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The two words push away any hope I had of us figuring things out. I can’t believe I’m here. I can’t believe I’m craving, secretly desperate for, another man’s love and attention.
Why did I let myself fall for him?Why?
He goes back to his work, dismissing me, so I take that as my cue to leave.
“Wait. Have a seat.” He lifts his chin in the direction of the leather chair facing his desk.
I do as he asks, and he steps around his desk. He’s all business as he fastens the middle button of his suit, leaning on the desk with his legs settled right in front of me.
With all that he’s accomplished, it’s hard to think that he’s only five years older than me. At just twenty-nine-years old, he’s become the successful CEO of Dreygon Environmental Consulting Firm, with his name featuring the list of multimillionaires.
“You’re getting a raise.”
I shake my head. “Damon ...”
“You deserve it with all the reporting you do. I also want you to take on more responsibilities—meet clients on your own.”
I lean forward, looking up at him.
God, he’s beautiful.
“Are you doing this because you think I’ll leave?” I whisper.
He shakes his head, scraping the side of his neck with his forefinger. “I reward my employees well. You have the science degree for it, so you’ll be taking on more tasks—it’s only right. I believe in you, Gemma.”
The sultry look oozing out of his eyes is enough to make me want to turn into a pool of mush at his feet.
I could always use more money, but I’m not stupid. The pay was already high for an executive assistant position, and now he wants to give me more?
Perhaps I should see it as a blessing.
“Well, thank you.” I take the document, and without sparing him a glance, I walk out of his office with my head intact.
Because my heart is so far gone.
I finish off a few things for Damon before work settles down, and I have nothing to do other than think. Think about him, about Harvey, about what I want out of my life.
That’s how Marie finds me around noon—mindlessly staring into space, hoping for a miracle from the man behind that office door.
“Lunch?” she asks.
I don’t answer her for a few seconds, too busy staring at her WTF T-shirt, withWhere’s the food?written underneath the abbreviation. “Yeah, sure.”
“I feel like eating out. Emon can’t come. The little bitch is too busy today.”
We head out to a salad bar nearby, the downtown Chicago traffic rushing around us.
“So you’re going to New York with Dreygon next week?”
I nod, eating a few bites to avoid responding. The thought of going away with Damon for a few days makes my body buzz with fear and need. We both know things are different from the last time we went to LA.
We’ve slept together since, and my body is not willing to forget.
Thoughts of Harvey’s pleas that he’ll try harder cross my mind, though I’m not convinced. I’m way past the part where I feel bad for him too. He might not have slept with Claire, but he wants to. The only thing stopping him is his pride, which has been utterly bruised since our motorcycle accident about two-and-a-half years ago.
While my sports bike ran off the road, I only sustained a concussion, a few bruises, and broken ribs. Harvey’s bike, on the other hand, collided with a car, and he ended up with an L2 spinal injury, which affected his ability to walk.
“Girls at the office are jealous, you know,” she says, slurping from her empty juice glass.
