit straight up, the nightmare finally over, when I hear a sound of a door hitting a wall. “Shit!” I hiss, and my hands come to my pounding head.

“Mr. O’Kane?”

“What?” I snap, looking up at my assistant, Kelly, as she walks toward me.

What the hell? I look around and realize I’m lying on my office floor. Did I sleep here?

She frowns as she looks down at me. “Here. I got you some coffee.” Kelly hands me a mug, and I bring it to my lips, taking a small sip.

“Thank you,” I say and notice that my voice is scratchy. I set the mug between my legs and let my head fall into my hands. Fuck, what did I do last night?

“Here’s some Advil,” she says.

“Do you happen to know how I ended up like this?” God, I hope I didn’t fuck her!

She shakes her head. “I came in an hour ago and found you on the floor.”

Phew! My father already fired his assistant for sleeping with me. I’d hate to have to fire mine. “An hour ago …?” I grab my phone from the floor beside me. Hitting a button, I wait as it lights up. “Shit!” It’s almost nine o’clock.

“I tried to wake you …”

“You should have tried harder,” I growl, running a hand through my hair. She reaches out her hand to help me stand, and I shove it away. I manage to get up by myself, but once I’m upright, the room sways a bit. Looking down at my clothes, I close my eyes and sigh. “I need to change.”

“I’ll go to your apartment and get you a suit.”

That would make her useful. “Thanks,” I say with a head nod, and she turns around, leaving me alone.

Sitting in my chair, I place my elbows on my desk and let my head fall into my hands. “What the hell did I do last night?” I remember walking into Ashlyn’s apartment to find her standing half-dressed with Bradley. Then I stormed out. I thought I came up to the office, but I don’t remember drinking up here.

I take a quick look around and don’t see any empty bottles on the floor or on my desk. I open my phone to see if I spoke to anyone. I had received a text from Vicki last night around midnight.

 

Vicki: I need to talk to you. It’s important.

 

Thankfully, I hadn’t responded. I go to my recent call list and see that I had a phone call from Ashlyn that lasted thirty-one seconds.

I drop the phone onto my desk as if it went up in flames. “Fuck!” This day just keeps getting better.

What did I say to her?

Why did I even fucking answer it?

What had she called to tell me? Sorry? Would she have been that stupid? To think I needed an apology? To think I cared that fucking much?

That’s the shitty part ... I do care that much. Or I wouldn’t have woken up on my office floor feeling like a truck ran over me. I’ve never had that happen before. Not until her.

I throw my almost dead phone across my office, and it hits the wall with a thud before falling to the floor.

Minutes later, I remain behind my desk with my head in my hands. It’s still pounding. And as if on cue, my office phone stars to ring. It’s gonna be a typical Monday.

“Yes, Mr. Lowe. I can get it signed and back to you today,” I say into my phone with my head still down.

The door to my office bangs open, and I jump to my feet, letting out a long breath when I see it’s my sister. “I’ll have to call you back,” I say then hang up as I hear him protesting. “Becca? What are you doing here?” My head pounds harder from the sudden movement, and I feel a little dizzy.

“How long?” she demands.

I run a hand through my hair because I know it’s standing every other way from sleeping on my floor. I don’t want her to go back and tell Ashlyn just how awful I look. I run my hands down my wrinkled t-shirt that I wore to the bar last night. Kelly still hasn’t had the chance to leave yet to pick me up a suit. Shit just keeps coming up. “I’m not doing this with you,” I say, knowing whatever she is asking has to do with Ashlyn.

“How long, Ryder?” she demands again.

“It’s over.” I growl. Does she think I’m playing some game with Ashlyn? I’m not like her. I either want all of her or none at all. I’m not playing hard to get. It’s over, and it hurts like fucking hell.

She stomps up to my desk, letting me know she’s not giving up on this, and I hold in a sigh. “How long before you buy Talia’s?”

My eyes widen at her words. “How do you know about the Anderson file…?”

“How could you do this to Ashlyn?” she asks, interrupting me. “You know what this job means to her.”

I sigh. “It’s business.” I decide to say, but I’ve been thinking the same thing since I found out where Ashlyn had her job interview.

“Business?” she asks with a huff. “God, you sound just like Dad,” she growls.

“I have a job to do.”

“And Ashlyn is going to lose hers,” she snaps. “When do you plan to tell her?”

I look away from her, and my eyes narrow on where I slept on the floor last night. I can’t talk to her. I just can’t. Call me a pussy. A dick. Either one would be true. “That’s none of your business.” I decide on.

She slams her hands down on my desk and I look back up at her. “I thought you were a good guy, Ryder. I thought you loved her. But now I see you’re not capable of that.”

My jaw tightens at her words. If only she knew just how much …

“You’re a lot like Mom in that way. All you care about is money.” My nostrils flare. I’m nothing like our mother. I would never do to Ashlyn, what she has done to our father. “So just so you know, if you do this, you’ll never get her back.”

Get her back? Doesn’t she understand that is not an option? Did she not see what happened in their kitchen? Is she honestly going to pretend that Bradley didn’t stay the night again last night at their place? “She was never mine to begin with,” I respond flatly.

“You’re right,” she says and then swallows. “She wasn’t.” Then she turns around and storms out just as quickly as she entered.

**

My day hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, it has gotten worse, if that’s even possible. My headache is still pounding, and the words my sister said before she walked out of my office keep repeating in my head. You’re right. She never was!

How did I not fucking see it? And why can’t I seem to let it go? I just continue to torture myself.

“Ryder, are you there?”

“Yes, Mr. Clevens,” I say into my phone, nodding my head as I try to hold it to my ear with my shoulder. My eyes scan over the papers that scatter my desk. I don’t even know what he said to me. “What was it you …?”

“I asked how much longer you think it will be,” he snaps, irritated with me.

“Maybe a week or two …”

“What?” he huffs. “You said it would be two days last Friday. It’s now Monday!”

Fuck! “I know, but things came up …” My eyes catch sight of a document with his name on it.

“What the hell has come up that it’s gonna take another two weeks?” he demands. He doesn’t let me answer. “Ryder, you know this deal is very important to me and my company. It needs to be done. Now!”

“Yes. I agree, but …” My life is no longer my own. I wish I could focus on what is important, but I can’t seem to focus on anything but the gorgeous blonde who somehow managed to make me fall in love with her just to break my heart.

“This is not acceptable,” he huffs.

“I know,” I growl, mad at myself. “I made the call. Now, I’m just waiting to hear back …” I look up as something catches my eyes to see Jaycent in my office. When did he come in?

“Ryder?” Mr. Clevens snaps in my ear. “Fix it or I will go somewhere else,” he all but shouts.

“I’ll take care of it,” I say, but he’s already hung up. I lift my head, and my phone drops from my shoulder and hits my desk with a thud. I don’t bother to put it on the receiver.

“Bad day?” Jaycent asks.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I snap, “Fuck this day.”

He plops down in front of my desk as if he’s here to stay. “Drank a little too much last night,” he observes, looking me over.

“Not sure how much I had,” I say honestly, still having no memory of last night. Kelly was finally able to go to my apartment and pick me up a suit, but I haven’t had the chance to put it on yet.

“Enough to want to fuck a woman in the bathroom,” he says flatly.

My head snaps up, and I look at him wide-eyed “I did what?” God, I hope it wasn’t Vicki. She did send me a text …

He holds up his hand. “You didn’t do it. Just tried.” I fall into my chair and let out a long breath. “You really remember nothing?” he asks, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees.

I shake my head. “I woke up this morning on my office floor with a pounding headache and smelling like booze,”

He sniffs the air and pulls his lips back. “You do stink.”

I snort. “That’s the least of my worries.”

He sits back and stares at me as if I’ve fallen off the deep end. So I continue to fill him in on my day. “Then my sister shows up yelling at me about how I should do business.” I huff. “Like she knows what she’s talking about.”

“Did she make sense?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. She doesn’t know what’s going on here, and I don’t have time to explain that to her.” She has a point. I’ve known all along that Ashlyn would lose her job. I didn’t tell her ‘cause I didn’t want her to hate me. Now she’s gonna think I did it for revenge. I’m fucked either way.

He nods as if he understands what kind of hole I have dug myself, but he can’t possibly know how deep I’m in. “And Ashlyn? How is that going?”

“It’s over.” I’m so tired of people talking to me about her.

“You didn’t seem that way last night. You were checking your phone every two minutes.” I snort, hoping I didn’t look like the little bitch I am. “Then you were willing to go to the bathroom with that woman like you were a man trying to forget another.”

“I’ve already forgotten,” I say flatly. Lies. All lies.

“You told me that you loved her.” My body stiffens where I sit. My eyes drill into his with my shoulders pulled back and body rigid. “Pretty sure you’ve felt that way long before last night. Remember that?” he goes on, shoving the knife deeper into my chest. He sighs when I say nothing. “Ryder, she …”

“I don’t wanna talk about Ashlyn,” I snap, and he stops. “It’s over. I have shit to do. Shouldn’t you be at work as well?”

He stands from the chair. “Yep,” he says and walks out, leaving me alone.

My head falls on my desk, and I take a deep breath. I should be ashamed of how pathetic I am. How I let myself get to this point over a woman. But instead, I just want to crawl into a hole. This morning, waking up here and hungover, I realize I can’t go home. I can’t chance seeing her on the elevator. In the lobby. Or out on the sidewalk. I have to move. Or possibly just live in my office. That’s when I realized I was at an all-time low. The fact that I’d rather live in my office than go home to my million-dollar apartment made me realize that no matter what, my life will never be the same without Ashlyn.

“What are you doing?” I hear a familiar voice ask.

I lift my head to see my father standing in my office, his hands in the pockets of his black slacks and dark brows pulled together in confusion.

I clear my throat and sit up straight. “Trying to get some privacy,” I tell him truthfully. “But people just keep walking in like they own the place.”

“I do own the place,” he says matter-of-factly.

I hold in a sigh. “What do you want, Dad?” I ask, rubbing my temples. They won’t quit pounding. Why isn’t this Advil working?

“So you broke up with your girlfriend and now your work is going to go to shit.” he states.

I narrow my eyes up at him. “Who told you I broke up with …?” My words trail off. I tilt my head to the side, and he raises a brow. “How did you know I was seeing someone?” I demand.

“I knew you were seeing Ashlyn,” he declares, and my jaw tightens. “I also know that she broke up with you.”

“I broke up with her,” I snap.

He rolls his eyes as if I sounded like a child, and I hate to admit I did.

I square my shoulders. “Who told you?”

“Doesn’t matter.” I go to argue, but he continues. “But I know that you look like shit.” His eyes look me up and down with disgust. “And I know you’ve kept yourself locked in this office all day.” He takes a quick look around and sees my suit that Kelly brought me earlier still lying on the back of my couch as if it cost a hundred dollars and not three grand. “And I know that you need a shower,” he adds.

“Are you done?” I growl.

“Not yet.” He removes his hands from his pockets and comes to sit down in front of my desk. “I also know that Ashlyn works at Talia’s.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes and mumble. “Here we go …”

“How many times have I told you not to mix business with pleasure?” he demands.

I throw my hands up. “I didn’t know she had an interview with them until after I slept with her,” I declare, and he shakes his head. “And why the hell were they even hiring anyway? What was I supposed to do? She was so excited when they called her and told her she had the job. I didn’t feel like oh, yeah they’re going out of business. I’m gonna buy it and tear the place down and build another hotel. ‘Cause that’s what this town fucking needs was a good thing to say at the time.” My jaw is tight and so is my chest. So much is building up inside that I want to scream. I fist my hands down on my desk.

He places his elbows on his knees and leans forward. “Ryder …”

“Save it, Dad,” I snap. “I’ve had a shit day, and it’s not over yet. Becca’s come in here and jumped down my throat, and then Jaycent came in here giving his two cents on my problems and how I should handle them. If you don’t mind, I want to be alone. I have work to do.” I gesture to the stacks of papers scattered on my desk. “I may smell and look like shit, but I’m still here.”

He sits back in his seat and crosses his arms over his chest. “Is Talia’s going to be a problem?” he finally asks.

This is my dad. Business first. Out of everyone I know, he is the only one who will understand that part of my life. No matter what, you do whatever you have to do to make that dollar. That’s why things would have never worked out with Ashlyn. No matter how much I wanted it to, she would never understand that part of my life. That you do whatever it takes to make a buck. That you don’t get where I am by being nice and making friends. It’s cutthroat and bloody. And I will never change that part of my life. Not even for her.

I shake my head. “No.” The only answer I have. And that alone would have torn us apart eventually.

He stares at me for a long second before finally rising from his chair. “Okay then.” And with that, he turns and walks out, shutting my door behind him.

ASHLYN

I called in sick to work today. I couldn’t sleep last night. I laid in my bed, eyes wide open as tears spilled down the side of my face as I cried in silence. So many emotions ran through me that I felt as if I was being torn in a hundred different ways. I would go from angry to sad then to feeling sorry for myself. It was pathetic, but I couldn’t stop it. This morning, when it was finally time to go to work, I just laid there. I couldn’t get my body to move. I felt nauseous, and my puffy eyes were finally getting heavy, so I picked up my phone and called in.

I stayed home locked away in my room. I only got up once to get a bottle of water ‘cause I was tired of tasting my own tears when Jaycent knocked on the door. I let him in and then went straight back to my room. That was about an hour ago. Now I find myself back on my bed holding my phone, waiting for it to ring. Hoping that Ryder would have called me sometime today. But nothing. I think calling him last night was the biggest mistake I have ever made.

 

I take another drink of the wine, and my throat tightens. Every girl wants to be the exception. We all want that one guy to make us feel like we’re worth it all. I feel that way about him. And that thought makes me want to jump. Makes me want to tell him how I feel. How much I need him. I have to do it for me.

Taking a deep breath, I pick up my phone and dial his number before I change my mind. The first ring has my heart beating faster. The second one has me taking another gulp of the wine. By the fourth ring, I’m pacing again.

“This was a terrible idea …”

The ringing stops and so does my pacing. He’s silent on the other end, but he picked up. That’s a start ... “Ryder,” I say, trying to swallow the lump that instantly forms in my throat. “I’m sorry.” I sniff, and I hate that admitting that makes me feel worse. “I know I messed up, but it wasn’t what you think. I swear I didn’t sleep with him.” Once I start talking, I can’t stop. Tears run down my face as I cling to the cold wine bottle, and my eyes are fixated on the Romeo and Juliet book. All I can think is that I have to get this off my chest. Becca was right. I have to do it for myself. I have to clear my conscience. What he chooses to do next is up to him.

“I … I love you, Ryder.” My throat tightens, and my hands gets clammy, admitting that to him. “Please know that I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” The words pour out like a dam needing to free all the extra water.

And then I start to panic over what I just said. I hang up, and my phone drops to my floor, landing by my feet

 

I poured out my heart last night and got nothing in return! I never knew loving someone could be so painful. Now I know why I’ve never done it before!

A knock comes on my door, and I find myself saying, “Come in.”

“Hey, are you busy?” Becca asks, peeking her head in.

I shake mine. “Come on in.”

She walks in and shuts it behind her. She sits down on the end of the bed, and Harry jumps up and crawls into her lap. “Who are you talking to?” she asks when she sees my screen light up.

“Bradley.” I sigh and push the button on the side to hide my screen from her.

He, on the other hand, keeps messaging me. But I don’t have anything to say to him. “He is still in New York,” I tell her.

Her eyes widen. “What does he want?”

“He’s staying at a hotel and wants me to come and see him.” Why won’t he give up like Ryder did? It would be easier if he did. I hate to hurt him twice.

“Are you going to go?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I need to talk to you,” she says, and I can hear the turmoil in her voice.

I turn to face her. “Okay. What is it?”

“I spoke with Ryder toda—”

“Please tell me you didn’t do it for me,” I interrupt her. “Honestly, I’m fine, Becca,” I lie. I should have never called him last night. It was another mistake. I can’t seem not to make one.

She runs a hand through her hair. “It wasn’t for you,” she says softly. “I had heard something and needed to find out for myself.”

“What was it?” I ask, wondering what could make her this upset.

She takes a deep breath. “O’Kane’s Enterprises is buying Talia’s.”

I frown, not really understanding what she is saying. “What do you mean buying Talia’s?”

“I don’t know the specifics; I just know they are buying it.”

Ryder is buying the company I work for? What does that mean? Why would they want a gallery? And then it clicks, stinging like salt to a wound.

I look down at the wood floors and ask, “When?”

“I’m not sure. I’m sorry I don’t know much. Ryder wouldn’t give me much information about it. He said it wasn’t any of my business. But I guess it’s been in the works for a while.”

I nod, still not looking up at her. Complete and utter failure is what I’m feeling right now, and it burns like a bitch. “Thank you for telling me.”

She reaches out and grabs my hand. “I know this is hard to hear, but it’s going to be okay.”

I nod again and then remove my hand from hers. “Maybe it’s just better if I go back home.” Those words are hard to say, but the truth is never easy to hear.

She stands quickly. “No. That’s not why I told you. That’s not the answer.”

“Then what is the answer?” I look up at her. Tears start to burn my eyes.

“You’re not a quitter,” she says. “I know you, and the Ashlyn I know wouldn’t let a man dictate her life.” I sigh. “Ashlyn, you are tough. You are the woman I’ve always wanted to be.”

The first tear falls down my cheek. “We have time. I will help you find another job. I know you left your family in Seattle, but I’m your family here. And I’m not going anywhere. Please tell me you’ll stay. Tell me that you will not let Ryder get the best of you. Because he doesn’t deserve that.”

I look around my fancy bedroom. The four-post bed up against the far wall. The white down comforter that feels like a cloud is rumpled and hanging half off the bed from all my tossing and turning last night. The floor-to-ceiling windows have my handprints on them from looking down over the city last night, and the clothes and throw pillows cover the floor. And the truth hits me like a bag of bricks. “I never belonged here,” I say truthfully. It was all a big fairy tale from the beginning. Being with Ryder. Coming to New York. I should have never left what I knew just to start over.

“Please don’t do this,” she begs as a tear runs down her cheek as well. “If you leave, I leave.”

I give her a soft smile as another tear rolls down my face. “I won’t let you give up on what you have.” She’s crazy if she thinks I’ll let her pick me over all this that she has here in New York. She’s finally away from Conner and happy with Jaycent. I don’t wanna be responsible for someone else’s happiness.

“And you think I’ll let you give up on what you have?” she asks with a sniff.

“What is it that I have?” I ask with a careless shrug. Everything I own can fit in three suitcases.

New York was a mistake. But it’s one that I can fix.

“You have me,” she says with another sniff.

I reach my arms out wide. “You have a life here. A man who loves you and your family.”

“You’re my family,” she all but shouts. “Please let me prove it to you.”

I look away from her because I’ve already made up my mind. I’m moving back to Seattle. But I tell her, “Okay.”

She leans down and hugs me tightly. She knows I’m lying, and I hate that I’m going to have to hurt her. Because she truly is my sister. My best friend. Now that I’ve lost Bradley, she’s my only friend.

She walks out of my room with her head down and sniffing. And before I can sit on the end of my bed, I find myself running to my bathroom feeling that nausea again.

**

Tuesday morning went about as good as Monday did. But I managed to drag myself into work after another night of no sleep. I stared at my phone for hours. Just waiting for a text or call from Ryder. And just like yesterday, it never came. But unlike yesterday, I have to go to work today.

“Wow, honey!” Thomas says as I walk past him and fall into my chair. “You look like crap.”

“Thanks,” I mumble.

I haven’t washed my hair since Sunday, and no amount of makeup could cover the dark circles under my eyes.

“What’s going on?” he asks, leaning over my desk with a look of worry on his face. “I know you called in sick yesterday, but it looks like more than a cold.”

I sigh. Of course, I can’t go a day without him wanting to know what is really wrong.

“Oh, no.” He comes around the desk quickly and plops down beside me. “I know that tune. You’re having boy trouble.” I remain silent. “Is that why you were pissy yesterday when I called you?” He had called me last night to check on me. I wasn’t up to chatting, to say the least.

“I’m fine,” I say, refusing to look him in the eye.

“You are a little liar,” he says, giving my shoulder a little shove.

“Sweetheart, believe me, men come and go. You need to get out there and get some booty.”

“That’s the reason I’m in this position in the first place,” I say dryly, and he laughs as if I’m funny. I turn my body and face him in my chair. “O’Kane’s is buying Talia’s,” I tell him, expecting him to stop laughing, but he doesn’t.

“Oh, hun, that’s been a rumor for years.” He waves me off.

I frown. “A rumor?”

He nods. “Well, not O’Kane’s specifically. But the fact that Talia’s is going to be bought out.”

My eyes widen. “And what do you plan on doing when that happens?”

“I’m not worried,” he says with confidence that I don’t have.

He reaches out and places his hand on my shoulder. “It will all be okay. You’re stressing too much.”

“You sound like Becca,” I tell him.

He gives me a big smile. “Then you should listen to us. We can’t both be wrong,” he says, removing his hand from my shoulder and then shrugging.

And I hate to tell him that he can.

“Good morning, everyone!” I look up to see our boss, Mrs. Mills, walking down the winding staircase. She smiles brightly at us as she hits the last step. “We have a private showing in two weeks,” she informs us. “I will need you both to stay late every day next week.”

Thomas nods as I tell her no problem. “Good,” she says, placing her purse over her shoulder and walking to the door.

I get up from my chair and all but run over to her. “Mrs. Mills, may I have a second of your time?” I ask nervously.

She looks at me, and her brows pull together. “Is everything okay, Ashlyn?” she asks, noticing the change in my tone.

I nod. “It will only take a moment,” I assure her.

“Of course,” she says. “Let’s talk in my office.”