I could tell he didn’t know that Daisy and I had broken up.
He would definitely have said something.
That meant she was keeping to herself, spending all her time alone, and that made me feel like shit. She had a great family to lean on, and she didn’t use them. Me, on the other hand, I had no one. I was a bit envious.
“Dr. Hamilton, I wanted to ask you something.”
He was definitely in a different headspace because he didn’t appear annoyed that I referred to him by his title rather than his name. He lifted his chin and looked at me, having the same observant and intelligent gaze as his daughter.
That would always be hard…to look at his face and see her. “I wanted to ask if it would be alright if I returned to a full-time position. This research is groundbreaking, and it deserves all my focus.”
He studied me for a while, taking his time processing what I said. “The clinic is also groundbreaking. You don’t have to choose.”
“I’ve been stretched thin for a while now, and though my position at the clinic was gratifying, I’ve come to realize that this is how I want to spend my time. Not to mention what you told me, that you might want me to continue the company when you’re ready to take a step back. That means I need to learn as much as possible before that time comes because I want to run this company like you’re still here.”
He considered my words in silence, his eyes flicking away. “You’re welcome to resume your full-time status whenever you want. You don’t need my permission. If this is your decision, then I accept it. But only as long as you’re deciding this on your own, that you don’t feel pressured by me.”
“I don’t, Dr. Hamilton.”
“What will become of the clinic?”
“I’ve promoted Daisy to the position. She accepted.”
He gave a slow nod. “She’ll do a great job.”
“I know she will.” I believed she was more qualified for the position than I was, that Dylan should have granted it to her from the beginning. She was a selfless practitioner, caring about her patients more than herself. I’d never seen anyone that dedicated before.
He leaned back in his chair and got comfortable, like this had switched from professional to personal. “When are you moving in together?”
I held his gaze as my heart started to beat with the rhythm of a drum. I was tempted to lie, just to say something to get past the topic. Daisy hadn’t told her family because she clearly didn’t want to. I didn’t want to do it either. But I couldn’t lie to him, even though a part of me was worried that my relationship with him would be compromised. He was professional to a fault. When it came to his family, that might change. “Daisy and I split up.”
Silence.
His hard expression was still.
It took him a long time to process what I said, like this was really terrible news. “When?”
“Almost two weeks ago.”
Now he had a distinct reaction, his eyes widening in surprise. “Two weeks?”
I gave a nod.
He inhaled a deep breath and instantly looked flustered. He didn’t ask why. He didn’t ask anything.
“We just don’t want the same—”
“I have to go.” He pushed out of his chair, grabbed his notebook, and walked out.
12
Daisy
I was still in my old office.
But in a couple days, I would move to the director’s office in the rear.
The new physician on our team would take my space. Right now, she was working at a desk in the lobby. The clinic was small and we didn’t have a lot of room, and expansion was hard because of the high price tag of Manhattan real estate.
Atlas was there infrequently, spending less time in the office since he only had a few days before he was officially gone. He was probably focused on his research with my dad, and my dad didn’t find his increased time at the lab suspicious.
I hadn’t told my family yet.
Just didn’t want to talk about it.
A part of me wanted to fight for Atlas, but I recognized a lost cause. He’d made his decision and abandoned the position he loved because he was so set in his ways. Everything I had to say was already said. There was nothing I could do now.
I stared down at the paperwork in front of me, but the results meant nothing to me.
I pictured his face as he sat across from me at the bar, amused by my fry addiction. I pictured him underneath me on the bed at the cabin, the two of us quietly fucking each other’s brains out. Everything flashed by, happy memories that made me miserable.
I heard the door to my office open.
I looked up, expecting Anthony or Shelly, or maybe my assistant.