AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m fine.”
“Victoria.” He glanced over his shoulder, before stepping all the way into the room and closing the door behind him. “I handled the end of our relationship abominably. I know that. I’m so sorry. And I know it can’t have been easy, standing by as my business partner, all the while having to see me with someone new.”
Though it had been a full year, they really hadn’t talked about it. Oh, he’d broken it off gently. He’d been kind. And a few weeks later, when he and Sabrina got together, he’d made sure she heard it from him. But after that, they hadn’t really discussed it.
And now, with his wedding on the horizon, for him to be thinking about her feelings, well, it was sweet and sensitive of him. She was glad to have it brought into the open finally. And she was grateful for his honesty. It helped. More than she would have guessed it might.
“It hasn’t been easy,” she confessed. “But I’m okay now. And I’m happy for you and Sabrina. Truly.”
“I know. And it means a lot to me. You know I’ll always care for you deeply. You’re my oldest friend.”
“And you’re mine.” This time her smile was entirely genuine.
He nodded. “Which is why I’m so concerned.”
“Noah, really. You don’t need to worry about me. It’s true the wedding came as a surprise, but I’m adjusting and—”
He laid his hand over hers, quieting her. He fixed his eyes on hers.
“You’re in a fragile place. It’s my fault. And I feel it’s my responsibility.”
Well . . . Wait.
“Noah. I’m a big girl—”
“I don’t know what he’s up to, Vicky, but you can’t trust Ryder. You don’t know him like I do.”
Now she was offended on both their behalves. Whatever tensions there were running through the Prince family, whatever ill-advised behavior Ryder had engaged in, it had always been clear to her that he had a good heart.
“Are you sure you know him?”
Noah sighed. “I just want you to be careful, Vicky. I don’t want to see you hurt. This kind of connection won’t play well for you in the press, you know.”
You don’t say.
Did he really think she didn’t know how to manage her public image? As a power player in what was still very much a man’s world, she was used to being underestimated, but coming from Noah, this stung.
“Ryder and I will be just fine,” she found herself biting off.
“He’ll drop you as soon as the first lingerie model crosses his path. If he hasn’t already.”
She didn’t know if she was more outraged at his assessment of her or his brother, but she wasn’t exactly in the mood for a lecture on how to conduct her love life by her ex.
She stood, moving around her desk as she spoke. “Your concern is noted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to attend to. As, I believe, do you.”
She went to the door and swung it open.
He cleared his throat, straightened his tie, and took the hint. “All right. You know how to find me if you need me.”
“Enjoy your meeting with the caterer.” She smiled sweetly as he walked past.
She closed the door behind him.
Shutting her eyes, she mentally counted to ten. Her phone buzzed.
She grabbed it off her desk. It was Davis, writing her back.
Sorry. Biz thing. Catch up with you later in the week?
