“I’m not lying.” And if he had any trust in her, he’d know that. Her emotions shifted from fear to anger. Iris stood. “When we made love, you told me you trusted me. What’s changed now that we have our clothes on?”
Tyler rose, as well. A wide range of emotions moved across his features: disappointment, confusion, sorrow and anger. He was experiencing the same feelings she was.
He gestured toward the sheet she’d unknowingly crushed in her fist. “I can’t deny the evidence staring me in the face.”
“I signed a contract with you to produce two successful product launches. Why would I jeopardize my own project?”
“I was hoping you’d tell me.”
“I wouldn’t. I didn’t.” Iris held his gaze. She pushed the words past the lump burning her throat. “I’m asking you to believe me. Trust me, Ty.”
Tyler searched her eyes. Iris held her breath as he looked deep inside her. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. Seconds ticked by building toward a minute, perhaps two. She held her ground, firm in the knowledge of the truth; she hadn’t betrayed him. She wasn’t the leak. Would he have faith in her?
Vulnerability flashed in his eyes before they hardened. “You’re not giving me anything to support your innocence.”
He’d torn another piece of her heart. “All I have is my word.”
“I don’t have the luxury of ignoring the evidence. I have to protect Anderson Adventures and our seventy associates.”
“Ty, you know me. You must know I’m not capable of this.”
“We traced the leak back to you.” Tyler spoke as though he hadn’t heard her. “Under the circumstances, I have to ask you to leave. Immediately.”
His voice was so cold, emotionless. It was as though he was talking to a stranger. He was treating her like one. Her mind flashed back to the night they’d made love more than once. She clung desperately to her anger to keep from being sick.
“You can’t possibly believe I’d jeopardize my own contract.”
“If you leave now, we can avoid criminal charges.”
Iris froze. “Criminal—”
“We’ll pack your belongings and have them delivered to you.”
Iris could only stare at him. She’d run out of arguments with which to defend herself. She tried but couldn’t collect her thoughts. The pain of this moment was a thousand times worse than the betrayal she’d experienced at RGB Inc. She’d seen that moment coming. But Tyler had blindsided her completely.
I trust you. He’d given her that gift in a dark hotel room. In the light of day, he’d taken it back.
Iris swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll return the partial payment you gave me when we signed our contract.”
“Keep it. It’s for the services you provided.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry.
“That’s not necessary.” All she’d asked for was his trust. He couldn’t give her that; she wouldn’t take his money. Iris turned to leave.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
She strode through the e
xecutive suite, back straight, shoulders squared and eyes dry, if itchy. Her stride faltered as she approached Sherry’s desk. She’d miss the warm, cheerful woman. With an effort, she pasted on a smile.
“Hey, Iris. Where are you off to?” Sherry’s voice was as welcoming as ever. News of Iris’s alleged betrayal must not have made it through the company’s grapevine yet. Thank goodness.
“Home.” Her voice wobbled.
“Are you okay?” Sherry looked closely at Iris as she passed the front desk.
“No.”