A month had passed since Ashley turned in her notice to Scott. He tried to talk her out of it, offering to increase her salary, to give her a long-term contract, to ensure that she would be promoted in time, but she refused all of these offers

To Ashley, it was a simple matter of Scott not trusting her. She knew that letting him know the precise nature of the situation between her and Leonard Welsh was an option, to simply tell him all of the details, no matter how uncomfortable they were to discuss. But she felt that she shouldn't have to have done that. They'd been working together for months, and even involved; if he couldn't trust that she had he reasons, then what sort of relationship, working or romantic, could they possibly have with one another?

The nature of their relationship was also a source of tension for her. Continuing the charade, pretending that they were married while also being a couple; it was too much for her. Breaking things off, as suddenly as she might've had to do so, was the sensible thing to her. She told him that she didn't hold any anger, and that it was

Saying goodbye to Olivia was as hard as she was expecting. Tears in both of their eyes, she told the girl that it was time for her to move on, that her and her father's arrangement had simply come to an. When Olivia asked if she'd ever see her again, Ashley assured her that she would- a sentiment that Scott shared.

Once Scott recovered from his initial shock, he approached the situation with a calm, businesslike attitude, evidently realizing that their arrangement, as intense as it may have gotten, was a temporary thing from the start. He got his investment, his product was ready to be put into the next phase, and it was time to move on to the next project. But the day she left, Ashley could sense that Scott was far more upset than he was letting on, and as the car containing Ashley and her belongings pulled away from the house, she could see him watching from the porch, a look of sadness in his blue eyes.

It took a few days of adjustment to accustom herself to her old apartment, which seemed even tinier and cramped than it usually did after spending so much time at Scott's massive home. But she knew that this apartment was hers, and that however tiny it was, she earned it herself.

The day after she returned, she began looking for jobs in Berkeley, eventually settling on a bookkeeping position at the university. The pay wasn't great, but it was familiar and comfortable to be back on campus. After her first week, she began to settle into something like a routine, even making friends with some of the fellow employees her age.

Another couple of weeks passed, and Ashley found herself growing more and more accustomed to living on her own; the idea of dating even began to sound somewhat enticing. But thoughts of Scott continually slipped into the forefront of her mind, to her chagrin. As much as she simply wanted to move past the part of her life that he represented, she couldn't help but think about him, and the feelings that she had developed.

Then, one day at work, one of the fellow former students that worked in her building, a boyish, young man with chubby cheeks and a charming smile named Kyle, sat down with Ashley during their lunch break. It was an unseasonably warm day, and they decided to have their meals on the quad. They chatted, discussing their lives post-college, their shared anxiety about their futures now that they were in the world of adults, and other small-talk subjects. And as they talked, Ashley considered what it would be like to date someone like him, someone who was her own age, someone less established, someone who was at the same point in her life as her. She'd spent the last few weeks in the world of the Silicon Valley elite that the idea of being with a peer was far from unappealing.

As they finished their lunches, Kyle spoke as if reading her mind.

"So," he said. "What're you doing this weekend?"

His soft but handsome features squinted in the sunlight, his messy hair blowing gently in the afternoon breeze.

"Um," said Ashley, gripped by what he was likely about to ask. "I don't know; nothing, really."

"'Cause, there's a show tomorrow in Oakland that my friend's band is playing at, and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me," he said, his voice timid and unsure.

Ashley was conflicted. Kyle was a normal college boy, the type that someone like Ashley should be dating. But, try as she might, she couldn't get Scott out of her mind. Scott was mature, bold, and handsome in the way only an older man could be. As she sat next to Kyle, his expression eager as he awaited her answer, she realized that her heart just wasn't in it. She wanted Scott, but she'd made her decision.

I guess I just need to suck it up and get back out there, she thought, taking in a deep breath and preparing to accept his offer.

But before she could speak, a voice spoke from behind her. It was a familiar, voice manly and low.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but I the girl you're speaking to is taken."

Ashley caught a glimpse of Kyle's eyes widening and looking up as she turned around in the direction of the voice. Looking up, she saw with joy that it was Scott, his usual wry smirk on his face.

"You're…you're taken?" asked Kyle.

"Engaged," said Scott.

Ashley smirked. "Yeah, what he said."

"Oh, OK," said Kyle. "Umm, nice talking to you, then."

With that, he hastily gathered the rest of his lunch and left the two alone.

"Good to see you," said Scott.

"Good to see you, too," said Ashley, realizing that despite the anger she'd been feeling towards Scott these last few weeks, he was happy to see him.

"Already getting back into the world of singles?" he asked, his eyes on Kyle as he scampered away.

"Gotta start somewhere," said Ashley.

A moment passed.

"So, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk," said Scott, taking a seat on the bench next to her.

"Yeah?" asked Ashley. "I thought I told you that…whatever we had going on was done with."

"You did," said Scott. "And I was prepared to accept that. But I found out what happened between you and Mr. Welsh."

Ashley's eyes widened. "You did? How?"

"Let's just say that he had a reputation, and I walked in on him putting his pudgy hands all over the new assistant we hired."

"You're kidding," said Ashley, her voice low and serious.

"Nope. I asked him what the hell he was doing, and he assured me that the girls love it, that it's all part of the chase. I brought you up, and he said that you were one of his…more prudish attempted conquests."

"Oh my God," said Ashley, feeling sick to her stomach at the idea of Leonard putting his hands on another girl. "Then what?"

"Well, I kind of lost control, and I may or may not have hit him."

"Hit him?"

"Maybe."

In spite of how she knew she should've felt, Ashley was overjoyed. Not only for revenge for what he put her through, but for the fact that Scott was able to stand up for another girl before Leonard could do the same thing to her.

"And how'd he take it?" Ashley asked through a smile.

"About as well as one could hope."

"Deal's off, then?"

"Deal's off."

Ashley, a smile on her face, shook her head.

"Never thought I'd hear about you losing your cool like that."

"Happens to the best of us."

"And Michael? Is he out too?"

"Nope. Surprisingly, he's still on board. Figures that an old-fashioned guy like that wouldn't be down with serial sexual harassers."

Another moment of silence passed.

"And that wasn't the only reason that I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?" asked Ashley, looking at Scott.

"I…know our arrangement was…unorthodox, even a little bizarre."

"To say the least."

Scott's mouth formed into a wry grin.

"To say the least. But I liked it. I was happy, for the first time in a long time. Even though our relationship was a sham, it meant more to mean than my time with Regina. Not since my marriage with Olivia's mother can I remember being so happy to be with a woman."

Ashley felt tears form in her eyes as he spoke.

"Ashley, you're smart, beautiful, driven- all of the qualities that I want in a woman. And I was a fool to let you go so easily."

"What're you saying?"

"I'm saying…that I love you. That I want to give what we had another shot. But for real this time. No pretend marriage, no shams. Just you, me, and Olivia."

Ashley's heart felt tight with joy. She realized that despite what she might've told herself over the last few weeks, these were the exact words she wanted to hear. The tears that she'd been holding back now pouring down her face, she threw her arms around Scott.

"Yes," she said, "I love you, too."

Then, Scott took her chin in his hand, looked deep into her eyes with his sparkling, blue eyes, and brought his lips to hers. Ashley let her body fall into the kiss, her heart soaring with joy and love, all that she wanted now sitting right there before her.