Stealing Her (Covet 1)

He checked his Rolex, irritation pulsing from his large frame in waves that I could almost see in the air between us. “Walk with me. I have a meeting.”

I put my hands up, ready to block his chest, to stop him from walking around me, speaking down to me. Take your pick. “Julian, it’s private. I need your attention. Please.” God, I hated begging a man who used to look at me with love in his eyes, a man who used to tell me we were going to live a fairy tale.

The hearts that used to be in his eyes had changed to dollar signs the minute his father promoted him right out of grad school. And with the promise of an even bigger promotion in a few short weeks . . .

He chose money.

Over me.

Because according to him, love never really did last. Not for his dad and definitely not for him, since they were both cut from the same cloth.

It hadn’t always been that way.

Goodbye, Julian.

Goodbye, family I used to call mine.

Goodbye, life we created together.

I felt the loss so deeply at that moment that I couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t what I’d imagined three years ago when he’d proposed.

“I’m breaking off the engagement.” I blurted out the words so quickly that I covered my mouth with my hands as embarrassment took over, embarrassment because he didn’t even flinch, nor did he look up from his watch.

He stared at it like he hadn’t heard a word I said and exhaled. Could that be relief I saw? Or was he actually hurt? He attempted to walk around me, but his steps faltered a bit. “Let’s discuss this when I’m not running late.”

“Julian.” I moved in front of him. “This isn’t a business proposal or a buyout, I’m finished, there is no discussion. I just, I thought you should know.” I moved to pull off my four-karat engagement ring while he sighed as if I was inconveniencing him. I held it out. “Here, take it back.”

“No.” Strong hands held my shoulders as he looked down at me with a confident albeit exhausted smile. “I’ve been busy, too busy, I see that now. How about I cancel my meeting later tonight, and we can get dinner?” He was already shoving the ring back on my finger, lifting my hand to his lips, kissing it softly like he used to.

“No.” I trembled.

“You sure?” I wished I could hate him. I wanted to hate the easy smile that reminded me of easier times. He suddenly pulled me close and looked at me like I was everything he needed, oxygen included. “Because I could really get on board with one of those steak dinners at Elliot’s.”

Elliot’s.

The place he’d proposed.

Our favorite restaurant.

Damn him! I clenched my fist so tight the ring made an impression against my palm.

“Julian, no.” I couldn’t think with him this close. He had this magnetism to him that was dangerous, it sucked you into the Tennyson void and refused to let go. I refused to get manipulated again. He was too good at making me believe that we were forever, that what we had was unlike anything else in this world. And he knew exactly what to say to get me to back down. I didn’t want to be weak, not anymore.

“I think I need—” he began.

“Julian!” The door opened, Amy, the other receptionist, poked her head in and pointed at her own watch, averting her eyes as she said in hushed tones, “The car’s been waiting five minutes. You need to head down. Your father’s not happy, and the board is waiting.”

His face hardened before he adjusted his tie. “I’ll call you later.”

“But Julian—”

He was already gone.

I clutched my hands together, feeling the imprint of my engagement ring against my skin. Emotion clogged my throat until I felt like I was choking.

The only noise in that giant office was the sound of my heels as I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan.

His kingdom.

Theirs.

Ours.

Not anymore.

Because I wouldn’t sacrifice my heart for money.

Not anymore.

There was a picture of us on his desk. Our fresh happy faces were smiling, we were just out of college. I had finished my master’s degree in nursing and he his MBA. I was staring at him, and he was staring at the camera.

He’d always been looking ahead.

Never at me.

Did I sound selfish? Petty?

A woman was allowed those moments when she lost the love of her life to something equally selfish and petty.

Greed.

I don’t know how long I stared at that picture. Long enough for my back to tense under the poor posture brought on by my stilettos, and long enough for the sun to start to set.

Sighing, I twisted the ring around my finger and slowly walked out of his office, clicking the door shut behind me, just as Kelsey answered the phone.