Chapter 18: Why You Quit

"His car was at the curb," I repeated.

"Yes."

"So you went home."

"I stood across the street for an hour. Then you came out in his coat, laughing, and got in."

The study went very quiet.

"You quit the week I was going to tell you," Elias said. "You walked straight to Trevor, and I let you go."

His voice stayed low, and it was the worst thing I had ever heard him say.

"You let me go," I said.

"What was I supposed to do?"

"Say anything!"

I was on my feet and I didn't remember standing.

"You looked at me for three years across a conference table, Elias. You remembered how I took my coffee and the date my father died."

"You said I deserved better, and then you signed my resignation."

"I couldn't ask you to wait for a man with a file."

"You could have asked me anything!"

My voice cracked on the last word.

"I quit because I was in love with my boss," I said. "I quit because he never said one thing, and the first man who offered me a ring got a yes."

He had gone completely white.

"Say that again."

"You heard me."

"You were in love with me."

"For a year before I left. And you let me stay engaged to the wrong man for fourteen months."

He came around the desk.

I should have stepped back.

I took one step forward instead, and we met in the middle of the rug, breathing hard.

"The terms," he said, low and ragged. "I swore I wouldn't touch you without your word."

"You've had my word for a week."

"Joanna."

"Terms, Mr. Stannard," I said. "Shut up."

I grabbed his tie and pulled his mouth down to mine.

He kissed me hard, with a groan I felt in my own throat.

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Groom Chose Her Again, So I Married My Billionaire Boss from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.