She stood up in an effort to make him feel unwelcome.
"Abby." He walked towards her. "Penny said you're intending to leave, is it because...." He looked so uncomfortable that she actually felt sorry for him. Momentarily.
"No, Ed. It isn't because of us, you, Penny, whatever."
He didn't look convinced.
"It's time for me to move on. I want to go freelance, I have for a while. The time's right, that's all."
It was if her words didn't quite reach him. He looked confused. She walked to the door and opened it, urging him to go out. He stood in the doorway.
"It's okay, Ed, let's just go our separate ways. We had a short relationship and it was over months ago anyway, wasn't it?"
He frowned. "But I thought we would...I thought you wanted me, that we had a special relationship."
"Excuse me?" Abby folded her arms. She was amazed. "Let me get this straight. You want me to tell you how much I need you, after discovering you with another woman?"
"Well, I..." A confused frown took up residence on his forehead.
"Or perhaps what you really need is to carry the guilt of my broken heart, to make you feel more of a man?" She sighed deeply, shaking her head. "I'm sorry Ed, I'm not going to be able to give you that particular pleasure. It would be a downright lie."
He gave her a pleading glance, clearly confused by her words. It wasn't what he had been expecting. "You're upset, I can see that."
Christ almighty. The man only saw what he wanted to see. Outright rejection was the only thing that would get rid of him now.
"Let's face it, Ed, we had sex occasionally...that is all it was. Let it go, I did. I'm seeing someone else now." She gave him a bright smile, grabbed the door handle and wavered the door to and fro, to scoop him out.
He shuffled a couple of steps, then stopped and turned to face her. "Who are you seeing?"
She sighed again, loudly. "Ed, I don't have time for this. I have to look over my notes and get ready for this meeting." She turned away from him, looking down the corridor toward the board room to make her point.
He began to speak, but Abby didn't hear him any more, because someone familiar had caught her eye. A shiver ran down her spine. Tom was standing in the reception area speaking with another suited man. Zac.
What is he doing here?
Ed's voice had gone quiet. He turned to follow her gaze. "Oh, you haven't met the Ashburn client yet, have you?"
"Ashburn client?" she repeated, her pulse growing erratic, her thoughts in chaos. It can't be. She looked at his familiar face. He was wearing shades, but it was undeniably him.
"Tom just introduced us. He's the son, name's Zachary Bordino. Apparently he recently took over from his old lady."
She stared at Ed, frowning. I've been working for Zac?
"Don't worry, Abby, he might look a bit eccentric, but he seemed sound enough. He mentioned that he thought our work with the account was excellent."
She swallowed, looked back at Zac again. "He did, did he?"
Her breath was catching in her throat.
"You look worried. Concentrate on the meeting, you'll be fine." He reached for her shoulder, squeezing it. "We can talk again later."
He trailed off but Abby barely noticed, she was still riveted to the spot watching Tom introducing Zac to Penny.
As she stared at his profile in dismay he turned toward her, looking over Tom's shoulder, as if drawn by her gaze. No thoughts seemed to form in her mind, just a rush of chaotic emotions. Fear, hope, confusion, love and pain. The confusion was overwhelming.
After the initial moment of mutual recognition finally lapsed Zac reached for his shades, folded them into his hand and revealed his eyes to her. He looked at her with such intensity that it sent her heart tripping. Another wave of chaos through her mind.
But he was calm. He knew.