Eastern Lights (Compass 2)

“You’re wrong. Connor’s not like that.”

He laughed mischievously. “You really think Roe gives a damn about you? I know that guy. I’ve worked around him for years. The truth is, if you aren’t making him money, you aren’t worth his time—especially someone like you. Connor is a businessman, and he doesn’t make bad deals. Let’s face the facts: you are a bad deal. If anything, you’re a liability. He doesn’t have the space for you in the empire he’s trying to build.” Jason moved in closer and ran his finger against my cheek, cruising it down my jawline. “Don’t you get it, Aaliyah? You’re no one’s forever. You’re just a temporary fix. Besides, after all the shit Connor has been through with his mother being sick, it’s real fucked up that you’d put him through your drama. You’re showing up, just to drop dead on the guy. Real classy, Aaliyah.”

I swung his hand away from my face and took a giant step back. My mind was swirling faster than I wanted to admit. My vision was blurring as the emotions pushed to the front of my eyes. I turned away from Jason and rushed out the door, straight onto the streets of Manhattan.

I hated Jason. I hated him so much, and everything he stood for. I hated how he’d abandoned me on my wedding day. I hated how he lied. I hated how he betrayed me and made it hard for me to trust. I hated his anger, his personality, his heart. I hated how cruel he’d been.

But what I hated most about him was how he made sense, how I could see how someone wouldn’t want a forever with a girl who had limited time.

I hated how his words aligned with Connor’s fears.

I hated how Jason was right.

38

Connor

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Marie snapped as she burst into my office.

I’d been working on overdrive the past few days, avoiding facing reality with Aaliyah, and the fact that Marie came barging into my office left me stunned. She didn’t even notice Damian, who was sitting in my office chair.

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, did I miss something…?”

“Is it true you are seeing Aaliyah?”

Jason must’ve brought his mother into the loop, and that was the last thing I wanted to deal with. I didn’t want to face the fact that Aaliyah was sick, that she was dying. I didn’t want to face the fact that there was truly going to be a day where she wasn’t around. So, the last thing I needed was Jason Rollsfield’s mother in my face hollering at me about what was going on between Aaliyah and myself.

“Listen, Marie, this isn’t a good time right now.”

“It sure the hell is, and I need you to end it, okay? Whatever it is that is going on between you and Aaliyah needs to come to an end.”

It already had, but I didn’t need her to know that. All I needed from Marie was for her to leave my office.

“Whatever is going on between Aaliyah and myself is none of your business, Marie—”

“The hell it isn’t,” she spat out, pacing my office as if she’d lost her damn mind. “No. No. She has to be with Jason. They are meant to be together! I didn’t go through all of this for her to end up with you!”

“What do you mean you didn’t go through—”

“Leave her alone, Connor. She’s not yours to have. I fought for this, fought for her, and I’ll be damned if you come in and ruin this for my family!” she barked, tears sitting sternly at the back of her eyes. “End things, or else,” she said sternly before pushing her purse strap higher on her shoulder, turning around on her heels, and marching out of my office.

As she was leaving, Damian looked at her with a raised brow, but didn’t say a word. He then looked over toward me, confused.

“What the hell was that?” he asked.

“I have absolutely no fucking clue.”

“Well, regardless of that, you look like shit,” he stated. I knew I looked like shit. I hadn’t slept in days. My mind was working in overdrive, and I couldn’t focus on anything but the idea of Aaliyah dying. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Bullshit. What’s going on?”

“Just work stuff.”

“Bullshit again. I know your looks when work stuff is bothering you. That isn’t it.”

“Can you just drop it, Damian? I don’t want to talk about it,” I snapped. Yeah. I snapped at him. I felt guilty about it instantly, too. “Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Obviously. Like I said—you look like shit.” He took a seat across from me. “Is it something with Aaliyah?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Yeah. So, let’s talk about it. What happened?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shrugged. “Nothing. I ended whatever it was that we were doing with one another. I figured it was best if I focus on work instead of putting my focus in other places.”