Never Yours Again novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Nobody From His World

Lucy's POV

Shawna opened the door, looked at the cardboard box in Ellis's arms and said, "No."

"I'm sorry?" said Ellis.

"No. We don't take donations. We take pizza." She stepped back. "Come in. Don't touch the dog."

I was sitting at the kitchen table with my grandmother's sewing box open in front of me.

I had been counting her buttons because it was the only thing I could think of to do.

When I saw him, I stood up so fast the chair tipped.

"Why are you carrying a box?"

"I quit."

"You what?"

"I resigned from Palgrave House an hour ago, in front of the board."

He set the box on the counter.

"I thought you should hear it from me, in case Rhett tells it wrong."

I stared at him.

He stood in Shawna's kitchen in a navy overcoat, with a stapler poking out of the box.

He looked dazed, clutching the box with white-knuckled fingers.

"You gave up seventeen years," I said.

"I gave up a desk."

"Ellis."

"I'm fine." He tried to smile. "It was a large desk."

Shawna coughed loudly, took the dog's leash off the hook and said, "I'm taking the dog around the block. It'll take twenty minutes. I'm timing it."

The door shut behind her.

Neither of us said anything.

The refrigerator hummed.

"You did that because of me," I said at last.

"I did it because I was tired of being the man who picks up after him."

"You did it because of me."

"Partly," said Ellis.

He looked at the floor.

"I have a rule," I said.

My voice sounded odd.

"No one from his world. No one who works for him, drinks with him or knows his mother."

"I know. You told me in the car."

"You don't work for him anymore."

"No."

"You don't know his mother."

"I know her very well," he said. "But I'm trying not to."

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