Too Late For My CEO's Regret

She had the evidence. Tomorrow would be a good show. It was a stark con

m right of the comput

hythm against the worn plastic edge of her keyboard. It was a physical tic she had developed ove

were not working. They were huddled in small clusters, their voices low,

icle. The wheels squeaked against the thin gray carpet. "My source in H

d nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with the let

ured, more to herself than to Te

who counted pennies, the woman who wore thrift store blazers and brought soggy sandwiches f

e," Tess offered weakly

, a man named Miller who usually sweated through his shirts by noon, walk

e minutes. Top

and was

shield. She joined the stream of bodies moving toward the elevators. She made sure to stay at the

. Gracia was pressed against the cold metal back wall. She closed her eyes and coun

oor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Manhattan

ack corner. The shadows were deeper here. She could see the

dual hush; it was instant, as if the

ed suits walked in. They moved with the easy confidenc

he wal

s, a frantic, painful rhythm. The air she was breathing turned to poison.

oftness that used to linger around his jawline was gone, replaced by hard

er Je

an who had shattered her world and l

most touching her chest. Don't look

night she blocked his number and changed her life forever. She had thought he was still in

ed the microphone. The sound of his hand br

s eyes were the color of the Atlantic in

own,"

nes. It was the voice that used to whisper promi

her corner. She remained rigid against the pilla

cy, about cutting the dead weight that had dragged the company stock down. E

said, closing the folder on the podium.

tly. There was no Q&A.

e stage. He didn't head for the exi

ed like water, ter

of panic. He was wal

brain scre

was frozen, a deer in the he

let out a shaky breath. He wasn't coming for her. He didn't know sh

slip away to

ht of a gaze so heavy it f

urned ba

as lookin

cross the heads of

Gracia was back in Cambridge, standing in the rain, her heart breaking. She

't change. Not a flicker.

, through her, a

erence. As if she were part of the archite

, his stride long and purposeful,

knees finally gave out, and she slid do

would have. Anger meant he still cared e

right at her a