Damn, he knew it. He flexed his hands. ‘What did they say?’
‘What did who say?’
‘Anyone. Give me names.’
‘No one said anything. It just felt awkward what with you and me and—’ she waved a hand in the direction of her abdomen ‘—this. You own the company. Beyond congratulations, my colleagues didn’t know what to say. And in all honesty I couldn’t see it getting easier. So I resigned.’
His jaw clenched. ‘I see,’ he said, dismissing the jab at his conscience when the sacrifices she was having to make because of him inconveniently struck. ‘Do you want another job?’
‘At some point.’
‘I have contacts. If you want one, you’ll have one.’
‘Thank you,’ she said with a chilly smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ‘But so do I.’
Of course she did, he thought as the kettle pinged and she poured the water into a mug and stirred it. She didn’t need his help. But she’d have it anyway. ‘Whatever decision you choose to make,’ he said, ‘I will ensure that you’re financially secure. Both of you.’ That much he could do. ‘I’ll set up a fund.’
‘That won’t be necessary.’
Too bad. ‘Nevertheless, it’ll be there.’
‘But you won’t.’
‘No.’
‘Just out of curiosity, why not?’
Well, that was a question he wasn’t going to answer with the truth. ‘There is no space in my life for a child,’ he said, instantly crushing the brief, sudden surge of denial.
‘You could make some.’
‘No. I couldn’t.’
‘That’s a shame.’
Not a shame. A necessity. ‘That’s reality.’
‘Right,’ she said, taking a sip of tea and setting the mug back down on the counter. ‘So was there anything else?’
‘There was one more thing.’ He dug around in his pocket and pulled out the small blue velvet box he’d brought with him. ‘This should help dispel any doubts people may have about us.’
For a moment she just looked at the box in silence. And then she stepped towards him and took it from him, her fingers brushing his and her proximity doing odd things to his equilibrium.
When she opened it, her eyes went wide and she let out a soft gasp that would have instantly transported him back to that evening in his office if he let it. ‘Wow.’
‘Do you like it?’
‘Who wouldn’t? Is it real?’
‘Yes.’
She frowned. ‘Borrowed?’
‘No.’
‘It’s too much,’ she said with a faint shake of her head as she closed the box and handed it back.
Theo felt the faint sting of something undefinable and ignored it. ‘Just wear it,’ he said sharply. ‘It’s important. For the narrative.’