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“You’ve blocked my number,” he says. “I need to see you.”
“My blocking your number should be enough of a hint,” Leah says, her hands resting on her hips.
“Don’t be like that. We had ten good years together. Don’t you owe me the chance to explain?”
I watch Leah’s jaw drop open at his words.
“I don’t owe you anything. You left me, remember?”
“And that was a mistake. I’m here to apologise.”
I’ve heard enough. I step out of my office. Leah’s eyes going wide as I move towards them.
“Is there a problem?” I ask, facing Leah, but shooting Vince a look.
He’s the same height as me, so his eyes lock with mine.
“I wanted to see Leah,” his voice is whiney.
“Leah is working,” I say.
I want him gone and as far away from Leah as possible. Perhaps their ten-year history unsettles me.
“Surely she’s entitled to a break. I’ve been waiting downstairs for you to take lunch,” he says, returning his attention to Leah.
“I ate at my desk,” Leah chirps up.
“Well, then you can have a coffee with me. Half an hour. Surely your boss can’t deny you that?”
He sounds smug having thought he’s circumnavigated the rules.
Leah looks past Vince and me to the rest of the staff. All of whom have stopped what they’re doing and are now watching the events unfold.
Leah looks at me.
“The choice is yours,” I say.
It’s not like I can stop her. She’s a grown woman and our relationship is still a secret amongst our colleagues.
Leah’s eyes widen.
“See, your boss is fine with it. Please, Leah. Half an hour.”
Leah shoots me a questioning look, but all I can do is shrug. I want to deny his words, but I know I can’t. It would cause too many questions, so instead I say, “We have a new client coming in at four.”
Not that Leah needs to be there, but it gives her an excuse should she need one.
“I won’t forget,” she says, her shoulders relaxing.
Vince thrusts the bouquet at Leah, and I’m please when she takes them and drops them onto the sofa with little thought or care. I enjoy seeing the frown that mars his brow.
“Fine. Let’s get this over with,” Leah says, grabbing her phone and handbag as she storms past Vince and me and heads towards the elevator.
Vince shoots me a smug look, but I ignore him. Calmly making my way back into my office, even though my insides are churning. I’m not Leah’s keeper. She needs to be free to make her own choices.
Since her lunch with Stella, and our chat, Leah’s been more relaxed. I told her I don’t want her to move out, that I like things the way they are. She seems to have accepted that, but as I watch her leave with Vince and the doors close, taking her away from me, my breathing becomes quick and shallow. I press my hand against my chest almost to the point of pain. What have I done?
I go back into my office and sit down, I reopen the document I was struggling with before, but close it. I run a hand through my hair before pulling up the latest market newsfeed.
