Chapter 5: The Empty Cup

I did not take Dalton's hand.

He let it hang in the air for a moment, then dropped it and smiled anyway.

"Walk with me," he said. "Please. I'd like to talk to you before you go."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Then you can listen. I won't be long. My doctors say I shouldn't stand much."

It was a nice lie, delivered with a little sigh.

I walked with him to the elevators because the boardroom door was still open behind me, and I did not want Camille to hear me say no.

The elevator was empty.

He pressed the button for the lobby and stood close, too close, with his shoulder against mine.

His sleeve touched mine, and I felt something go out of me.

In the corner of my eye the two lines had added up to a single total.

Total 1.1.

Total 0.9.

I stepped away from him.

He stepped after me.

"You're tired," he said. "You look ghastly. Let me help."

"I don't need your help."

"Camille told me you resigned. Nolan, you can't live on air. Let me do something."

"What would you do?"

He reached into his sweater and took out a folded slip of paper.

It was a bank check, already made out to me.

Fifty thousand dollars.

The signature at the bottom said Dalton Reeve.

"It's my own money," he said. "My father's trust. It's the least I can give you for what you did."

"I won't take it."

"Please."

"You collapsed in front of two hundred guests and I gave you my life."

I said it in an even voice.

"Fifty thousand is not an answer to that."

Keep reading free with an account. Start She Begged for Me Back After I Left from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.