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IT TOOK ME A FULL FIFTEEN minutes to navigate myself out of the ballroom. The CEO’s speech had caused an uproar the likes of which I had never seen. People were pressing in from all corners, calling out questions, voicing their opinions and concerns, laying down bets. Several prominent stockholders cornered Abe at his table and began peppering him with questions, while Michael was frozen in his chair, staring in shock at the stage, as if he could still see his father.
Tom was nowhere to be found.
I circled the room twice, dodging everyone I knew as I searched for him. Eventually, I saw Jamie and Stacy—the only two people thoroughly unfazed by the news—slip out a back door, and I followed them out to the garden. While they headed up to their room, I stood there for a second, panting under a sea of stars in my ball gown.
I couldn’t tell you what made me think of it, I couldn’t tell you how exactly I knew. But the next second, I was headed to the beach.
Sure enough, Tom was sitting on the sandy hill, staring out at the waves as they crashed against the shore. It was the same place where we’d come the day before when everything had been perfect, and his future had been sure. Tonight...it was a whole different world.
“Tom?” I asked as I drew closer.
That same hollow look had clouded his face, making him look years older as the moonlight beat down upon his head. When he heard me coming, he twisted slightly in the sand, turning so that our eyes locked together in the chilly night.
I knew his next words before he even had a chance to say them.
“We have to end this.”
It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I froze mid-step, rooted in place. The waves pounded angrily on the sand behind us, ripping the peaceful night in two.
I wanted to stop him. I wanted to save this. Whatever it was, it was a part of me now. I didn’t think I could let it go. But when I opened my mouth, only two soft words came out.
“I know.”
“What Jamie and Stacy have,” his eyes seemed to glow with feeling, “loving each other right there in the open—for all the world to see... We could never have that.”
My eyes fell to the sand. “I know.”
“And now...with this?” He shook his head, staring up at the unforgiving moon. “Every part of my life is going to come under scrutiny. There’s no way to keep it a secret now. I’m not sure...” His voice was hard, but there was a deep sadness underneath, something so buried, it could hardly be seen. “I’m not sure there ever was.”
When he looked up, his face was torn, but his eyes were sure. All emotion locked away.
“I’m saying goodbye, Jenna.”
The wind whipped my hair around my face, freezing me in place as I stood still as a statue in the sand. On any other night, Tom would have jumped up to give me his coat. Stroked back the carefree locks and kissed me until I forgot about the cold.
But that was never going to happen again. I knew we were both heading for broken hearts. It was over. It was always going to be over.
With the tiniest shiver, I hung my head and sighed. “I know.” I wiped a tear from my face. I was drowning and I didn’t want him to see me cry.
“I’m deeply sorry,” he said. “I truly am.”
“Me too.”
He wiped the tear from my face. “My heart is crushed as well. But I’ve been waiting my entire life to take over this company...”
“I know that. And if we get caught, then you’ll lose the opportunity.”
“I hate this,” he said.
I put my fingers over his lips. “Shhh. Just kiss me one last time.”
He softly kissed my lips as my heart ached.
Why did I ever get involved with an office crush? I then realized at that very moment that the real “crush” comes from the weight of harsh reality. And a big dose of reality...well, it just flat out sucked. I was a victim to temptation because I couldn’t ignore the sparks that flew around us.
Big mistake.
The most obvious rule for office romance would be: Don’t do it. Not ever.
To be continued...